A recent article in EHS Today, notes that when you mix the pressure of the holidays with winter weather you get some very dangerous driving conditions. Driver safety expert Doug Horn, who founded driving safety program “Drive by Example” notes the four most dangerous holiday driving hazards:
1. Distracted Driving: Cell phone give us many reasons for distraction – talking, texting, and surfing the web should wait until you reach your destination.
2. Impaired Driving: Holiday parties usually incude alcohol so be sure to choose a designated driver.
3. Pressured Driving: Many people feel the added pressure of doing so much in a tight window of time. Many times drivers will drive too fast or too aggressively without regard for the rules of the road. Be aware of those around you.
4. Fatigued Driving. “Increased demands and activities during the winter holidays often mean significantly reduced sleep schedules,” Horn states. “According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, people who slept 6-7 hours a night were twice as likely to be involved in a crash as those sleeping 8 hours or more, while people sleeping less than 5 hours increased their risk four to five times.”
Take note of these dangers and be careful in these remaining days of 2012.