From celebrating with friends and family and traveling, the holiday season is one of the best times of the year. And through the holidays, it is essential to keep safety a priority. So, if you’re planning on traveling on the road during the holidays, we’ve come up with a helpful list to remind you of several essential safety tips. Here are 5 tips for safe holiday season driving:
Safe Holiday Driving & Winter Weather
Follow these helpful tips to lower the stress of driving during the holiday season. This way you can keep your car, yourself, and those traveling with you safe while on the road.
1. Get Your Car Serviced
First on the list is to make sure to get your car serviced. Keeping your vehicle up-to-date on maintenance will not only help keep your vehicle running smoothly on the road, but it will help by giving you and your passengers peace of mind while traveling. Along with keeping your car serviced, consider packing water, non-perishable foods, jumper cables, and other essential items you might need in the case of a breakdown while on the road.
Here are some essential car maintenance tips to get done before traveling:
- Clean windshield
- Check tire pressure
- Unless your vehicle manufacturer states otherwise, we recommend:
- Change your oil every 5,000 miles
- Change the air filter every 12,000 miles
- Rotate your tires every 5,000-10,000 miles
2. Practice Winter Driving
If you haven’t driven in snow or icy conditions in a while and you’re planning on doing so while traveling, we suggest practicing! For example, a great way to practice winter driving is by finding an empty parking lot and practicing stopping and turning in the snow. This will give your mind a refresher on how to drive safely during the winter in your vehicle.
3. Give Yourself Plenty of Travel Time
It is essential to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Driving and rushing in bad weather, heavy traffic, and rough road conditions is never a good idea. Instead, we suggest you plan on a long trip filled with road games and treats or sing-alongs with your passengers.
4. Assign a Designated Driver
If your holiday plans include parties and drinking, it is essential to designate a driver. A designated driver is a person who agrees not to drink any alcohol so that they can drive their friends and family home safely. Every year, nearly 50,000 people owe their lives to designated drivers. Planning will not only make it easier for everyone to enjoy, but it will also keep you and others safe. Once the plans are made, be sure to thank the designated driver for being a real holiday season hero.
5. Don’t Text and Drive
Last, but certainly not least, avoid texting and driving. It is essential to keep your passengers and others on the road safer by avoiding distractions, like being on your phone. Texting and driving while also driving on slippery roads and rough road conditions can be extremely dangerous. So, if you’re the driver, let your passengers deal with your cell phone, or wait until you are off the road. And if you’re a passenger, help the driver do their job.
Here are some other driving distractions that you should avoid while driving:
- Using the GPS
- Adjusting Audio or Climate Controls
- Eating and Drinking
- Daydreaming
- Applying Makeup/Grooming
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading these tips for safe holiday season driving. We also hope you use these safety tips to help you plan for an incident-free holiday. Stillman and Friedland would like to wish you a very happy holiday season, and for you and yours to stay safe!
Because we care…
Stillman & Friedland Attorneys
