Tips for a Safe Holiday

We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. As wonderful as this little ginger man seems to be having.

Holidays are a time to relax and enjoy one’s friends and family. If you’ve moved from your home town, as many of us have, it often also means traveling a distance to visit your friends and family and because of this, many of us end up hitting the road during the holiday season.

While taking a road trip can be a fun adventure, it’s a good idea to keep in mind the fact that the amount of automotive accidents can increase five fold during the holiday seasons. Thanksgiving day being the least safe time to be on the road. So why is driving so dangerous during the holidays?

Here are the top three reasons:

1. Number of Drivers

Statistics show that the shear number of motorists on the road increases by 50% during the holidays. It’s not hard to imagine that more travelers and road congestion translates into more accidents. More cars simply equal more accidents.

2. Risk Taking

Besides the increased number of motorists on the road, another factor that leads to holidays being a risky time to drive is the fact that we are more likely to brave unfavorable weather conditions in order to read our destination. We are more likely to drive on snow or ice so that we can celebrate the holidays with our loved ones.

3. Alcohol

The final reason that holiday driving is so unsafe can be accounted to a higher level of alcohol consumption during the holiday season. Celebration is often accompanied with drinks and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the results of this is that 40% of all holiday accidents are caused by a driver who has been drinking.

How to Protect Yourself

While holidays are inherently a riskier time to drive, there are a few ways you can decrease the chance of having an accident.

1. Drive Defensively

Allow a generous amount of space between you and other cars, check your mirrors frequently and be on the lookout for potentially unsafe situations. Driving defensively is the only way to protect yourself from the mistakes other drivers make.

2. Don’t Drink and Drive

Make sure everyone at your gathering has a designated driver who can transport everyone home after the festivities are over for the evening. Remember that one of the best question you can ask at a party is “Who’s driving?”

3. Respect the Weather

If the weather conditions are snowy or icy, then have patience and drive slow. Always allow yourself plenty of time to brake and be cautious in general. An icy patch can send you spinning off the road in no time or drifting into another car. Also, always check to make sure you have the appropriate kind of tires for the weather conditions and that they have the recommended amount of tread on them.

So enjoy your holidays, keep warm and cozy and remember to always drive safe!