For most, Christmas is a time to slow down, rest up, and enjoy some quality time away from work. For many delivery drivers, on the other hand, nothing could be further from the truth.

Christmas brings a host of challenges to fleet drivers, challenges that compound to significantly increase the risk of collisions, business interruption, injury, and in severe cases, even fatalities. Thankfully, though, with proper preparation, fleet managers can protect their workers and operations during the busy festive period.

Let’s explore why “the most wonderful time of year” is the most dangerous time of year for occupational drivers – and how to minimise these risks.

Why there are more car accidents around Christmas

The increase in road accidents during the festive period is the result of several factors that, together, form a perfect storm of road hazards.

• Winter weather

Adverse weather conditions pose a road risk whenever they occur. But, of course, in winter, the roads are far more likely to be wet, snowy, or icy, and the potential for strong winds only makes matters worse.

Not only do these wintry conditions reduce the surface quality of roads, they can also cause visibility issues, adding another major hurdle to already challenging driver scenarios.

Furthermore, weather risks are exacerbated by poorly maintained vehicles and a lack of timely route optimisation. For instance, tires with worn treads make loss of control all the more likely, especially if there are no alternative routes planned should the conditions of one become unmanageable.

The weather also places a lot of additional stress on fleet vehicles, increasing the likelihood of road side breakdowns. 

• More cars on the road

Unlike St. Nick, who has a clear run of it through UK airspace, fleet drivers are stuck delivering the nation’s Christmas gifts by road.

With countless people travelling to be with family and friends over the Christmas period, not to mention the mad rush to shops and supermarkets in preparation for the big day, the roads are busier than ever.

In 2024, the RAC estimated that roughly 29 million car trips would be made during the lead-up to Christmas last year – 8 million more than Christmas 2023 and 9.4 million more than Christmas 2022.

RAC haven’t yet announced 2025 predictions (as they do so in December), but based on the above-outlined trend, the road’s could be significantly busier than last year. And the more road users there are at any one time, the higher the likelihood of collisions. Add typical UK winter weather into the mix and the roads are a recipe for disaster.

• Driver stress and fatigue

Christmas is the busiest time of year for many fleets – delivery verticals in particular. Peak season delivery presents a veritable minefield of hazards, chief among them being the stress and fatigue of drivers with hectic schedules and long hours behind the wheel.

Tired people have sluggish reaction times; put them behind the wheel of a car for 8+ hours a day, and the worst can and does happen. When drivers are stressed, minds are preoccupied and focus on the road falters. And with patience reaching short supply at the same time congestion is at its worst, it’s small wonder that incident rates skyrocket.

It’s in this state that drivers are most likely to act rashly, choosing to speed, drive aggressively, ignore safe following distances, or take on other unnecessary risks to stick to or try to get ahead of their schedule. For instance, a van or truck driver stretched for time may throw caution to the wind and try to drive beneath a questionably low bridge rather than attempt to find a new route.

• Spike in driving under the influence

While Christmas is a work-heavy period for fleet drivers, for most of the nation, it’s a time to celebrate. Unfortunately, this leads to a sharp increase in alcohol, medication, drug-related accidents.

This is a particularly difficult to manage risk, as you can’t control the behaviour and states of other road users. No matter how professional and skilled your fleet drivers are, impaired civilian drivers pose an unavoidable and severe danger, making collisions more likely.

It’s important to remember that all road users are facing the same hazards as fleet drivers over Christmas, and driving under the influence renders them far less capable of handling them, increasing the chances of accidents that impact your team.

• Distracted driving increases

Even sober civilian drivers can pose a bigger threat to road safety over the Christmas period due to the typical increase in distractions and a more laid-back attitude while on the road.

Whether listening to loud Christmas music, ferrying chatty festive passengers to a party, or using mobile phones to coordinate holiday plans, distracted drivers are not fully focused on the task at hand, often leading to collisions or near misses.

Sharing the road with distracted drivers means fleet drivers have to be ready to think and act fast at any given moment. Yet, with the workload piling up, they’re likely to be less alert than at any other time of year.

Explore our range of fleet risk management services.

How to improve the safety of your Christmas fleet

The combination of adverse weather, driver fatigue, intense traffic, and impaired civilian drivers presents a formidable challenge. However, fleet managers are not powerless against these hazards. By taking proactive steps to prepare your team and vehicles, you can significantly mitigate risk, protect your assets, and most importantly, ensure your drivers return home safely.

Here are nine key risk management methods to improve your fleet’s safety this festive season:

• Gauge your current risk management standards

Sometimes, fleet managers believe they’re already doing enough to minimise risk for their drivers, which can lead to complacency and stagnant protections. A comprehensive, objective review is essential for identifying hidden vulnerabilities. 

Before implementing new strategies, invest in an onsite fleet management audit to accurately measure your current risk management standards against industry best practices. Knowing exactly where your gaps lie ensures you spend your time and budget addressing the most critical issues.

• Educate drivers on the risks they’ll face in December

Before the peak season rush begins, dedicate time to informing your drivers about the specific hazards they are likely to encounter. This includes reviewing protocols for black ice, reminding them of the increased presence of drunk and distracted drivers, and reinforcing the importance of getting enough rest and taking regular breaks.

To ensure your in-house training is comprehensive and effective, consider training key personnel to become certified driver assessors.

• Organise defensive driving and driver awareness training

While experienced drivers may view this as unnecessary, skill and awareness courses focused on real-world winter and high-traffic scenarios can significantly improve reaction times and judgement. Training should emphasise scanning the road for unpredictable behaviour from other drivers and maintaining appropriate stopping distances in poor weather.

• Incentivise safe driving

During the busiest period, it can be tempting for drivers to cut corners to stay on schedule. Counter this impulse by creating a transparent incentive programme that rewards adherence to speed limits, safe following distances, and minimal harsh braking events. Telematics data can be invaluable for fairly measuring and rewarding safe behaviour.

• Meticulous route planning

Poor route planning exacerbates driver stress and fatigue. Use advanced scheduling and routing software to factor in likely traffic congestion, plan alternative routes to bypass severe weather areas, and build realistic buffers into the day’s schedule. This helps reduce the pressure on drivers to speed or act rashly.

• Invest in technology to reduce the chances of road accidents

Things like low bridge alerting sensors and telematics can be used to prevent accidents direclty on the road, as well as to refine risk management strategies.

• Be aware of and support your driver’s mental health

The relentless demand of peak season can take a heavy toll. Fleet managers must actively monitor driver hours to prevent fatigue and promote a culture where drivers feel comfortable reporting stress or tiredness without fear of reprisal. Ensure there are clear channels for communication and access to mental health support if needed.

Those who have been involved in near misses or full-blown accidents may need additional support and training to overcome trauma and regain confidence.

• Prepare vehicles for the rigours of the work to come

A comprehensive pre-winter vehicle maintenance check is non-negotiable. This goes beyond routine servicing to focus specifically on winter-critical components: ensuring tyres have sufficient tread depth for poor conditions, checking fluid levels (especially antifreeze and screen wash), verifying that lights and wipers are fully functional, and stocking emergency kits (including high-visibility vests, first-aid, and warning triangles).

• Understand the limits of fleet capacity

During the festive surge, the temptation to over-promise and overload your existing fleet and drivers is high. However, setting unrealistic delivery targets and overextending working hours directly compromises safety and efficiency. Recognise your true operational capacity in terms of both vehicle availability and driver working hours.

If the demand exceeds this safe limit, be prepared to adjust schedules and utilise temporary contracted services. When bringing in temporary staff, never skip the critical step of driver licence checking to ensure all seasonal contractors are fully compliant and qualified.

A comprehensive fleet risk solution for a safer festive season

Preparing your fleet for the Christmas rush involves multiple approaches. Rather than managing these essential tasks across fragmented systems and spreadsheets, simplify your approach with a single, end-to-end platform.

Our fleet risk management software, Healthy Working: Safe Driving integrates crucial fleet risk management elements like driver profiling, risk assessments, and eLearning modules.

This allows you to easily identify your highest-risk drivers, assign tailored action plans, and deploy the necessary safe driving resources to keep your team protected — not just over the busy holidays, but all year round. Book your free trial today.