With gas being relatively cheap, there’s more appeal than ever to pack up the SUV and hit the road this Labor Day weekend. Those who do plan to travel this weekend, however, often encounter the heavy traffic that has come to be synonymous with holiday travel. The heavy traffic—including those who decide to drive after indulging in alcohol—will present its own challenges; safe, defensive driving is often enough to avoid those drivers who pose a threat on the road.

Whether you plan on hauling the boat or just packing your SUV to the brim, increased weight loads can put drivers at an additional risk of being involved in a rollover accident—exacerbating existing design issues involving the high center of gravity that most SUVs have. As such, it is critical that you know the tendencies of your vehicle and become familiar with the way your vehicle handles with its additional weight-load. Passing another car, for example, may require far more delicacy than you are normally accustomed to.

While the very design of some SUVs puts many drivers at risk of a serious accident, following a few driving tips, as outlined by USA Today, can go a long way in getting you to your destination safely. After a fun, likely exhausting Labor Day weekend, you probably just want to get home, but if you are not fit to drive, it’s probably better to take an extra day off from work than it is to risk your involvement in a car accident.

From the entire legal team at the Willis Law Firm, we hope you make the most of your Labor Day weekend and that you get to and from your destination safely.