Drivers should not dash through the snow

Icy roadways, stressed shoppers, packed highways, frolicking kids, soused partygoers--all conspire to make the holiday season the most dangerous time of the year for drivers and pedestrians. Given that speeding is a factor in roughly 30% of all traffic fatalities, there are plenty of reasons to slow down over the next couple of months. Here are five really good ones to keep in mind, courtesy of Autobytel's safe-driving campaign:

Because death definitely does not take a holiday. Over the past decade, roughly 13,500 traffic fatalities occurred during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's holiday periods, and nearly 5,000 of those deaths were speeding related. This upward trend actually starts after October, culminating on New Year's--the deadliest day for speeding-related fatalities of any date on the calendar. Moreover, pedestrians account for nearly 13% of all crash deaths.

Because it is a busy, busy time on the old highways. It is estimated that more than 35,000,000 people will drive 50 miles or more from home on Thanksgiving weekend, and that another 50,000,000-plus will drive over 50 miles during the Christmas season to visit friends and family.

Because too many drivers have had too much "holiday cheer" Between Thanksgiving and New Year's, there are more than 4,000 traffic fatalities on American roads--and 38% of them are alcohol related. On New Year's Eve, there are over 200 traffic deaths and 61% are alcohol related. On Super Bowl Sunday, there are more than 100 traffic deaths and 55% are alcohol related.

Because speeding on icy roads is a slippery slope to trouble. Accelerating, stopping, turning--everything takes longer, and is far more dangerous, on snow- and ice-covered roads. A car traveling roughly 60 mph on dry pavement requires about 60 yards to come to a complete stop. Even a thin layer of frost can double that. A road covered in packed snow increases the distance to 288 yards.

Because you do not want a "special holiday gift" from a traffic cop. As the year comes to a close, police departments generally step up highway patrols to nab drunk drivers. While they are at it, rest assured they also will be flashing their radar guns. The average cost of a speeding ticket, including court fees, runs about $150. Add in the three-year insurance increase, and that ticket can set you back upwards of $500.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning