How to stay safe on the road during the holidays

The winter holidays are a joyous time, but they can be risky for drivers.

Drunk driving related car accidents surge during the holidays—and we’re not just talking about New Year’s Eve. Thanksgiving eve—aptly named “Blackout Wednesday,” “Drinksgiving” and “Whiskey Wednesday”—is one of the worst days of the year for alcohol-impaired car accidents and deaths.

Bad weather, such as black ice, hail, or snow, also makes roads more dangerous during the winter holidays.

Here’s how to protect your vehicle—and yourself—while on the road this holiday season.

Buckle up. We can’t emphasize enough the importance of wearing a seat belt. Of the Americans who were killed in traffic crashes at night during the 2019 Thanksgiving weekend, 54% were unbuckled. Encourage passengers in your car to buckle up, too, including those in the back seat.

Had a few cocktails? Don’t get behind the wheel. You need to be sharp when you’re driving. Drunk drivers caused 6,007 fatal crashes during the holidays from 2010 to 2018. If you’ve had a few drinks and don’t feel confident in your ability to drive, don’t get behind the wheel—instead, hail a cab or an Uber, or have a sober friend drive you home.

Appoint a designated driver. Going out for drinks with family or friends? Assign a designated driver and hold the person to a zero-drink policy.

Watch out for drunk drivers. Even if you’re sober, others on the road might not be. Keep your eyes peeled for signs of a drunk driver; they include failure to turn headlights on at night, erratic braking, illegal turning, tailgating, drifting, swerving, or weaving.

Check the weather before you hit the road. Look at your local forecast before you drive during the winter holidays, since roads can be hard to navigate this time of year because of snow, ice, and other inclement weather. If you must drive in snowy or icy conditions, drive slowly and defensively.

Get your car serviced. Those wintry road conditions? Make sure your vehicle is prepared for them by having a mechanic give your car a pre-winter tune-up, checking your car’s battery, antifreeze, ignition system, heater, headlights and hazard lights, exhaust system, brakes, defroster, and oil.

Avoid congested areas. Shopping centers, main streets, and major highways can be hotbeds for heavy traffic. If possible, avoid driving through these areas during busy times of the day.

Maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you. Remember that you could be sharing the road with drivers who are impaired by alcohol during the holidays. These drivers may abruptly change lanes, slow down, or even slam on their car’s brakes with little warning. As a result, many experts recommend following the three-second rule, where you leave a three -second gap between your car and the vehicle in front of you.

Expand your auto insurance coverage. Now is the time to upgrade to Electric Insurance’s Premier Choice Auto plan. You’ll get trip interruption coverage, accident forgiveness coverage (see sidebar), and other perks for only about 7% more than an Auto Plus policy. Upgrade today so that your new coverage is in place before Thanksgiving.

Take the Risk Coach™ Approach

A 2022 survey found that 96% of survey respondents misunderstood at least one important feature of their auto coverage. More than half misunderstood several. We want better than that for our clients. When you work with our Risk Coaches, you’ll work with a licensed insurance professional who’ll help you get the right coverage at the best price. 

Chat to Contact a Risk Coach

Use the chat feature on this page, or call us for a no-cost, no-obligation-to-buy, coverage needs assessment. Our Risk Coaches are ready to help you review your car insurance policy and fill any gaps in coverage before the holidays begin. They’re available at 800.342.5342  Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

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