Safe Driving This Holiday Season

By Mike Wilcox

The holidays mean more travel both for distance and in the city. It can also mean driving in difficult road conditions such as ice and snow. Another possible problem is driving in these conditions when you are slightly tipsy from the festivities of a holiday party. It can seriously ruin your holidays if you have a serious accident during that time.

Watch Your Drinking

If you are planning on drinking at a party, take a taxi and plan to take one home. If you are hosting a party, collect the keys of your guests when they come in, so you can make sure they are not too impaired to drive home. When the weather is bad, even being slightly tipsy can cause you to make an error while driving and it puts you, your passengers and the other cars on the road at risk.

Prepare for Poor Road Conditions

Another big risk of driving around the holidays is that the weather can suddenly turn bad. A light snowstorm is enough to make driving hazardous until the roads are cleared after the storm. When driving on snowy or icy roads, slow down. Allow yourself more time to stop, and make sure that you do not follow the person in front of you too closely. Driving in the tracks already on the road can make it easier for your tires to grip the road. If you do not need to go out during a storm, then you should stay home. This is the best way to stay safe during winter weather.

Plan for Long Trips

Over the holidays many people take long road trips home to see family. It is easy to become tired and to cause accidents when you are on the road for several hours straight. One way to deal with this is to plan frequent stops along the trip. Stoop for meals, but also get out every few hours to stretch your legs and break up the monotony. Another option is to split the driving with another driver. Switching off at each break will keep you both fresh and alert when it is your turn to drive. If you are too tired to drive, then you should pull over and sleep for a few hours before pushing through to the end of your trip. An emergency car kit that continues a few blankets, some extra food and water should be a part of packing for every road trip.

Make Car Maintenance a Priority

It is a good idea to take your car into to the mechanic to have it prepared for winter. The mechanic can do a tune-up and top up the fluids your car will need to deal with winter weather. If you are planning a big road trip over the holidays, make the time to get the tune-up before you go. This will make it easier for your car to make the long trip and can prevent you from being stranded on the side of the road.

Review Directions Before You Leave

Although GPS unites make traveling much easier, it is a good idea to review the road instructions before you leave. This will give you a generally idea of where you are going, and when you should get there. It can also help you if there is a sudden detour or if your GPS unit suddenly goes out. Reviewing the directions will also make it easier to determine when and where to stop, and will allow you to book a hotel room, if you need to stay overnight along the way. Over the holidays hotels fill up quickly, and you do not want to be forced to continue to drive when you are tired.

Remember Country Driving Rules

If you primarily drive in the city, it is important to remember to slow down when you are in the country on the smaller roads. Take the turns slowly, and be careful of turns and curves near hedgerows. If you are driving on a one-lane road you should slow down so you can stop quickly if you need to. Similarly if you are driving to the city be prepared to deal with heavier traffic.

If you are planning on driving through the holiday season, it is important to remember to be patient. Take your time to arrive at your destination and plan ahead for unexpected delays. Make sure that you plan ahead if you plan on drinking t holiday parties. If you do these things you should be safe driving over the holiday season.