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'Tis The Season To Drive Cautiously: Safety Technology Expert Lytx Offers Five Tips for Safe Driving During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us; and while this is a cheerful time of year, it’s important to remember that the roads may not be very friendly. The winter months bring dark nights, rain, wind, ice, and even snow – and during the holiday season – drivers share the road with more commercial vehicles, delivery trucks and shoppers.

 

Recent studies have found that holiday stress leads to more traffic incidents as nearly a third of drivers admit to becoming more aggressive. For example, the Highway Loss Data Institute found that reported collisions increase by almost 20 percent in December. 

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Lytx, a San Diego-based, driver safety technology company, with a proven record of improving safety and reducing claims cost by 60-80 percent for commercial fleets, is committed to reducing distracted driving and making our roads a safer place to drive – all year round.

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“We’re committed to saving lives by improving driving habits to make our roads and neighborhoods safer,” said Julie Cunningham, senior vice president of corporate communications for Lytx. “The holiday season can be dangerous on the roads, which is why we encourage drivers to remove distractions and stay patient and alert every time you’re behind the wheel. Just three seconds of looking away from the road could have life-changing consequences.”

 

Five Holiday Driving Tips To Keep You & Your Family Safe on the Roads

 

#1: Turn off your smartphones and tablets while driving.  Talking, texting, or surfing on your smartphone is against the law in many states and has been proven to dramatically increase your chances of being in, or worse, causing an accident.  Turn off your devices, or keep them out of reach as a simple way to avoid the temptation. 

 

#2: Stay calm in parking lots. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, one-fifth of all vehicle accidents happen in parking lots. As other cars battle for parking spots and rush to take advantage of door-buster deals, remember to stay calm, and carefully watch for pedestrians, bicyclists and other vehicles.

 

#3: Respect commercial vehicles on the road:

·         Stay Visible: Make sure to stay visible so trucks can see you. 

·         Don’t Tailgate: Heavy vehicles need more space between cars to avoid collisions.

·         Signal Your Intentions: Leave ample to time to signal if you are turning or changing lanes.

·         Don’t Cut-Off a Commercial Vehicle: Heavy vehicles need more time to move and stop.

 

#4: Plan ahead – before and during driving. Because of the increased amount of cars on the roadways this holiday season, be sure to plan ahead for any trips you take - big or small. Give yourself extra time to get where you are going.  Plan ahead while behind the wheel.  Check mirrors often and scan roadways so you can adjust to any changes in traffic flow.

 

#5: Secure a designated driver. If you choose to celebrate this time of year with alcoholic beverages, be certain to have the number of a taxi or car service on hand or secure a designated driver before beginning the festivities. Consuming even one alcoholic drink can impair your actions behind the wheel.

 

For more safe driving information and tips, go to www.lytx.com.

 

About Lytx

At Lytx (formerly DriveCam, Inc.), we harness the power of data to change human behavior and help good companies become even better. Our flagship product, DriveCam powered by Lytx™, sets the standard for driver safety in the industries we serve, , and our RAIR™ Compliance Services helps DOT-regulated fleets comply with safety regulations, complementing the DriveCam program. We protect drivers from more than 500 commercial and government fleet clients worldwide who drive more than 20 billion miles annually. Our clients realize tremendous ROI by lowering operating and insurance costs, while achieving greater efficiency and compliance. Most of all, we strive to help save lives – on our roads and in our communities, every day. Lytx is privately held and headquartered in San Diego. For more information, visit www.lytx.com.

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