By Carol A. Cates, MSN, MBA, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Odessa Regional Medical Center
I love the holiday season because for me it means family get togethers. I get to see my kids and grandkids regularly because they live here in the Basin. But for the rest of my family, because we are so spread out across Texas and the U.S., holidays are when my dad, siblings and I are able to get together as a group. Unfortunately, because we are so spread out, that also means some of us are traveling during the holidays.
According to the National Safety Council, 246 people died in car crashes on U.S. roads between December 24 and December 26, 2022. Another 39,000 people were injured in a car crash seriously enough to seek medical care during that same period. The number of deaths that happen in the two days around Christmas Day account for about 10% of all of the deaths in December. The statistics for the two days around New Year’s Day are very similar in terms of fatalities and injuries.
The main reason roads are more dangerous during the holiday season is because of the number of people who drive while intoxicated. On average over the entire year, about 30% of fatal car crashes involve someone who was driving while intoxicated. Over the days surrounding Christmas and New Year’s, however, that percentage spikes to about 40%. Other reasons that holiday driving can be hazardous are winter road conditions and more people on the roads.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend several safety tips for drivers during this holiday season. First, do not drive if you are impaired by alcohol or drugs and do not allow anyone in your life to do so either. Driving while intoxicated deaths and injuries are so preventable, the injuries that change lives for ever are so preventable. Please, please designate a driver, call a cab, Uber, or Lyft if there is any chance you or someone in your life could be impaired.
Second, avoid distractions. Do not text, email or use social media while driving. At 55 miles per hour taking your eyes off the road for 5 seconds to send a text is equivalent to driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Third, make sure you check the road conditions and upcoming weather on your route. If you do end up traveling in inclement weather, make sure you drive at a speed that takes road conditions into account. Lastly, wear your seatbelt properly and at all times.
If you are traveling with children, make sure they are in an age and size appropriate car seat or booster seat. Make sure the car seat or booster seat is correctly installed in your vehicle using manufacturer instructions for both your vehicle and the car seat or booster seat. Do not put bulky coats or blankets under car seat harnesses because the harness cannot be tightened correctly. A great trick I learned is to take off your child’s coat, put them in the car seat, and then put the coat on backwards without covering up their face. That way they stay covered up while still being safe. Remember children under 12 should always ride in the back seat.
The risks of being injured or killed in a car crash increase as we get older. Some things to consider if you are over 65 and driving this holiday season. Speak to your primary health care provider or pharmacist about any side effects from medications that might affect your ability to drive safely. Make sure you have your eyes checked every year and wear any eye correction as directed. Plan routes before you drive, and choose well lit streets, intersections with left turn signals and easy parking.
The last thing I want you to remember is these rules don’t apply just for long trips. The highest rate of car crashes occurs when people are close to home. Remember these safe driving tips this holiday season every time you get in a car. And, as I said earlier, never get behind the wheel or allow someone you know to get behind a wheel if they have been drinking or using any intoxicating substance. Have a safe and happy holiday season!
