Holiday Travel Safety Tips

Holiday road trips are an American tradition. These seasonal expeditions give us a chance to get together with loved ones and friends, or just relax and unwind somewhere special. To help make your next road trip a smooth one, here are some helpful holiday travel safety tips:

Check your tires – If it’s been a while since you’ve looked at your tires, make sure to do it before you head out on your holiday road trip. Be on the lookout for these signs that you may need new tires:

• Bubble(s) in tire sidewall – Don’t ignore these. They could lead to a blowout.

• Dry rot on tires – These small, spider-like hairline cracks in your tires’ tread or sidewall are a red flag and sure indicator that you need to have your tires looked at by a professional.

• Low tire tread – If your tires’ tread has worn down to 2/32”, then you need to get them replaced. To see where your tires stand, perform the Penny Test.

• Any other visible signs of damage or dangerous wear.

When you’ve made sure that your tires are in good shape, check they are properly inflated. You can find your manufacturer’s recommended air pressure on your driver’s side door jamb.

Plan your trip in advance – You won’t be the only car out on the road this holiday (far from it), so consider taking a less-traveled route (even it’s a bit out of the way), and leave a little earlier than you normally would to avoid getting stuck in heavy traffic.

Keep valuables in the trunk – You’ll no doubt be making a pit stop or two on the way to your holiday destination, so be sure to keep anything valuable safely stowed in your trunk.

Have your roadside assistance information handy – The last thing you want to do after a flat or breakdown is rummage around in your glove compartment or insurance phone app to find how to get roadside assistance. Get all that info together before you head out for a little more peace of mind.

How to Prepare for Cold Weather

If your holiday road trip is going to take you somewhere cold, there’s a few extra pre-drive to-dos that you’ll want to take care of before you hit the road:

Install snow tires – Snow tires (also called winter tires) give you better traction, handling, and braking on snowy and icy roads. These tires are made with a special rubber compound that stays flexible in lower temps, and some allow you to add studs for enhanced grip in extreme wintry conditions. Some cities only allow snow tires with studs during certain times of the year, so always check with the local authorities.

Check the weather – If the forecast calls for weather that you don’t feel comfortable driving in (e.g. heavy snow, ice), and you feel that your usual route won’t be safe, then choose an alternate route or simply stay home.

Check your fuel level – Gas lines can freeze when the temp drops too low. To help prevent frozen gas lines, try and keep your tank at least half full.

Stock up on the essentials – Cold weather brings unique challenges, and you need to make sure you’ll have the right tools in case you run into any unexpected problems. Here’s a good pre-pack winter checklist:

• Charged phone and power supply

• Extra jacket, blanket and non-perishable snacks

• First-aid kit

• Properly-inflated spare tire

• Tire jack

• Jumper cables

• Safety flares

• Gravel, salt, cat litter or a small piece of carpet: All of these items will help you gain some extra tire traction if you get stuck in the snow.

Dress for the cold – This one may seem obvious, but it’s important to choose safety over style when it comes to picking your winter driving apparel. When you’re behind the wheel, it’s best to wear something that will keep you warm but also leave your peripheral vision clear and arms free to move in a full range of motion. That means no bulky, puffy coats or fur-rimmed hoods. That said, it is smart to have heavy winter coats in your vehicle, in case your heater stops working or you break down.

No matter where you’re headed this season, if you follow the handy holiday travel safety tips above, your trip will be as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.