12/27/2013
Keep Road Safety in Mind During the Holidays
Holiday driving isn’t always merry – so knowing potential perils can help drivers keep their spirits bright. The days just before Christmas, as people rush to buy presents and travel to holiday destinations, can be more dangerous on roadways than the days surrounding Thanksgiving and New Year’s, according to a recent study of traffic data.
In 2012, there were 1,996 accidents from Dec. 21-26. During the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after the holiday last year, there were 1,698 accidents. From Dec. 27 to New Year’s Day in 2013, there were 1,552 accidents. The increase at Christmas was probably a result of the increased traffic due to late Christmas shopping, coupled with long distance travel where many might not be familiar with their travel environment.
So during these holidays, stay aware of the following safety tips:
• Always use safety restraints, even on the shortest of trips.
• Never drive with cell phone or texting distractions; and anticipate this behavior in others by the actions of all vehicles around you. Get and stay away from these problematic vehicles.
• Drive with the flow of traffic, and do not exceed the speed limit. A 10-mph reduction in speed doubles your chances of surviving an accident.
• Get Christmas shopping done early, and avoid the Pre-Christmas rush, especially after dark.
• Avoid being out in inclement weather. Weather has a great impact on crashes in general, although they tend to be of lower severity.
