Delivering presents and goods is an urgent business at this time of year. While now done by a team of people driving trucks rather than one man and some elves on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, the pressure to deliver is still immense. It can result in increased dangers to other road users.

Why do delivery drivers pose a risk to other drivers at Christmas?

• Fatigued driving: Delivery drivers will have been working hard this month. Many will have been working overtime and be at the point of exhaustion. It could cause them to make errors that cause a traffic accident.
• Speeding: Companies place drivers under tremendous pressure. Being late will lead to disappointed children and angry parents. Drivers may break the speed limits to complete their rounds on time.
• Distracted driving: More people use delivery services at this time of year than at any other point. Not even Santa could find his way to all the addresses without consulting a GPS and checking the lists of what parcel goes where. Drivers often look at instructions and directions while driving to save time. It requires they take their eyes off the road.
• Drunk driving: While people do not put out alcohol for their Amazon driver in the way some countries do for Santa, many delivery drivers will drink more than usual this week. It could affect their ability to drive safely.

You are unlikely to come across a tired, speeding, distracted and slightly drunk Santa this Christmas. However, you will come across a host of delivery drivers … any of whom might exhibit one or more of these dangerous driving behaviors, which increases the chance they cause you an accident.