With all the cheerfulness of the holiday season, the transportation industry is at full force with shipping and delivering all those holiday packages and groceries along with fuel and medicine. This presents drivers with additional challenges with more deliveries and increased traffic on the road — along with tighter delivery times, longer time behind the wheel, and heavier congestion on the roads and highways. Additionally, drivers must take into consideration the deteriorating weather conditions. This can lead to the driver being rerouted, which causes shipment delays and increases operational costs for the motor carrier.
Roads are more dangerous during the holiday season due to societal pressure of “being ready for the holidays.” These expectations cause motorists to increase their speed and become more distracted by using their cell phones, eating in the car, looking in the mirror and interacting with passengers. There is a 10% increase in speeding events before Christmas, with a 32% spike in crashes on Christmas Day. Hazardous weather plays a part in this with 65.5% of Christmas Day crashes occurring on wet, snowy or icy roads.
Along with general road safety, the commercial transportation industry must take extra care in the prevention of fraud and theft in the holiday season. Cargo theft has surged 49% within the first half of 2024 and is expected to increase going into the holiday season. These incidents often occur at unsecured facilities or when trucks are left unattended during deliveries. Besides cargo theft, fuel card theft has presented itself as a rising issue accounting for 5% of current fleet spend on fuel.
To stay safe, it is important to maintain focus on the road and prepare for both the holiday season and the winter weather. Snow and ice are known to make the roads slippery, which reduces traction and makes it harder to control your vehicle. Also, the winter weather can reduce visibility, which makes it difficult to see other vehicles, road signs and other potential hazards. Chilly weather has a deep impact on your vehicle, causing the battery to lose power, the oil to thicken and tire pressure to drop. Prior to taking the road, it is important for all motorists to be assured that their vehicle is in top condition to avoid problems on the road. If an incident were to happen, it is a good idea to keep a winter driving kit in your vehicle, including a snow brush, ice scraper, shovel, jumper cable and a blanket.
Overall, stay alert and be aware of your surroundings while taking the road during the holiday season. Drive slowly and carefully, as road safety is no accident.
