How to Drive Defensively During the Holidays

Car crashes kill: more than 41,000 people die each year as a result of traffic collisions. Another two million suffer disabling injuries in car accidents. According to the National Safety Council, the odds of getting in a deadly crash increase threefold when driving at night and increase further when drivers are distracted or drunk. During the holiday season, the roads become deadlier as frenzied shoppers and intoxicated partiers get behind the wheel.

How to combat the dangers of deadly drivers? Defensive driving: a technique that can prove particularly valuable—and save lives—during the holiday season. Learning to be more alert on the road could help you avoid the situation caused by
Carmen Huertas in New York City. The mother accused of driving drunk after downing Cognac at a family birthday party, took to the road, visibly drunk, and raced down the highway at speeds nearing 70 mph; she lost control of her station wagon and crashed. She barely managed to wrench her daughter from the overturned car, leaving others to die.

Would you know what to do if an erratic driver were speeding toward you? You should. This holiday season, the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from drunk and distracted drivers, is by learning to drive defensively. Keep reading to learn how.

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Pay Attention to the Road

Turn off the cruise control. Too many of us drive as if we are on auto-pilot; we eat, drink, smoke, put on makeup, use cell phones, yell at our kids and do all sorts of other crazy stuff while driving, without a second thought.

Avoid falling into this trap of trying to do everything on the go. At the very least, refrain from dabbling in such distracting activities while driving. Keep your eyes up and tuned in to the task at hand. Focus on the road about 5 to 8 seconds ahead of you.

Expect the unexpected. Assume a “what if” posture and know what you would do if a driver were to swerve into your lane or suddenly hit the brakes. Scan the road ahead to be ready for any future obstacles you may encounter.
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Step 2

Follow Safe Driving Techniques

Keep your hands on the wheel, either in the 9 O'clock and 3 O'clock position or the 10 O'clock and 2 O'clock position. These positions are known to be the safest hand locations to use while driving and optimize your ability to maneuver the vehicle.

Maintain a cushion of free space on both sides of your vehicle; this allows for an exit route. When possible, drive in the outer lane of traffic, especially on the freeway. The road’s shoulder creates extra room to maneuver in case of an emergency.
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Step 3

Be Aware of Other Drivers

Look for drivers that seem preoccupied or are driving erratically. Avoid drivers that swerve, straddle the center line, weave in and out of traffic, stop abruptly or respond slowly to traffic signals. These are tell-tale signs of someone who is driving impaired.

If you encounter an impaired driver it is best to turn off at the nearest exit or pull off to the shoulder in a safe area and wait for them to pass. You should also notify the Highway Patrol or call 911 if you suspect that another driver is impaired.

Three months before Huertas’ drunken driving incident, another mother, Diane Schuler, drove her minivan the wrong way on the suburban Taconic Parkway in New York. Schuler hit an SUV killing herself along with her daughter, her three young nieces and the three men in the SUV. Toxicology tests found she had been drinking heavily and smoking marijuana. Remember, impaired drivers will not be watching out for you, so you must protect yourself from them.
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Step 4

Don’t Drive Impaired

Stay sober--or let someone who is--take the wheel. Alcohol-related crashes kill one person every 30 minutes in the United States. If there is a factor such as alcohol, drugs, fatigue, emotional stress or sickness--that may decrease your ability to drive safely--then you should definitely avoid getting behind the wheel.

Nearly 40 percent of all car accidents in the United States involve alcohol. Many people feel after having a few drinks that they are still capable of safely operating a motor vehicle. This can turn into a disastrous situation—as Carmen Huertas, who is facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted, learned after her drunk driving crash.
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Step 5

Obey the Rules of the Road

Respect the speed limit by trying to stay as close to the speed limit as possible. Driving too fast or too slow will increase the likelihood of a collision. Speed is a factor in about one out of three fatal crashes, according to NHTSA. Slow down and take a deep breath; a few minutes of panicked or rushed driving could kill you, being a few minutes late won’t.
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Step 6

Protect Your Space

Avoid “car clusters” and keep safe following distances. A safe following distance is about 3 to 5 seconds behind the car ahead. At higher speeds, 3 seconds will not be enough time to maneuver evasively if an emergency occurs in front of your vehicle, so as your speed increases, make sure you increase your following distance proportionally.

At 40 mph you should stay 4 seconds behind and at 50 mph or higher you should stay a minimum of 5 seconds behind the car ahead. You can measure how close you are following another car by spotting a landmark up ahead and counting how many seconds it takes you to reach it after the car ahead of you.

Also, be sure to increase your following distance when in bad weather, traveling on rough roads, driving at night and when you encounter any other situation where your visibility is limited. If you find yourself being tailgated, slow down slightly without braking, signal and change lanes, allowing the vehicle to pass.
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Step 7

Strive For Perfection

Protect yourself and your passengers. Plan on making every car trip perfect this holiday season. Pride yourself on always wearing your seatbelt and ensuring that every other passenger is doing the same. According to the National Safety Council, drivers who buckle up have a 45 percent better chance of surviving a crash, and a 50 percent better chance of surviving without a moderate-to-critical injury.