Thanksgiving is coming soon, which means packing the entire family into the car and heading over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house.
Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday travel season, and the roads and sky will be full of travelers trying to meet up with family for a few days of celebration. If you’re planning a long car drive, here are some tips to ensure it’s a safe holiday driving trip for your family:
* Get plenty of rest before getting behind the wheel. Driving while tired can cause the same impairment as driving while intoxicated, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Don’t plan to stay up all night and drive straight through – across several state lines – just to get to Grandma’s house. Either take another driver to relieve you during the trip, or plan napping stops along the route for holiday travel safety.
* Plan ahead for the weather. If you’re driving a long distance, you might be crossing weather zones, so make sure your car is stocked for winter or wet weather conditions. Have plenty of antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid on hand, and check your tire conditions before you leave the house. It’s a good idea to pack an emergency car kit, complete with tools, warm blankets, water, nonperishable food items, flashlights and cell phones, in case your car were to become stuck in a remote location.
* Check the map – twice. If you can, purchase full state maps for every state you’ll be driving through in case you come upon unexpected construction detours. Or invest in an electronic GPS device for your car to help keep you from getting lost in unfamiliar territory.
* A few holiday safety tips for children include packing toys, games or other activities to help keep them occupied in the car, making sure they are secured in their child seats or seatbelts at all times and that you have cool weather clothing or blankets on hand to keep them warm in case of emergency.
* Pet safety is also important in case you decide to bring Fluffy or Fido along. Make sure pets are secure either in a pet carrier or in a pet harness that is attached to the vehicle so they don’t distract the driver or hurtle through the air and cause injuries if you had to stop suddenly.
Additional safe holiday driving tips can be found at www.navy.mil.
