Safe Holiday Driving

In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended Americans should stay home for the holidays. Now, more than 4.13 billion people worldwide, or 53.8% of the world population, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts Thanksgiving travel in the U.S. will rebound to near pre-pandemic levels, increasing 13% from 2020 numbers.

AAA claims that 90% of people in the U.S. plan to travel by car for the holidays, nearly 48.3 million Americans. If you’re traveling by car this holiday season, consider these safe driving tips.

Plan Ahead and Be Well Rested
Roads will be busy, so consider starting your journey in the morning when there’s less traffic. Be patient and allow extra travel time to your destination.

Incidents involving drowsy drivers occur most often in the early morning hours between midnight and 6:00 a.m. or in the late afternoon on rural roads and highways. They typically involve an individual driver who runs off the road at a high rate of speed. There is rarely evidence of braking.

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) states that drowsy driving is responsible for more than 6,400 U.S. deaths annually, and fall-asleep crashes are often caused by voluntarily not getting enough sleep.

According to the CDC, an estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers (aged 18 years or older) report having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. People who snored or typically slept 6 or fewer hours per day were more likely to report falling asleep while driving.

The warning signs of drowsy driving can include:

• Yawning or blinking frequently.
• Difficulty remembering the past few miles driven.
• Missing your exit/turn.
• Drifting from your lane.
• Hitting a rumble strip on the road.

Learn more about how to prevent drowsy driving at the NSF’s site for Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, recognized the first full week of November every year.

Prepare your Vehicle
Ensure your vehicle is prepared for the trip. Calculate how many miles you've driven since your last service and how far you plan to go on your trip. Many automakers recommend changing your oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles, according to Consumer Reports. Tires are paramount to safety, comfort and fuel efficiency, so it's important to check their condition before you leave. Consider getting an inspection to check key components like the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels.

Prepare a vehicle emergency supply kit. The National Safety Council (NSC) recommends that kits should be checked every six months, and expired items should be replaced regularly. See what the NSC recommends to include in the emergency supply kit.

Drive Safely
Be sure to follow safe driving practices. Adhere to posted speed limits. Scan all sides of your vehicle as you move, especially as you approach intersections. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. To test your following distance, identify a landmark in front of you. Once the vehicle ahead of you passes that landmark, count how many seconds it takes your car to pass it. In normal conditions, use the two-second rule. In wet or icy conditions, increase following distance to four seconds or more. If road conditions are poor, consider postponing your journey.

Let ISN Help
If you’re a Hiring Client, ask your ISN account representative for information on RAVS Written Program and RAVS Plus assessments that evaluate contractor driving policies and procedures.

Interested to learn how ISN could help you manage your contractors and validate driving policies and procedures? Request a demo of our contractor management platform, ISNetworld.