When it comes to driving safely this holiday season, there is always the chance of danger. Accidents can happen at any time due to your company vehicle, weather, road conditions, and even other drivers on the road. There are a lot of variables that simply cannot be controlled at all, this makes it more nerve-wracking and even a bit dangerous when driving out on the road.
The holiday season is among us, and this is the time where road accidents are on the rise. The holiday season may be one of the best times of the year thanks to decoratively lit streets, celebrations with loved ones, and all the gifts given during this time. However, all of this excitement can lead to safety needing to be top of mind.
Why do most accidents happen during the holiday season?
This is the time of year where everyone wants to travel. People are wanting to see their families, friends, go out for holiday fun and cheer. This time of year is when multiple events happen from concerts to holiday-related events. Shopping is prevalent, shops and restaurants are open longer, which in general causes more traffic. Not to mention supply chain logistics. Shops have increasing demand thanks to the shopping season which means more stock is needed. Those who do online shopping contribute to more delivery drivers being needed. In general, thanks to travel during the holiday season, there are a lot of people on the road, and this has a great demand.
Not only is there more traffic out, but the weather will also contribute to it. In some areas, there is far more snow, rain, and sleet. This immediately causes dangers on the roads, but topping that off with the excess demand of drivers on the road can be a bad combination. In short, most accidents that happen during the holiday season are due to weather and the sheer amount of traffic.
While it’s important for you to drive safely during the holiday season, you should know that you can’t control how others drive. Some accidents can be avoided, some can’t, it’s the dark truth. There are fortunately ways that you can stay safe while driving this holiday season. These are some tips to help anyone who drives in their career stay safe on the roads this holiday season. However, if you meet with an accident due to someone else’s negligence and are not in your own state or city, you can still file a lawsuit to get fair compensation for your loss. You may go for a no-obligation consultation to ensure your rights on the road in such a situation.
Try to plan ahead
If your job requires you to drive almost every day, it may not be possible to plan ahead, and that’s completely understandable. But it’s best to try and look into some ways that you can try to avoid any accidents that could be caused on your end. Decreasing stress while driving during the holiday season is absolutely crucial. You want to make sure that your vehicle is safe, and you want to make sure that you’re safe.
If this is a company vehicle then discuss getting it fixed. No matter what vehicle your company owns whether it’s cars, trucks, even motorcycles, all should be looked into. Something such as a Harley Davidson service repair manuals can be very useful, especially if the company you work for is heavily involved with motorcycles. Just make sure your vehicle gets the right service whether it’s you, a third-party repair shop, or a repair service that your employer has.
Get the right coverage
If you’re driving a company-owned vehicle, then most likely your vehicle is already covered. If you’re self-employed or driving your own vehicle for your work-related duties then you must make sure you’re covered. Talk to your insurance agent about accident coverage options. Accidents are unexpected, and anything could happen. Having proper coverage will give you and your employer peace of mind. You’ll have the protection you need in case something goes completely wrong.
Protect the vehicle from thefts and break-ins
With the holiday cheer and the fast-paced life it brings, people tend to forget that car theft is very much prevalent during the holiday season. Whether it’s your vehicle or your employer’s vehicle, you must do what you can to avoid the risk of burglary. There are fortunately plenty of ways to avoid car theft. Make sure there are no valuables within the vehicle (though this can be understandable if you’re transporting supplies for your job), park mindfully, and try to look into other ways to reduce the risk of your vehicle becoming a target. Car thefts do happen during the holiday season, and petty thefts tend to be on the rise.
Look into practicing beforehand
If you’re someone who is not accustomed to driving in heavy rain, sleet, ice, or snow then it may be best to practice before you begin doing any heavy driving during the holidays. Regardless of what your job is and what the driving duties are, it’s crucial to stay protected and prepared. The weather is one of the leading causes of accidents on the road.
Look for an empty parking lot and practice stopping and turning in the snow. This will give your mind and your muscles a bit of a refresher. You need to be confident while driving in bad weather, lack of confidence will lead to accidents. Especially when it comes to snow and freezing temperatures.
Avoid driving during peak holidays
Unfortunately, during Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve there are a lot of accidents on the road. Many people are on the road doing joy rides, and it can become too unpredictable. Drunk driving is quite prevalent during these holidays which will increase the likelihood of accidents. If it’s possible, try to avoid driving during these days, especially New Years’ Eve. You can’t control how other drivers are, but you can control how you drive. Skipping the road on these three days may even save your life.
Drive during off-hours
During sunrise and sunset is when most of the people are on the road. This includes people traveling for holiday-related events, commuting to work, road tripping, or driving for their job. There are plenty of reasons why someone may be out of the road, and most of the time, this takes place from 7 am to 10 pm. If possible, it may be far more efficient for you and your job to travel out of these hours.
If you’ve ever driven around past midnight on a Tuesday, then you know that the streets and highways tend to be pretty empty. It’s not fun doing the red-eye drive, especially with it being so dark outside. But doing so may keep you safe, avoid bad drivers, avoid traffic, and it also increases the likelihood that you’ll be at your destination much sooner.
Avoid multitasking behind the wheel
One of the things you should not ever do is to try to multitask behind the wheel. It doesn’t matter if this is for your job or not, just try to avoid doing it at all costs. Multitasking behind the wheel puts you and others at great risk of getting into life-threatening accidents. Whether it’s texting, having calls, configuring your GPS, fiddling with music, or eating, just don’t do it. One second with your eyes away from the road can cause a lot of accidents. If you’re a multitasker, then see if a coworker can accompany you.
Bring a cell phone charger
Depending on your job, you may need to use a Ham Radio or maybe even your phone. It all depends on your line of work, industry, and the vehicle you’re using too. It’s best to always have a charger with you for your phone in case any emergencies happen. But it’s also far easier to just have a phone with battery power in case you need to make a phone call or look for directions to the nearest truck stop.
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