Tips for a Safe Holiday Road Trip

Before you go over the hills and into the woods, here are a few helpful tips to make your holiday drive a safe and enjoyable experience.

• Getting caught in a storm is a nightmare, but you can feel safer by preparing a winter emergency kit for your car, which includes a sandbag, shovel, blanket, first-aid kit, flares, flashlight, waterproof matches, chains, food, and water.
• On a similar note, be sure that your car is equipped with a spare tire and jumper cables.
• It’s important that your vehicle is in tip-top shape before you hit the (possibly icy) roads. Make sure to get the oil changed, add snow tires, and have a complete run-through of brakes, ignition, and battery systems.
• Check the interstate weather forecast on weather.com to avoid any possibly dangerous storms on your travel route.
• Get roadside assistance such as AAA for emergencies, and program the number into your cell phone. This way if you do require towing or a jumpstart, you have somewhere to turn.
• If you’re worried about the price of gas, you can calculate the cost online before you leave.
• Slow down and be alert. Make sure that you are well rested and that you keep a steady pace, so you arrive at grandmother’s house in one piece.

Do you have more tips on how to prepare for a holiday road trip? Share your suggestions by submitting a comment below!