While they will be busy, shoppers who are looking for last-minute gifts or food may need to take extra care when parking.
According to research, Christmas Eve is when motorists are most likely to cause an accident in a parking lot.
Admiral Car Insurance ranked 24 December the most dangerous day for carpark accidents, with 23 December being the fourth-most risky.
Admiral Research shows that car park collisions are most common on Christmas Eve.
According to the insurer, Fridays in December were the highest-volume days for claims in the nine previous years.
All accidents were included, and not only those that occurred in parking lots.
This could be due to a variety of factors, such as the weather and the sheer volume of traffic.
The insurer cautioned drivers that they should not be reckless on these specific dates, but throughout December.
Half of all the top ten accident claim days fell within the last month of the calendar year.
Claims data revealed that historically, 4/5 December saw more accidents claims being filed than any other December date.
These dates have the highest claim volumes across the year. Only 18 January has more car accidents claims per year.
All three Fridays in December, including the second, third, and fourth Fridays, are included in the top 5 days for accident claims. The third Friday in January is the most claimed.
| Between 2012 and 2020, half of the top 10 accident claim days were December. |
|---|
| On the third Friday of January |
| Christmas Day, December 3rd |
| On the 1st Friday in December |
| This Friday, December 2nd |
| It’s the fourth Friday in November |
| The 2nd Thursday in December |
| On Friday the 1st of February |
| On the 1st Friday in November |
| The first Thursday in December |
| On the 1st Wednesday in December |
| Source: Admiral |
Admiral stated that the reason for this might be due to both high volume of last-minute shoppers and increased traffic during peak Christmas days.
Lorna Connelly from Admiral is the head of claims. She stated: “Last Christmas lockdown restrictions resulted in less traffic on roads, but we expect more this year with drivers using the roads to see friends and families, shop and take part in festive celebrations.”
Driving conditions are difficult because of bad weather or dark days.
“And since our holiday celebrations were restricted by the lockdown last year, many drivers might be planning to make more trips this December.
“Regardless of how far you drive, winter driving can be difficult, no matter what the distance.
Safe driving this Christmas
The following guidelines have been created by Admiral to ensure that you are safe while driving this holiday season.
1) Make a plan: The night before, pack a bag that contains everything you will need to make the journey. Before you leave, plan your route and make sure to check for traffic jams or roadworks.
2) Car Maintenance: A well-maintained car isn’t just more reliable – it’s also safer. It should take only a few moments to do basic car maintenance before you go. Check your engine coolant levels, tyre pressure and oil level.
3) Concentrate: It is a common mistake to drive while fatigued or depleted of energy. Get a good nights sleep. Regular routes are often the most attentive, and we pay little attention to driving. Don’t let this happen.
Your concentration may be affected by tired or excited children at the back.
For Christmas, motorists traveling are encouraged to concentrate while driving
4) Technology comes to our rescue Radio broadcasts can be used to alert you of traffic issues. Consider using an app like Waze – a live sat nav which uses data from other motorists to build a picture of traffic conditions including accidents and detours.
The long-term option is to switch to modern car assistance tools like adaptive cruise controller, which adjusts the speed of your car to keep up with other cars.
5) Stay calm and go on Avoid road rage and relax. Don’t look at another driver if they are being aggressive or confrontational. You can admit fault, apologize, and then move on.
You are not the only one: Because of the dangers associated with driving on autopilot, familiar routes are often more dangerous than others. Be aware of other road users and stick to your speed limits.
Watch out for pedestrians that are distracted by their phone, or who have enjoyed a night at the bar and don’t pay attention to traffic.
7) Are you sitting comfortably? Neck and back pain can be caused by sitting for prolonged periods in the car. If you feel stressed, this can worsen your condition.
To reduce the stress in your spine, do some simple exercises behind-the wheel.
You can use seat braces, shoulder shrugs, and buttock crunches to get through traffic jams.