The holiday season kicks off with Thanksgiving and continues through the New Year, bringing six weeks of fun and festivities. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the riskiest times to hit the roads. With more people off work, traveling to visit family and friends, and gathering for parties, traffic is at its peak. All that celebrating also leads to increased incidents of impaired driving, a danger that affects everyone on the road.

Last year, the National Safety Council projected 345 fatalities during the holiday season — a stark reminder of just how serious these risks can be.

The Dangers of Impaired Driving

During the 2023 holiday season alone — from November 1 through January 1 — Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) predicts that there are an estimated 21 million chances that you or someone you love could encounter a drunk driver on the road. Every 42 minutes, another life will be claimed by a drunk driver.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) 2019 to 2022 reports, holiday-related drunk driving crashes increase by as much as 40% compared to other times of the year. In 2021 alone, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, 1,247 people lost their lives in alcohol-related crashes.

Plan Ahead for a Safe Ride Home

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating over the holidays, but planning ahead is the key to making sure you — and everyone else — get home without a hitch.

Pace Yourself and Stay Hydrated

If you’ll be drinking, pace yourself and alternate alcoholic drinks with water. Staying hydrated can help minimize impairment effects and keep you more alert. And remember, buzzed driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving.

Don’t Fall for Drinking and Driving Myths

Many drivers overestimate their ability to drive under the influence, while others operate under some false beliefs.

• Drinking coffee is not a quick fix. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it can counteract the sedative effect of alcohol, but it won’t lower your blood alcohol level or immediately improve the effects of alcohol on your coordination and reaction time.

• Waiting an hour will not sober you up. It takes approximately one to two hours for the body to metabolize one standard drink. However, other factors like your weight, number of drinks, how much you’ve eaten, and how tired you are, can also affect how quickly you recover from drinking.

• You don’t have to be slurring to be too drunk to drive. Just because you’re not showing typical signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech or unsteady walking, you’re not necessarily safe to get behind the wheel. At a 0.05% blood alcohol concentration level, you are already impaired and should not drive. 

Get a Sober Driver — Or Stay Put

If you’re planning to drink, arrange for a sober driver, or use public transportation, a rideshare app, or a taxi. Even better, if you’re celebrating at someone’s home, plan to stay overnight.

Stay Safe Behind the Wheel

Even if you’re completely sober, holiday road conditions can be challenging. These quick tips can help you stay safe each time you hit the roads.

Prepare for Winter Weather

In many regions, holiday travel means driving through snow, sleet, or ice. Slippery roads can cause skids or longer stopping distances, so it’s important to slow down. Ensure your tires are winter-ready and keep an emergency kit in your car in case of unexpected delays or breakdowns.

Plan for Shorter Days

Since there’s less daylight during the winter months, the holidays often mean more driving in the dark. Turn your headlights on at night and avoid looking directly into oncoming headlights to reduce glare. If night vision is challenging, limit nighttime driving or plan for well-lit routes.

Avoid Drowsy or Distracted Driving

With busy holiday schedules, many drivers are more tired and distracted than usual, and drowsy driving is more dangerous than you think. Be well-rested before hitting the road, take breaks on longer drives, and resist the urge to multitask. Stay off your phone, set your playlist before you leave, and don’t let your GPS distract you.

Always Buckle Up

No matter how cautious you are behind the wheel, you can’t always control what other drivers do. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to buckle up every single time and insist your passengers do the same. The NHTSA reports that on average, someone dies in a car crash every 47 minutes simply because they weren’t wearing a seat belt. In 2022 alone, 11,302 lives were lost in crashes involving unbuckled passengers. Be smart, don’t become a statistic.

Make Responsible Choices This Holiday Season

As you celebrate the holidays, remember that safe driving is one of the most important gifts you can give yourself and others. Make responsible decisions on the road, plan ahead if you’re celebrating, and make sure everyone buckles up.

Want to be even safer and more confident behind the wheel this season? Consider sharpening your skills with DriversEd.com's Online Traffic School. 

Updated 11/19/2024