Statistics show that one in seven licensed drivers will have an accident this year. Almost two-thirds of these accidents will probably be caused by aggressive driving behavior.

As we move into the holiday travel season, it is easy to become distracted. Many of the drivers on the road over the holidays will be out-of-town visitors who are not familiar with the area. Drivers will need to be on the alert for, and know how to respond to traffic hazards. Here are a few suggestions to help keep you safe over the holiday season.

• Avoid road rage—yours and everyone else’s. If you sense a problem, back off.
• Avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver.
• Anticipate what others might do, expect the unexpected.
• Put plenty of room between you and the other guy.
• Designate a driver for holiday parties and dinners.
• Take the keys from someone who has had too much to drink.
• Don’t do anything but drive. Save your phone calls, make-up touchups, etc until you can safely stop by the side of the road.
• Use extra caution at night. If your car breaks down on the freeway, pull to the right if at all possible, try to avoid the center divider.
• Do not drive in a truck’s blind spot. If you can’t see the truck driver in his side mirror, then he can’t see your car.
• Don’t change lanes needlessly.
• Be on the lookout for erratic or drunk drivers and if necessary, pull over to let them pass.
• When approaching an intersection, slow down a bit in case of the unexpected.
• Respect other drivers and the pedestrian right-of-way.
• Obey all speed limits.
• Use your seat belts at all times.

This is just a highlight of some of the safety precautions you should consider. Hopefully it can help to de-stress your driving and your holidays.

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