How to Be Road Safe During the Festive Season
During the festive season, it’s best to understand the risks of holiday road accidents. On average, there are more than 1,100 traffic accidents in Australia annually; sadly, there are more than 1,000 fatalities. A quarter of people admitted to hospital after a collision had a high threat to life. So, being involved in a car crash can have severe consequences.
While this might seem distressing data, the good news is you can prevent car accidents and injuries. Following the road rules and basic safety behaviours means you can arrive undamaged at your family gathering. The three essential practices are:
- Fasten your seatbelt
- Drive at a safe speed
- Driver sober
These basic actions can keep you and your loved ones safe during the holidays and festivities. Sounds simple, right? Please check out our guide to learn more about avoiding expensive and dangerous car accidents, traffic collisions and personal injury claims.
Holiday Safety Tips for Every Motorist
1) Drive Sober
You’ve probably heard this a lot: avoid driving when your behaviour is compromised due to alcohol or drugs. Any impairment exponentially increases your risk of harm. In Australia, about a quarter of all road fatalities are due to drunk driving or drug abuse. If you have been drinking or using substances, get a taxi, rideshare, or a lift with someone sober. You could save yourself and others from the worst festive season of their lives.
2) Stay Focused
Using your mobile phone for texts, emails, calls, or social media is a high accident risk. You take your attention away from the road for a minimum of 5 seconds when you send a text. Did you know you can travel the distance of a football field in 5 seconds at 80klm per hour? Consider the potential consequences of being blindfolded for that long. Is your text message so urgent that you are willing to risk your health, safety, and life?
3) Drive for the Weather Conditions
Are you driving a long distance to reach your holiday destination? Then, check the weather conditions before you leave. Australia typically has hot, sunny days during summer, but sometimes we also get fierce storms with pelting rain and hail. Whatever the weather, match your road behaviour and speed to the prevailing circumstances.
Road Safety Tips to Keep Your Children Safe
Motor vehicle accidents injure children every year, which is incredibly distressing during the holidays and festive season. Keep your children safe, secure and injury free.
1) Use Age Appropriate Seats
Use age-appropriate seats and restraints. Ensure that your boosters, car seats, and seat belts match the age of your children. The risk of death or harm can be reduced by 80%.
2) Reduce Excess Clothing
Remove bulky clothes before using a seat harness. Excessive clothing under a harness reduces seat restraint safety. A loose seat belt can contribute to injury or ejection during a car crash. Instead, reduce the amount of clothing, secure the restraint, and place a blanket or similar on top.
3) Be the Example
Remember, your children will follow your lead, so ensure you set the example for desired behaviour.
More about Child Seatbelt Laws >
Holiday Driving Tips for Teenagers
Do you have a young driver in your family? Be aware that they have a high risk of traffic accidents, injuries, and fatal car accidents.
1) Top Accident Risks
The top reasons for teenage injury in car accidents are lack of driving experience, having other young people in the car, nighttime road usage, insufficient attention and not wearing a seat belt.
2) Reinforce the Road Rules
It may be challenging, given the short attention span of some young people, but awareness is the best form of protection. Discuss the road rules with your teenagers and ask for their agreement. Failure to comply should have consequences. You might save their life.
3) Help them Learn
Give your teenager the gift of your time. The holidays may bring more time together and less traffic. This is a wonderful time to do supervised driving, where you can pass on valuable experience.
4) Monitor their Behaviour
Encourage (and try to monitor) your teenage motorist’s seat belt usage. Consider installing a dashcam or other device and routinely checking their road behaviour.
Holiday Road Safety Tips for Older Australians
Older drivers generally enjoy maintaining their freedom and independence, especially during the holiday season. But as you age, your risk of traffic accident injury and death escalates. You can, however, take steps to lower your risk.
1) Check Your Medications
Be sure your medication is not impairing your judgment. Ask your doctor or chemist for advice on drug safety and interactions so your capacity to drive safely is not compromised.
2) Check Your Vision
Have an annual vision check with an optometrist or eye doctor and update your glasses or lenses if required.
3) Plan Your Trip
Use a mapping tool to plan your drive to your holiday destination. Look for the safest and least congested route, and allow plenty of time to arrive.
4) Safety at Night
When driving at night, select routes with sufficient lighting. Negotiating small, narrow roads in the dark (particularly in regional areas) can be high risk, especially in bad weather.
What to Do When the Unexpected Happens
You can follow all the road rules and safety behaviours and still have a holiday accident due to the negligent actions of another driver. If this is your situation, you should contact our accident lawyers immediately. The steps you take following your incident will impact your legal outcome. In Queensland, all road users must have CTP insurance coverage with their vehicle registration.
When you are involved in an auto accident that is wholly or partly not your fault, you have the right to claim compensation for your loss. Contact our personal injury lawyers to learn about your legal rights. You pay nothing to start your case and owe us nothing until you win. Splatt Lawyers wishes you and your family all the best for the festive holiday season. Call Us: 1800 700 125.