Safe Holiday Driving
The holiday season presents special challenges for road users, especially during those peak periods at Christmas and New Year. So, whether you’re packing the car to head up or down the coast, or just celebrating locally, remember these simple safety messages.
Don’t rush.
Speeding increases your chance of having a crash and increases the risk of serious injury or death if you do crash. Slow down – other people make mistakes - it’s better to arrive late than not at all.
For more information on speeding, including safe stopping distances, go to:
If you’re drinking, don’t drive.
Drink driving is a factor in about one in every five crashes in NSW where someone loses their life. You don't have to be drunk to be affected by alcohol. You might feel normal, but no one drives well after drinking alcohol.
If you’re drinking over the holiday period, don’t drive. Have a Plan B: get the bus, catch a cab or ask a friend to give you a lift. Share your Plan B with your friends – make sure they know not to let you drive.
For more information on blood alcohol limits, mobile drink and drug testing and getting home safely, go to:
Buckle up.
Ensure everyone in the car wears a seatbelt and that your child is properly restrained in an appropriate child seat or capsule. Seatbelts double your chance of survival and reduce the severity of injury in a serious crash.
There are fines and demerit points for a driver who is not wearing a seatbelt or who fails to ensure their passengers use seatbelts where available.
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Stop. Revive. Survive.
Don’t ignore the early warning signs of driver fatigue:
- Yawning
- Poor concentration
- Tired eyes
- Restlessness
- Drowsiness
- Slow reactions
- Boredom
- Oversteering
If you fall into a microsleep and nod off at 100 km/h, you’ll travel 100 metres in just four seconds, unconscious. Take plenty of breaks, change drivers if you can and pull into a Rest Stop or Driver Reviver site along the way.
Be prepared for travel delays.
With more cars on the road during the holiday period make sure you factor in additional travel time. This should include considerations like extra food, water, medicine, and other essentials. To help manage your travel time visit livetraffic.com or download one of the real-time road apps on your phone to receive travel alerts.
More information to help plan your trip:
Stay focused.
Driving is a complex task, and you may already be dealing with excited passengers or bored children and trying to follow map directions in unknown locations. Don’t add texting or checking your mobile phone to the mix.
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