The period between Christmas and New Year sees a surge in traffic volumes, often accompanied by an increase in car accidents.
Wintery conditions add to the risk of road accidents. To stay safe on the roads, keep your wits about you and practice defensive driving. Driving defensively doesn’t mean driving aggressively. It means keeping a sharp eye on the road so that you can anticipate and respond to hazards quickly.
Here’s what the holiday traffic data indicates, followed by practical strategies you can use to ensure a safe journey over the festive season.
By the Numbers: The Latest Statistics on Holiday Driving
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that over 700 people may die on the roads between Christmas and New Year’s Day. This is largely due to increased traffic density, reckless driving and adverse weather conditions.
Speeding
Arity, a mobility data and analytics company, analyzed the driving behavior dataset of nearly 40 million connected U.S. drivers from 2020 to 2022.
The data revealed that speeding increases around Christmas. In 2022, they found driving at speeds above 80 miles per hour increased by 68% on December 26 compared to the same day a week prior (December 19). The greatest rate of high-speed driving occurs around 8 a.m. the day after Christmas.
Distracted Driving
Arity’s data also showed distracted driving increased during the days leading up to Christmas. Over the three years, distraction rates were around 4% higher on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day compared to the three days prior and 8% higher than the three days after.
Distracted driving is its highest on New Year's Eve — 20% higher between 9 p.m. and midnight than the night before and 46% higher on January 1st from midnight to 2 a.m. compared to the week prior.
Impaired Driving
Drunk driving is another major contributor to holiday season traffic deaths. NSC data for 2021 showed that, on average, 36% of traffic fatalities over Christmas and 40% over New Year's involved alcohol-impaired driving, compared to 31% throughout the year.
When you add severe weather conditions, like rain, sleet, and snow, the risk of car crashes significantly increases. Over 1,300 people are killed, and more than 116,800 people are injured in car crashes on snowy, slushy, or icy roads annually.
Stay Safe on the Roads With Defensive Driving
Learning defensive driving techniques can help you mitigate the risk of a car accident over the holiday period. In a defensive driving course, you will learn:
Situational awareness. Continuously scan the road, surroundings (including pedestrians and cyclists), and your blind spots to identify potential hazards.
How to be careful at intersections. According to the Federal Highway Administration, roughly one-quarter of traffic fatalities and about half of all traffic injuries occur at intersections every year.
Safe following distances. Follow the three-second rule, i.e., count three seconds between the time the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed point and the time you pass the same point.
How to anticipate hazards. You can’t control what other drivers will do, but you can watch for signs that they may turn or swerve in front of you without warning.
Defensive maneuvering. Suppose a child unexpectedly runs into the road; you’ll learn how to react instantly to avoid an accident. Defensive maneuvering will also show you the correct way to react if your vehicle skids or fishtails on slick roads.
Preparing for Holiday Travel
Pre-holiday planning is essential for a safe and stress-free trip. Here’s what to consider when planning a road trip over the holidays.
Take your vehicle for an inspection and tune-up. You want to be sure your tires, windscreen wipers, brakes, and lights are all in good working condition.
Pack an emergency kit. Include items such as battery jumper cables, reflective triangles, extra blankets, snacks and water. Keep a list of emergency contact numbers in the car.
Plan your route. Apps like Google Maps and Waze can provide you with the shortest travel route, updates on weather conditions, and routes where construction or other delays are present.
Take in-car entertainment for the little ones. Kids can become bored on long roads. That can lead to disruptive behavior that can distract the driver. Take games, music and other forms of entertainment along to keep them occupied.
Common Driving Mistakes Over The Holidays and How To Avoid Them
If you must travel over the holidays, here are some common driving mistakes to avoid.
Traveling on the same day that everyone else is. Historically, most people head to their Christmas destinations on December 23, and most return home on December 26. Knowing this, you could avoid those days and travel on days with less traffic instead.
Rushing. Pack well ahead of time. This will give you time to double-check that you have all your necessities, including the Christmas gifts! Leaving early means you’ll be more relaxed and have extra time for potential traffic delays.
Impatience. Congested traffic can turn impatient drivers into aggressive ones. It can even spark road rage incidents. Listening to your favorite music or an interesting podcast can keep you calm.
Conclusion
Driving over the holidays can be fraught with many hazards. Adopting a defensive driving mindset helps you maintain an acute awareness of your surroundings at all times. This can help you anticipate the actions of other road users so you can react quickly, pre-empting potentially dangerous situations.
Investing in a defensive driving course equips you with advanced driving skills to stay safe on the roads all year round.
Updated 12/12/2024
