The following is a guest post by Gina Holstead, a retired police officer, who maintains the website, Law Enforcement Training , designed to help students interested in police, security and criminal just degrees find the right program. Gina can be reached at gina@lawenforcementtraining.org.
The holiday season is just around the corner, but unfortunately it isn’t always a time of celebration. The holidays are the most dangerous time to drive, not only because of adverse weather conditions but also the frequency of holiday parties between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Accidents and deaths from drunk driving spike around the holidays. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), alcohol is the cause of over 57 percent of fatal collisions on Christmas Day and New Year’s compared to 41 percent the rest of the year. While there has been a steady decline in the rate of alcohol-related deaths on the roads over the past few decades, an estimated 1,200 Americans will lose their lives this holiday season as a result of drunk driving.
The best way to reduce these risks is to avoid driving whenever you drink alcohol, even if it’s only one drink. Aside from that, you should take extra care when driving this holiday season, especially when weather conditions are bad and on weekend evenings when parties are more likely to occur.
Wear Your Seatbelt – This tip is easy to overlook, but it will seriously reduce your risk of injury or death if you are in a car accident with a drunk driver.
Don’t Be Distracted – Any distractions may keep you from concentrating on the road. Don’t talk on your cell phone or text, and keep conversation to a minimum if you need to. Make sure your passengers understand it’s important your focus on the road.
Stay Calm – It’s easy to get frustrated over congested roads and bad weather during the holidays, especially if you’re trying to get to a relative’s home in time to open presents. But frustration can cause you to make poor decisions.
Have a Designated Driver – Before going to holiday festivities, choose a designated driver or plan a ride ahead of time. You should also have the number of a local taxi or an available friend handy in case you overindulge and need a ride home.
Consider the Time – Try to avoid driving at night during the holidays, even if this means leaving a celebration early or spending the night at a family member’s home. This will significantly reduce your risk of coming in contact with a drunk driver.
The following is a guest post by Gina Holstead, a retired police officer, who maintains the website, Law Enforcement Training , designed to help students interested in police, security and criminal just degrees find the right program. Gina can be reached at gina@lawenforcementtraining.org.
The holiday season is just around the corner, but unfortunately it isn’t always a time of celebration. The holidays are the most dangerous time to drive, not only because of adverse weather conditions but also the frequency of holiday parties between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Accidents and deaths from drunk driving spike around the holidays. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), alcohol is the cause of over 57 percent of fatal collisions on Christmas Day and New Year’s compared to 41 percent the rest of the year. While there has been a steady decline in the rate of alcohol-related deaths on the roads over the past few decades, an estimated 1,200 Americans will lose their lives this holiday season as a result of drunk driving.
The best way to reduce these risks is to avoid driving whenever you drink alcohol, even if it’s only one drink. Aside from that, you should take extra care when driving this holiday season, especially when weather conditions are bad and on weekend evenings when parties are more likely to occur.