The holidays are almost here and that means a kickoff to holiday travel is about to begin. To start off this month-long of holiday traveling is none other than Thanksgiving. With an estimated 33 million people traveling, Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times on the road. To help you prepare for your upcoming travels, the team at Morin Insurance has created some helpful holiday road trip safety tips to help get you to and from safely.
Check the current conditions
Play it safe this year and check the Federal Highway Administration’s website for up-to-the-minute traffic information, detours, and road construction before you depart. Another excellent resource is The Weather Channel for current weather conditions of the interstates and roads you will be traveling on.
Pack driving essentials
Depending on where your holiday travels are taking you, you may encounter snow or even blizzard-like conditions along the way. That’s why it’s always a good idea to pack an emergency snow kit. This kit should include a snow scraper and brush, flashlight, blanket, booster cables, shovel, sand to place under your tires for grip, flares, emergency triangles, and a first aid kit. While you hopefully need these items, you will be happy you packed them in the event of an emergency.
Vehicle maintenance
The last thing you want to do is break down and miss Mom’s famous pumpkin pie; all because you failed to have your car winterized. So, make sure to have a certified mechanic check your oil level, tire pressure, windshield wipers, heater, defroster, antifreeze, and brakes before you head out on icy and snowy roads.
Remember your phone
You never know what could happen on the road, so it’s always a good idea to bring your cell phone and car charger with you. If you do not have a cell phone, consider purchasing a prepaid phone. In the event that you need to use your phone, let your passengers make the call, or pull to the side of the road before dialing.
Buckle Up
Thanksgiving weekend is one of the most dangerous and deadliest times of the year to travel. Because of this startling fact, the team at Morin Insurance would like to remind everyone to play it safe this holiday season and buckle up. Not only is it the law; it could help save your life.
Child safety
While it’s understood that infants and toddlers need to be in a child safety seat, many do not know that children under 4’9″ are required to utilize a booster seat. Be sure to keep up to date with the ever-changing guidelines of child restraint safety laws.
Give yourself the gift of time
Plan for heavy traffic and leave the stress at home. The day before and the day after Thanksgiving are two of the heaviest traveled days. With this in mind, leave yourself extra travel time to avoid accidents causing road-rage and stress. Better yet, if it’s a possibility, leave and stay a day or two extra!
Limit yourself
Whether food or alcohol, overindulging in either causes significant danger when driving. For instance, turkey has a natural sedative called L-tryptophan which can make you sleepy. Similarly, we’ve all heard of the dangers involved with drinking and driving. Play it safe this year and limit your intake, stay the night, or allow a friend or family to get you home.
Anytime you’re traveling a distance, it’s a good idea to check in with your insurance agency. Knowing what your policy covers, or doesn’t, is essential. If you’d like to review your current coverage, contact the team at Morin Insurance. Our team of experts will provide you with multiple options, rates, and plans that best suit your driving requirements. Call us today at (603) 875-1200.
