The holiday season marks the time of year when many of you will be spending a lot of time behind the wheel. Driving safely shouldn’t be taken lightly. Keep you and your family out of harm’s way by staying alert whenever you are out on the road. Take a look at our top four tips to keep you safe on the road this holiday season.

1. Don’t drink and drive

This one’s a given; however, all of the holiday hustle and bustle can make it easy to forget. This time of year is filled with happy hours and holiday dinners galore, but the rules and dangers are still the same: ZERO tolerance when it comes to alcohol.

If you plan on painting the town red this holiday season:

Arrange to have a designated driver

Ask someone who won’t be drinking during the evening’s festivities to give you a safe ride home. Important tip: make sure that your driver stays sober the entire night and doesn’t let their responsibilities slide.

Take public transportation

Do you live somewhere with good public transportation? If so, use it! Public transportation is the perfect budget-friendly option to get you home safe and sound.

Call a taxi

Before heading out for the evening, make sure that you jot down the phone number or download the app for a taxi service that can get you where you need to go—safely.

Plan to use a safe ride home service

Safe ride home services pop up all over Canada during the holiday season. This option is easy on the bank account, and what’s even better is that you’ll wake up the next morning with your car parked safely in your driveway.

Stay the night

When visiting family or friends during the holidays, ask if you can crash at their place for the night and return home the next morning.
*Return the favour when inviting them to your place.

2. Drive safe

Unpredictable weather throughout the holiday season means that you have to be on your best behaviour:

Slow down

We all know that excessive speed on the road is dangerous. During the winter, it can become disastrous. Always stay calm and alert when driving, no matter what time of day.

Maintain a safe distance

Slow down and avoid making unnecessary traffic manoeuvres such as continuously changing lanes or passing other vehicles. Avoid putting your own life and the lives of others at risk by maintaining a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

Clean off your car

Clear away any chunks of ice and snow off of your car so that nothing comes loose and blows off when you are driving. Snow-covered windows and mirrors can also significantly reduce your visibility. Clean off your entire vehicle before hitting the road.

Pack all the necessities

Make sure that you have put together a winter driving survival kit along with anything else you may need if you run into trouble out on the road: jumper cables, traction mats, a good pair of gloves and proper snow removal tools.

3. Prepare for holiday travel

Planning ahead when braving the winter weather to attend your umpteenth holiday celebration is a must. Know the weather and road conditions before heading out and consider mapping out which route you will take and how long it will take you to get there.

4. Only drive if the weather conditions allow

Winter is full of surprises—bad weather and less daylight make for an unpredictable combination. Our motto: safety first!

At night

During the holiday season, the sun goes down extremely early! To stay safe while out on the road, leave a little earlier so that you are driving while there is still daylight.

Snowstorms

Plan to leave early if the weather looks dicey—get out on the road before the worst of the storm hits or reschedule your plans and enjoy an evening in at home. It’s not worth putting your own life or the lives of your loved ones at risk.

Happy holidays on stay safe while sharing the road!