While there is excitement in the air about the new year, driving on New Year’s eve can be a risky affair. If you’re planning to go out to meet friends and family, it’ll help to have a plan. New Year’s eve has one of the highest auto-related collisions compared to any other day of the year. In this article we’ll look at what you can do to keep you and your family safe on the road.
Plan Your Evening
Before leaving the house, think through how you will be getting from one place to another. Will you be driving, or is a friend driving? Will there be alcohol at the party, and if so, how does that impact the person driving or how you get home. Many people that end up drinking and driving usually don’t plan for it but they fail to plan ahead leading to serious consequences. Make sure the person driving is sober to drive for the sake of all the people on the road.
Is Your Car Tuned Up?
In an earlier post, we looked at annual auto maintenance you need to do on your car. Just to give you a quick summary, make sure your tires are in good shape and have adequate air. Check that your wipers are working. Check that your lights, including tag lights are working properly. Do an oil change if you’re due. This is the one night you don’t want to be stuck on the road waiting for roadside assistance.
Mind The Weather
Wet, snow and icy conditions pose a big threat to driving, and especially on New Year’s eve when there are a lot more people on the road. Normally, people are not out at night but come New Year’s eve there will be a lot more cars on the road. When experiencing bad weather, remember to drive slowly and keep a distance between you and the car ahead. Make sure you have emergency supplies in your car before heading out so you’re not waiting in the cold in case your car stops in the middle of the road.
Stay Alert & Aware
Lastly, avoid distractions and focus on driving so you can get to your destination safely. Be aware of the speed limit and stick to it. It’s better to get there safely than not to get there at all. It’s also a good idea to avoid being on the phone because it takes your mind off of being aware of your surrounding. Staying alert means you can detect when another driver is driving aggressively or not sticking to their lane and this will help you avoid a collision.
Have A Happy New Year!
The year 2020 has been difficult for many of us and so we hope and pray that 2021 brings joy and peace to you and your family. From all of us here at Davis Paint & Collision Auto Center, we wish you a happy and prosperous new year. If you ever need our service, reach out to us at one of our 3 locations: for Oklahoma City location, call 405.733.9797, South Oklahoma City location: 405.691.1820, and Midwest City location: 405.732.0762.
