Dye Autos Denver Area Truck and Automotive Blog
The holiday season is upon us. As you might suspect, the holidays are, indeed, less safe than typical driving periods. According to a recent study, holidays see, on average, a 34% increase in crashes. Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are even higher. You owe it to yourself, your family, your friends, and even other drivers on the road to dedicate yourself to driving safer during this holiday season.
We’ve compiled a list of holiday safe driving tips to mitigate mishaps and help you enjoy your holidays.
1. Avoid peak travel times.
AAA predicts Thanksgiving travel will be busiest in 12 years. With more travelers comes — you guessed it — more traffic. Travel times could be a whopping four times longer than usual. The worst congestion is expected in the evenings Thanksgiving week.
And the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, avoid if at all possible — it is historically the busiest travel day of the year.
The day before Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, and Christmas Eve tend to be the busiest travel days so avoid traveling during peak hours.
2. Leave early.
If you’re in a rush, or impose a strict time deadline, you’ll be inclined to drive faster or neglect certain safety standards to meet that deadline. Wake up a little earlier, manage your time, and don’t be afraid to be a little late if it means driving safer.
3. Buckle up.
A seat belt won’t prevent a collision, but it will save a life.
4. Stow your cell phone.
Many distractions exist while driving during the holidays. Cell phones are already top distraction because so many drivers use them for long periods of time each day but during the holiday, it’s even worse.
Almost everyone has seen a driver distracted by a cell phone, but when you are the one distracted, you often don’t realize that driver is you. Keep your phone stowed away so you’re not tempted. It can save your life!
5. Avoid eating while driving.
Everyone is busy during the holidays and everyone enjoys holiday food.
Finishing your breakfast or enjoying a holiday brownie on your way to pick up family from the airport may seem like a time-saver, but it means you are less attentive to the drivers around you. Food spills are a major cause of distraction.
6. Remain alert and awake.
If you feel any deviation in your normal levels of wakefulness or alertness, don’t drive. If you’re tired or distracted, your risk of being in a collision will increase. Don’t push through just because you want to get home faster. If you are drowsy, pull off the road. Even 20 minutes of sleep can help you feel more alert, and prepare you for a safer drive.
7. Avoid alcohol consumption.
This is the season for family get-togethers and company Christmas parties and if you think you might be tempted to let loose with a beverage or two, plan ahead.
Even a couple of drinks—which will likely put you below the legal limit for driving—can instantly double your risk of being involved in a collision. At and above the legal limit (0.08 BAC; 0.02 BAC if you’re under 21), your risk triples.
Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft make it super easy to avoid driving while you’re impaired.
8. Be prepared for an emergency.
If you are involved in an accident, it pays to have an emergency kit ready. This is especially important during winter months, when you’re more likely to be stranded (and when conditions are harsher). Make sure you have emergency flares and lighting, water, jumper cables, and a phone charger or other way to get help.
And finally, practice patience.
The holidays are a time to celebrate and spend time with loved ones. By planning ahead, driving safer and having a little extra patience when out on the road, you can ensure that this holiday season is a safe and happy one with plenty of comfort and joy.
If it’s a truck you wanna buy, you’d better call Dye!
Call us at (303) 286-1665.
Halloween is right around the corner. Any Halloween fan who owns a pickup truck or car knows that, with a little imagination and willingness to let your creativity fly, a Halloween Trunk or Treat is an awesome way to celebrate!
The usual trick-or-treating is always a fun time with the little ones, but if you’re tired of hiking around several miles in the bitter cold just to get your kids some Snickers and cheap suckers, you might consider a Trunk or Treat instead.
You may have heard about a “Trunk or Treat” and wondered what it is. This activity is a safe and fun alternative (or addition) to the traditional trick or treat for Halloween. Think of Trunk or Treat as a Halloween tailgate party.
Instead of kids going door-to-door to get candy, they walk through a parking lot and go trunk-to-trunk. The trunk of your car or the bed of your truck becomes your front porch!
These events are usually hosted by groups, such as a church or school, but can be community organized as well.
What makes a Trunk or Treat appealing to parents, especially with young children?
- Parents often feel it’s safer than going door-to-door
- You avoid many of the scarier costumes and decorations
- It’s easier on the littlest children as they don’t have to walk as far.
Participants will usually decorate their trunks or truck beds with Halloween décor and some will even create games or activities where the kids can win prizes in addition to candy, of course. Check local community calendars or talk to friends and neighbors to find a trunk or treat event near you.
5 trunk or treat ideas for your best Halloween ever!
A Trunk or Treat is actually even more fun than it sounds.
Kids come in hundreds, fully dressed in Halloween costumes and hold out bags or plastic pumpkins for treats. The adults get to socialize and be creative while seeing all the cute and scary costumes.
While a Trunk or Treat doesn’t necessarily take the place of a traditional Halloween romp around your neighborhood, you might just find that it’s a better alternative. Who knows? You may never go door-to-door again.
You can’t do a Trunk or Treat without a great ride so give us a call at (303) 286-1665 and we’ll help make this your best Halloween ever!
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