Now that Christmas, Hanukkah and other winter holidays are over, most people are stocking up on champagne, noisemakers and silly hats to ring in the New Year. Since this holiday is so commonly celebrated with late night parties where people are drinking alcoholic beverages, it also means that the likelihood of car accidents increases in the hours leading up to and following the stroke of midnight on January 1. According to a report conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2007, New Year's was the winter holiday with the most traffic fatalities between 2001 and 2005.

Designate a Driver
If you are planning to indulge in a glass or two of champagne this New Year's Eve, you should also organize a contingency plan to get home from your party safely. Leave the car at home, so you don't even have the option of getting behind the wheel, and call a taxi or use another transportation service. You can also choose someone in your group of friends to be a designated driver and ensure everyone arrives home safely once the festivities are over.

Be Cautious Behind the Wheel
If possible, you may want to avoid driving on New Year's Eve and in the wee hours of New Year's Day. However, if you have chosen to be the designated driver or you need to be on the road for other reasons, you should pay more attention to other drivers than usual. Watch for dangerous behaviors such as swerving and fluctuating speeds that could indicate they may be inebriated. Even if a car seems to be fine, you may still want to keep your distance so you have plenty of time to react if something happens.

Following these tips can help keep you safe this New Year's Eve, but if you do get into an accident, the experts at New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center can help get your vehicle back in working order.