It’s the holidays again, and with the holidays comes parties, office get-togethers, and the possibility of a road trip on your own or with family. Although you can prepare with snacks, movies, and holiday music, there’s a lot of unforeseen things that can happen when you’re driving during the holidays, so here are a few tips on how you can prepare for what could happen when driving in the winter:
Prep your car for the weather
Maybe you’re just driving across town or you could be heading out on a 10-hour road trip; no matter where you decide to drive, you need to prepare for the weather before you go. Having good tires in the winter, carrying chains, and bringing along an emergency kit is a great idea for short or long road trips.
Stay off the side roads
Major routes are well tended to, with frequent snow plowing and sanding to prevent black ice. When the weather hits hard, side roads become a lower priority, and that’s when drivers who take these roads tend to get stuck in snow banks or lost for hours. Sticking to major routes will ensure you make it to your destination safely.
Be alert to what’s on the road
If you’ve ever been driving along and you see someone up ahead of you weaving in their lane, almost driving off the road, or slamming on the brakes frequently, you may have wondered if they could be a drunk driver. The best thing to do in this situation is to stay back from the vehicle and use hands free to call 911 and report the driver to the police. You might not know for sure if the person is drunk, but it’s better to be safe than sorry when someone is driving erratically on a busy road.
By making sure you prep for driving during the holidays stay alert to what’s happening out on the roads, you’ll enjoy a safe and happy holiday.
