Helpful Hints to Avoid Accidents this Holiday Season

With a record number of travelers expected to travel the holidays this year, safety on the roads becomes even more important.

According to AAA, more than 54 million Americans traveled farther than 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday, with more expected during the Christmas break. Maintaining safety on the roads is a shared responsibility of all drivers. 

For professional drivers, Volvo Trucks is offering some recommendations to help motorists remain safe during the holiday travel season.

1. Consider planning your route ahead of time. Construction and general traffic congestion are inevitable. Take a look at your route before hitting the road to see if an alternate route may be effective to avoid extended delays. Drivers should also research when roads are expected to be especially busy – AAA provides such details for large cities. Late afternoons are typically expected to have an influx of traffic with people leaving work a little early to get a head start for their trip.
2. Avoid driving while fatigued. Driving tired is just as dangerous for short trips as it is for extended drive times. Make sure to take breaks every two hours to get up and move around. If needed, pull over to rest and make sure you get a good night’s sleep before hitting the road.
3. Carefully manage stress. The holiday season is notorious for causing stress and can negatively impact driving habits. Try to avoid mental distractions while driving, stay calm and do not rush, even in traffic jams.
4. Be aware of the presence of deer during the holiday season. Numerous studies have shown October to December sees more than double the amount of accidents caused by deer. Dusk to dawn are the most dangerous times for drivers. With many drivers headed out on trips late in the afternoon, it is crucial to be extra cautious and know how to safely handle a deer encounter. For instance, it is important to avoid swerving – brake as definitively as possible.

While the trucking industry is undergoing numerous transformations, including electronic logging device (ELD) mandates and hours-of-service regulations, Volvo Trucks is a consistent, driving force focused on the safety and well-being of all motorists.

Now standard on all VNR and VNL models, Volvo Active Driver Assist is always operating while the vehicle is in motion. Delivering warnings up to 3.5 seconds before a potential impact with a vehicle, the technology helps drivers effectively adjust and react to ever-changing traffic conditions.

Drivers receive visual and audible alerts for situations like lane departure, as well as a red warning light reflection on the windshield if a forward collision is possible. It specifically disengages cruise if needed, engages the engine brake, downshifts and reduces the throttle. The safety feature couples camera and radar technology, so if an object is not picked up on the radar, the windshield’s mounted camera has a 42 degree viewing angle that detects lane position and crucial characteristics of an object nearby.

Category: General Update, News, Safety