Tips for Driving Safely during the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time for family and friends to celebrate, and often includes people hitting the road more. Unfortunately, holiday road trips can take a turn for the worse, leading into DUI arrests, vehicle malfunctions, and fatal accidents. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for people age 1‒54 in the United States, with about 36,100 people killed in crashes in 2019. Early estimates indicate that crash deaths increased to 38,680 in 2020 — a 7 percent increase in deaths, despite people driving less.

Motor vehicle crash deaths and injuries can be prevented. Always buckle up, drive at safe speeds, and never drive impaired to help everyone stay safe on the road during the holiday season.

Safety Tips for All Drivers

• Do not drive when you are impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, and do not allow your family members or friends to drive while impaired. In 2019, alcohol-impaired driving contributed to more than 10,100 crash deaths. Impairment by any type of legal or illicit drug—not just alcohol—can increase crash risk. If you drink alcohol and/or use drugs, designate a sober driver, call a taxi, or use a ride share service to protect yourself and others on the road.

• Avoid distractions while driving, such as using your cell phone to text, email, or access social media. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for at least five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that is like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. Safe driving requires your full attention.

  
  
  

• Check the weather conditions before you head out on the road. Make sure to drive at a speed that is safe for road and weather conditions.

Child Passenger Safety Tips: 

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among children, but you can make a difference by making sure kids are always properly buckled. Protect yourself and your children and keep the holiday season injury free.

• Buckle children in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, and seat belts, which reduce the risk for serious injuries or death in a car crash by up to 80 percent.

• Children are safest when car seats and booster seats are used correctly. Buckle children the right way in the right seat and learn how to avoid the most common mistakes.

• Bulky/puffy coats should not be used underneath a car seat harness. Bulky clothing makes it difficult to tighten a car seat harness properly. A loose harness is dangerous and can lead to serious injuries or even ejection from the car seat in a crash. Instead, properly buckle the harness first, then place a coat or blanket over the buckled child. This will not interfere with the harness and will still keep the child warm.

• Remember that children age 12 and younger should be properly buckled in the back seat of the vehicle.

• Set a good example by always using a seat belt yourself.

Teen Driver Safety Tips

If you have a teen driver in your family, take advantage of CDC’s safe teen driving resources.

• Did you know the leading causes of teen crashes and injuries include driver inexperience, driving with teen passengers, nighttime driving, and not using seat belts?

  
  
  

• Discuss the rules of the road with your teen. Consider creating a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement that puts the rules in writing so that limits and expectations are clear.

• Get in supervised driving time with your teen over the holidays while they are not in school. Practicing driving under your supervision in different kinds of weather is helpful for providing your teen with valuable driving experience in varied conditions (when the weather is not too severe or dangerous).

• Require your teen to buckle up in every seating position and on every trip. Set a good example by doing the same. Using seat belts can reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a crash by about half.

Older Driver Safety Tips

Driving helps older adults stay mobile and independent. However, the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash increases as people age. Thankfully, if you are an older driver, there are steps you can take to stay safe on the road.

• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review medicines—both prescription and over-the-counter—to reduce side effects and interactions that could affect your ability to drive safely.

• Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. Wear glasses and corrective lenses as directed.

  
  
  

• Plan your route before you drive.

• Find the safest route with well-lit streets, intersections with left-turn signals, and easy parking.

• Download and use CDC’s MyMobility Plan for more tips and resources about how to make a plan to stay mobile and independent as you age. Take action now to prevent or reduce the effects of possible mobility changes.

Drivers are encouraged to rest before driving. Driving when you are tired can be incredibly dangerous. Make sure to get a good night’s sleep before leaving, take regular breaks, and swap out drivers when needed to make sure that the person driving the car is always alert.

For additional information visit https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/holiday-road-safety/index.html