Every December, NHTSA runs its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The timing is intentional — December is one of the deadliest months on American roads, with alcohol-related fatalities spiking around the holiday season. In 2022, 981 people died in drunk driving crashes during the holiday period alone.
The campaign focuses on driver behavior. But there's another piece of the safety equation that gets less attention: the condition of the vehicles those drivers are operating.
A car with worn brakes, compromised tires, or failing lights is dangerous in any season. In December, with slick roads, low sun angles, early darkness, and higher traffic volumes, the stakes are higher.
Why December Is Hard on Vehicles
Winter conditions create specific mechanical stress:
- Cold temperatures reduce tire pressure (roughly 1 PSI per 10°F drop), affecting handling and braking distance
- Salt and road chemicals accelerate corrosion on brake lines, rotors, and suspension components
- Shorter days mean lights are in use more — burned-out bulbs become a visibility and legal problem
- Cold batteries deliver less cranking power, and a marginal battery that started fine in October may not start in December
The problem is that these changes happen gradually. You might not notice that your tire pressure dropped or that your brake pads are getting thin — until something goes wrong.
The December Safety Checklist
These are the items worth checking before the holiday driving season peaks:
- Tires — Pressure, tread depth (use the penny test: Lincoln's head going in headfirst, tread should cover it), and visible sidewall damage
- Brakes — Squealing, grinding, pulling to one side, or a spongy pedal are all signs it's time for an inspection
- Lights — Walk the whole car: headlights, brake lights, turn signals, reverse lights, license plate light
- Battery — Most auto parts stores will test your battery for free. If it's over four years old and you're in a cold climate, consider replacing it before winter fully sets in
- Wiper blades — Winter-specific blades are available and handle ice and heavy precipitation better than standard blades
- Defroster — Front and rear. Test it now, not when you're late and scraping ice off the inside of your windshield
"A roadworthy car doesn't guarantee a safe trip. But a car that isn't roadworthy guarantees something worse."
Where to Get This Done
Any of these checks can be done at an independent shop, a dealership, or many auto parts stores. A few notes:
- Battery testing is typically free at parts stores like AutoZone or O'Reilly
- Brake inspections are often free or very low cost as a way to generate business — take advantage of that
- Mobile mechanics can handle most of this at your home or workplace if you'd rather not spend time in a waiting room
Don't wait for a warning light. Warning lights are the car's way of telling you something is already wrong. These checks are about catching problems before they announce themselves on a dark road in December.
EthicalMechanic.org supports both driver safety and vehicle safety. This month, the focus is on both.
Drive sober. Drive in a car that works. Those are the two non-negotiables.