[By The SPHP Emergency Services Team]
In just a couple of weeks, we will be facing one of the busiest travel days of the year – Thanksgiving. In fact, the week surrounding Thanksgiving typically represents some of the busiest automobile travel days of the year, and that’s expected to hold true this year.
Any time you drive, you can usually take for granted that there are countless other drivers on the road who are tired, stressed out, impaired by alcohol or drugs, or using their cell phones to talk or text. During the holiday season, there are more drivers on the road … and more reasons they might be impaired or distracted.
To make sure you’re best able to meet these challenges, here are some things you can do:
Make Sure Your Car is Ready to Roll
Get your car serviced before a trip so you can be assured your fluids are what they should be, your tires have plenty of tread and they are properly inflated.
Make Sure Your Phone is Road-Ready
Keep your phone charged and handy for emergencies, but keep it out of the driver’s hands. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 3,300 people were killed in 2022 in crashes involving a driver distracted by his or her cell phone.
Get Plenty of Sleep the Night Before
Studies show at least half of drivers on the road at night are fighting fatigue. Close your eyes for only four seconds while driving 60 miles per hour, and your car will travel out of control for 100 yards.
Note the warning signs: repeated yawning, difficulty focusing, not remembering the last few miles, drifting from lane to lane, hitting rumble strips, tailgating, or missing traffic signs.
Even if you’re well-rested, be aware your body is trained to get sleepy in the hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Fatigue-related crashes are four times more likely during those hours than at other times.
Don’t Speed
Everybody is in a hurry over the holidays. According to the 2018 Crash Stats study of NHTSA, holidays were prime time for speeding-related vehicle traffic crash fatalities. Although the period from Christmas to New Year’s led the list with nearly 2,000 fatalities, Thanksgiving also ranked high with nearly 450 deaths. Overall, speeding accounts for 30 percent of fatal crashes.
It’s your decision and your responsibility to refrain from drinking, speeding and being distracted by a cell phone while you’re driving. But you have no control over other drivers or the weather. Ultimately, you need to remember your defensive driving skills, providing yourself time and space to allow for the mistakes made by others.
When every second counts, St. Peter’s Health Partners has top-quality emergency departments and urgent care centers all across the Capital Region. Our emergency departments in Albany and Troy are open 24 hours, seven days a week, offering a wide range of services for emergency care with highly trained staff, diagnostic testing and access to specialists.
For more information, visit us at sphp.com/for-patients/think-before-you-go. Be well and happy holidays!
