Five holiday driving safety tips

This is the season for festive feasts and gatherings with friends and family. However, all the holiday activity can also mean more hazardous winter driving conditions.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), holiday traffic fatalities during peak periods like the New Year are about 10-12% higher than non-holiday periods of comparable length. Aside from road conditions, some of the key contributors to this uptick in motor vehicle accidents include:

Spike in vehicles on the road
More distracted and impaired drivers
More aggressive holiday shoppers behind the wheel
Lack of winter tires and other weather-appropriate equipment

Whether it’s work-related driving or getting to your holiday parties and dinners, we want to help get you there safely. To that end, here are five winter driving safety tips for the Holiday season.

Schedule required maintenance
Do your winter driving in off-peak times
Take regular breaks on long trips
Use that time to get out of the vehicle in a safe area, take a short walk, do some deep breathing, and just close your eyes to relax.  If you have another licensed adult with you, consider switching drivers at every rest stop.
Avoid distractions from children and pets while winter driving
There will inevitably come a time when you must tend to your child. When this happens, pull over to a safe place before intervening.
Eliminate phone distractions

Road safety is a shared responsibility

By observing best practices for holiday season driving, you’re protecting yourself and the other drivers who share the road. This is the best way to ensure everyone has a safe, happy, and memorable holiday season.