Road traffic increases during the Christmas season, especially on specific dates when shopping activity is at its peak and families are free from school and work obligations to travel in order to gather for the seasonal festivities.
Although this time of year is typically "downtime" for employees who drive for their company in a professional capacity (other than taxi drivers), you still have to be careful when out on the road and practise safe driving at Christmas.
The festive season is the occasion for celebrations, toasting, and good cheer, be it Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or any of the days in between! If you plan to attend a dinner or a party, make sure to avoid driving later.
The best way to avoid drinking and driving is to make the decision before you have your first drink. If you are attending a party celebration, consider the possibility of spending the night at your family or friends’ place, booking convenient accommodation, or simply ordering a taxi back home.
According to the RSA (Road Safety Authority) of Ireland, in the decade from 1997-2007, 1,557 people were seriously injured in road accidents during the traditional six-week Christmas and New Year period.
With all the traditional preparations and rush for Christmas, people often forget about other safety-related matters such as winter weather. If you have to drive during this time of the year, apart from taking into account the aforementioned advice, try to check your route in advance, as well as take stock of the weather conditions.
Drive slowly and carefully and leave plenty of time for your journey. Don’t be tempted to rush on the road simply because you are running late, but rather be late and make your apologies: always put safety before punctuality.
