Winter brings about two significant risks for drivers — colder weather and the holidays. Both can increase the risk of a car accident. Even if you’ve figured out the best day to travel to your holiday celebration to avoid the crowds, icy or snow-covered roads can make things more dangerous.
Staying safe on the road during the holidays means understanding the risks and knowing how to be extra safe.
Car accidents during the holidays
Many factors contribute to the increase in car accidents over the winter holidays. Not only are there simply more cars on the road, but it’s easier for drivers to be distracted or impaired. Toss in some wintery weather and there’s a lot to watch out for.
Significant increases in traffic occur for two reasons. First, the shoppers. There are more people out shopping for groceries and presents, hitting up sales and even returning items. With time off for the holidays, more people are also going places to do activities and eat out. This doesn’t even account for those cars heading out of town for a winter vacation either. More cars on the road means more chances for a winter car accident.
The holidays also mean more parties and celebrations. From Christmas to New Year’s, there’s a lot to celebrate and potentially more drivers on the road who have had a little too much to drink. It can also mean more people are driving tired, which is also dangerous. These could be people coming home from a fun-filled vacation or simply driving back from a late night out.
Distracted driving can also increase this time of year. There is more talking on the phone to make holiday plans, more stress about hosting or worry about buying the right gifts. These can all take your mind off the road and delay your response time should something unexpected occur while driving.
Weather can also be a factor, even here in Georgia. Since it snows and ices over so infrequently, these kinds of weather conditions can create major issues on the road. Many drivers won’t know how to maneuver safely, making it dangerous for them and those driving around them.
Holiday car accident statistics
The two biggest holidays as far as winter car accidents are concerned are Christmas and New Year’s. Georgia’s Department of Public Safety tracks car accidents for a 102-hour period around both holidays. In 2023, there were 589 traffic accidents in Georgia during Christmas and 306 during New Years. These resulted in hundreds of injuries.
While the total number of fatal car crashes isn’t too much higher during the holidays, those that involve alcohol increase by a significant amount. According to the National Safety Council, alcohol-related fatalities on Christmas are 5% higher than the national average. On New Year’s Day, they were 9% higher.
Ways to decrease your risk of car accidents during the holidays
While it’s impossible to completely avoid risk while out on the road, during the winter holidays, there are some extra steps you can take to improve your chances of staying safe.
Be aware of the weather
No matter where you spend the holidays, make sure you check weather conditions before heading out on the road. You want to know if there’s a chance of snow, ice or any other weather that could make driving a little more dangerous.
Drive carefully
If you do end up driving on icy roads or in unfamiliar weather, the best thing to do is give yourself a little extra room. Keeping more distance between you and the car in front of you can give you more time to respond to the unexpected. You also want to watch your speed. Driving too fast in wintery conditions can make it harder to slow down safely. It could also potentially cause your car to skid.
Know how to handle common risks
Georgia may not be known for its snow, but ice does happen, and on the roads, you need to watch out for black ice. It’s not always easy to spot it, but in the right lighting conditions, you can see it. Usually, black ice is the shiny or glossy spot on an otherwise dull road. The safest way to approach it is to avoid it. If that’s not an option, or you find yourself going through a patch unexpectedly and want to avoid a black ice car accident, do as little as possible. Don’t hit the brakes and don’t panic. Your car simply needs to pass over the ice and the only thing you should try to do is keep your vehicle going straight with minimal adjustments to the steering wheel.
Whether on black ice or another slippery spot of road, should your car skid, make sure you know what to do. Although your instinct may be to slam on the brakes, what you need to do is simply take your foot off the accelerator and turn the steering wheel to get yourself back in the right direction.
Avoid driving under the influence
If you know you’re headed to a party where you’ll most likely drink, make arrangements in advance to not drive. Either go with a group that has a designated driver or look into rideshare options or a taxi.
Who to call after a winter car accident
While you can do your best to drive safely on the roads throughout the winter holiday season, there’s always a risk. If you find yourself injured after a car accident during the holidays, you don’t have to handle the aftermath alone. The dedicated team at Watson Injury Law has your back. After a free consultation, we devise a customized plan of action to help you get the compensation you deserve. We’re here throughout the holidays, and all year long, should you need us.