Traveling to visit family. Shopping for that perfect gift. Hosting guests. Attending holiday parties. December can be a hectic time of year, and the influx of stress, fatigue and mental distractions can lead to accidents at home, at work and on the road.Statistics from global safety company SafeStart (http://safestart.com) estimate that 25 percent of traffic fatalities result from distracted driving. The No. 1 cause (62 percent) of distracted driving? ìGenerally distracted or ëlost in thought,íî which means a driverís mind wanders long enough to cause a collision.Another study published in the Feb. 22, 2016, online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed the risk of traffic crashes significantly rises when drivers are emotional behind the wheel (angry, sad, tearful or agitated).With an uptick in the number of traffic accidents in the Falcon area this year, firefighters offer these tips to stay safe on the roads:
- Put down the phone. Texting while driving is illegal in the state of Colorado. Do not let a moment of distraction cause a lifetime of regret.
- Stay focused while behind the wheel. Drivers sometimes forget they are piloting a ton or more of steel, often at high speeds.
- Obey traffic laws and speed limits.
- Yield to emergency vehicles. Remember this phrase: ìPull to the right for sirens and lights.î
- Do not drive after drinking or partaking in recreational drugs such as marijuana. Use a sober and straight designated driver.
- Avoid taking the wheel when angry or upset.
