New Year's Day is the deadliest on the roadways. E3 Spark Plugs offers tips for staying safe in the hectic Christmas and New Year holiday traffic.
When the sounds of sleigh bells and carolers get rudely interrupted by the sounds of glass shattering and metal crunching, you know your holiday spirit just took a dive. E3 Spark Plugs wants you and yours to enjoy a safe and happy holiday, so we’ve compiled a list of top holiday roadway safety tips.
It’s not exactly a news flash that America’s roadways are more dangerous during the holidays. Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve bashes nearly always involve drinking. Those who get a little too merry too often end up behind the wheel – and in the hospital. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 10-year Crash Stats study found that New Year’s Day is the deadliest day of the year for speeding-related fatal crashes, followed by Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. A high percentage of these accidents also involve drunk driving. In fact, 54 percent of all New Year’s Day accident deaths and 38% of Christmas-time car accident deaths are alcohol related, the NHTSA says.
To help keep you and your loved ones safe on the roadways this holiday season, follow these tips:
- If you and your family or friends plan to attend parties where you’ll be drinking, make sure you designate a driver and have a backup plan should your designated driver bail on you. Find the best local taxi services and load their phone numbers into your phone’s contacts list. Some cab services offer free rides to get inebriated passengers home safely.
- If you must drive and want to enjoy a drink, do so sparingly. Drink a glass of water or sparkling water between alcoholic drinks. Sip, don’t chug. And mingle. A lot. After all, you can’t talk and drink at the same time, and who knows who you’ll meet while you mingle.
- When driving, be hyper-aware of other vehicles around yours. Keep the radio volume low and the distracting chatter to a minimum so you can keep your eyes and ears on the road. If another car is having trouble staying in one lane or is driving too fast or too slow, steer clear of it. Even the safest driver can fall victim to a speeding, intoxicated one.
- Before you head out for the holidays – whether going out of state to a family gathering or just across town to a friend’s party – check your brakes and tires. Get a full brake inspection and, if it’s time for new brake pads, change them now. And double check that your tires are properly inflated. Underinflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries a year on America’s roadways. Plus, they suck up your gas mileage.
Got more holiday roadway safety tips? Post them on our Facebook fan page. And from all of us here at E3 Spark Plugs, have a fantastic holiday season!
