The holiday season is here with us again. This is the time of the year to celebrate and take a break from our busy day-to-day lives, and many individuals will be heading out of their homes to spend time with friends or family.
With many people driving during this time, road usage reaches its peak and adding to the fact that the weather conditions are usually not too favorable, the likelihood of road accident is normally at an all-time high. In fact, if you take a look at the annual global road crash statistics, you will realize that the crashes occur more frequently in the month of December than any other month. This is the time that towing companies around the globe receive the highest number of emergency calls. However, you don’t need to be alarmed; you will be safe as long as you drive safely.
The Importance of Driving Safe during the Holidays
Although it is advisable to practice safe driving all through the year, this is the time that you need to be more careful on the roads if your life and that of your loved ones or friends really matter to you. This is because there are more accidents during this time than any other time of the year. Accidents are normally caused due to the following reasons;
1) Everyone Is In a Happy Mood and Cares Less About the Day To Day Road Safety Concerns
Most families are eager to travel away from home to celebrate, and the thought of an exciting adventure ahead gives everyone adrenaline rush. Under such conditions, motorists tend to pay less attention to road safety, instead they drive carelessly and consequently they are involved in accidents. That is why towing companies often have a lot of work to do during the holidays.
2) Heavy Traffic Congestion
There is always an increased number of families on the road who are heading to far off destinations. As a result, many of them tend to drive more aggressively, putting other road user’s safety at risk. Heavy traffic congestion may also cause motorists to be more stressed at the wheel, resulting in road accident. Simply put, heavy traffic coupled with long-distance driving leads to fatigue, stressed drivers and eventual road accidents.
3) Rampant Drunk Driving
People drink more during the holidays because there are many parties and other festivities. There are so many social occasions to drink, making it pretty tricky to stay safe and sober behind the wheel. The problem is that holiday drinkers are people who don’t drink quite often, so they have a lower alcohol tolerance. They usually underestimate their level of impairment and drive when they are not supposed to, consequently endangering the lives of all road users. Towing companies cash in a lot during this time, as they receive many emergency calls to tow away vehicles that have been involved in impaired driving accidents.
4) Holiday Rush
When every holiday season sets in, we have to deal with the increased pressures as well as stress that the holidays place upon most of us. Whether we are traveling to be with our families or do our last-minute gift shopping, we always feel under pressure during such times, leading to road rage and aggressive driving. Road rage and aggressive driving put the life of every road user at risk.
Tips On How To Stay Safe On the Road During the Holidays
1) Don’t Drive When You Are In a Bad State of Mind
Pay attention to your emotions and consider taking a break if you feel too stressed out, or are experiencing any other negative emotions. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and relax for some minutes before you get back behind the wheel with relief.
2) Don’t Be Distracted
When you are driving, try to focus on what you are doing. Even if your passengers are madly overwhelmed with the holiday adrenaline and they are celebrating wildly, don’t put your lives at risk by joining the frenzy. Not only could this cause you to make a mistake, but it may also hinder you from paying attention to other drivers and the silly errors that they may make on the road.
3) Do Not Drive under Fatigue
Do not set off on a journey tired otherwise you might doze off behind the wheel only to find yourself in the ICU. If you have to travel, it would be wise to find a driver or ask a loved one or friend to take you and your family to where you want to go.
Conclusion
Statistics show that the holidays are when you are most likely to get involved in an accident. If you have plans to travel during these times, beware of the risks you may face on the road and take the necessary precautions to keep your loved ones safe.
