In 2020, the CDC reported nearly 38,000 fatalities resulting from automobile accidents. This was surprising given so many people were staying home due to the pandemic – in fact, the number rose 7% from 2019 to 2020. Considering that car accidents also tend to increase over the holidays, as hundreds of thousands of additional people are driving the roadways, this can be a dangerous season. Residents and tourists alike often drive home late after holiday events and parties, unfortunately sometimes after a couple of drinks. Visitors to the area are driving on unfamiliar roads, challenging driving safety over the holidays.

Let’s take a look at basic driving safety tips to remember this holiday season.

Driving Safety Basics

Avoid Impaired Driving: The campaign to curtail drinking and driving has been running for decades, and most consider the statistics to prove the campaign is working. Over the holidays, however, people are more likely to indulge in one or two drinks when they normally may not. In 2019, more than 10,000 fatalities were attributed to alcohol-impaired driving. If you plan on drinking any alcohol, designate a driver or call a rideshare service to make sure you stay safe – as well as to keep others on the road safe.
Avoid Distracted Driving: Like driving under the influence of alcohol, distracted driving can be hazardous. You should always refrain from using your phone to text, email, or check your social media while behind the wheel. Glancing at a text keeps your eyes off the road for approximately 5 seconds, which means at a speed of 60 mph, you are traveling the length of a football field relatively blind.
Know your Route: These days, everyone has GPS systems on their phones or in their cars, which means that getting lost is less likely. Still, driving on dark or unfamiliar roads can be dangerous if you make sudden stops or turns. Be sure to stick to speed limits and pay close attention to the directions to avoid sudden, unexpected movements.

Child Passenger Safety

All children under the age of 12 are required to be buckled properly in the vehicle’s back seat.

Always utilize age-appropriate (and size-appropriate) car seats, boosters, and seat belts. Not using these devices correctly can increase the chances of death or severe injury by 80%. The driver should wear their own seat belt at all times to set an example for their children.

Teaching Teens to Drive Safely

The primary causes of teen accidents include inexperience, passenger distractions, night driving, and not properly wearing seat belts. Here are some tips for keeping teens safe over the holidays.

A Parent-Teen Driving Agreement is a document that outlines written driving rules, limits, and expectations. Both parents and teens read, sign and agree to the document.
Schedule some driving time with your teen before they get on the road this holiday season. Allowing them to practice under your supervision helps provide your teenager with valuable experience.
Be a driving role model by always ensuring your seat belt is fastened while the car is in motion. Make sure your teen wears their seat belt as well, whether they are the driver or a passenger. Wearing a seat belt will increase their chances of surviving a crash by 50%.

Senior Safety Tips

Older adults often prefer to maintain their driver’s license to keep their independence—however, the risk of being injured or killed in an automobile accident increase as individuals age. Seniors should ask their doctor to review all prescription and OTC medications and advise how they may affect their ability to drive. Senior citizens should also have an annual eye exam.

Holiday driving safety tips do not differ at all from year-round driving tips. However, the holidays provide an excellent opportunity to increase awareness and take driving more seriously.

The team at Probinsky & Cole wishes all of our clients, friends, and neighbors a safe and happy holiday season.