Driving while under the influence naturally increases during the vacation and holiday season. People are mingling and enjoying time with their family and friends while having a celebratory beer or a glass of wine. Unfortunately, many people are under the impression that just because they had one to two drinks they are perfectly capable of driving, which is not the case.

Although we all know not to drink and drive, the notion of “I just had a few” can result in an auto accident that can cause injuries or death. Keep in mind that it is not only drunk driving, but also driving “buzzed” that is against the law. Driving with even just a light buzz or any alcohol in your system can still impair your vision, make you sleepy, or impede your reaction time which are three things that most definitely can lead to a holiday car accident.

Stress and fatigue can impact an individual in a lot more ways than they realize. Many people are not even aware of the stress they are carrying, and although it is supposed to be a celebratory time, holidays don’t always ease that stress. Unfortunately, that can increase the risk of a holiday car accident because drivers that are stressed often get less sleep than others and feel mentally exhausted.

Exhaustion and fatigue can have the same impact on drivers as alcohol does. Their vision can become impaired, they can fall asleep on the road, they can get distracted very easily, and lastly, they can become frustrated and impatient. Imagine yourself having millions of things to cross off your list with only a few hours to get it done. It can become extremely stressful traveling to buy gifts, decorations, food and other holiday necessities. An increase in stress and fatigue can lead to negligent driving and more car accidents on Alabama roads.

In an effort to afford holiday purchases with all the trimmings, drivers may also slack on routine car maintenance and use that money to purchase gifts instead. This can be dangerous when it comes to vital upkeep such as inspecting your brakes and tires. Risking a blowout on the highway due to worn out tires or the inability to stop correctly due to failing brakes can put lives at risk and other drivers in jeopardy. Proper car maintenance is important at any time of year. Consider it a gift to yourself to care for your car and keep up with its maintenance.

Wintertime is historically one of the worst times to be out on the roads. The many events and gatherings held during the holidays prompt people to travel in dangerous conditions that they may otherwise not venture out into such as snow, ice, and sleet making driving conditions hazardous. With low visibility combined with ice accumulating on untreated asphalt, even the slightest distraction could result in a holiday car accident, multi-car collision, or fender-bender. Rather than travel during a storm, it’s safer to just stay home until the weather is more agreeable.