"Christmas time is a particularly dangerous time for drivers because it involves a lot of rushing around to do last minute shopping, hectic traffic, desperately looking for a parking spot while fighting with passengers about which presents to get. All of these issues and situations distract the driver from the main task at hand and increase the risk of having an accident," says Christoph Lauterwasser, CEO of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT).
"Think first, then drive" – that’s the recommendation of the Allianz accident researchers. They know that nearly all distraction due to activities unrelated to driving can be avoided if the trip is carefully prepared. The AZT recommends that drivers enter the GPS data or select the radio station before setting off. Unzipping the jacket, taking it off and putting on the seatbelt – all of these should also be taken care of before starting the engine. Shopping bags are best stowed in the trunk, because "grabbing slipping objects increases the risk of an accident eight-fold," according to Christoph Lauterwasser.
Drivers usually know when they are emotionally involved in the driving process, but they are less aware of their own driving errors. These are luckily often compensated for by the reactions or care of other drivers. Often the passengers are more aware of any inappropriate driving than the driver.