Holiday driving safety tips.

Last week while out Black Friday (well Thanksgiving night) shopping, I was rear-ended while waiting at a stoplight. Thankfully no one was hurt and both cars were fine, but it got me thinking about a couple things.

The first thing is cell phones and driving. While I am like most people out there and feel like I can’t be without technology, I also believe that it can also cause a distraction. Part of the reason I was hit that night was because the driver was answering a call. I can’t think of very many calls that can’t wait until you can park somewhere. There are also numerous ways to answer calls while driving thanks to today’s technology.

Cell phones aren’t the only distraction while driving. We are all so busy, especially with the holiday season upon us, that we have numerous things on our mind. This can also cause us not to drive the way we normally would. The added stress can cause us to rush and miss things, or even cause us to run behind which can cause more problems while driving.

While working on this, I also found the following list of holiday safety tips from our friends at the Owensboro Police Department:

Holiday Traffic

• Avoid high traffic areas and times by planning an alternate route.
• Allow for extra travel time since you will be sharing the road with others.
• Watch out for aggressive drivers and keep your cool.
• If you are involved in an accident, do not move your vehicle unless the damage is very minor.

Safe Shopping Tips

• When stopping at multiple locations, place your purchases in an area of your vehicle in which they cannot be seen. (trunk, back seat floor board covered up)
• Keep your vehicle locked at all times.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Keep a record of the debit/credit card fraud alert number to report unauthorized use.
• Women- keep your purse with you at all times, do not leave it in your shopping cart.
• Men- carry a wallet that can fit completely inside your pocket.

Impaired Driving

• Designate a sober driver.
• Use a taxi, public transportation, or call a sober driver.
• If you are the host of the party and observe an impaired person who is about to drive, help them make other arrangements so they arrive at their destination safely.
• If you observe a drunk driver, call law enforcement immediately.

Hopefully this holiday season will be a safe and joyous time for everyone!