Happy holidays from Integrity Auto Repair. This is a wonderful time of year when people travel to spend the holidays with their families and friends. The traveling part can be stressful, however; especially if you’re planning a long road trip. How do you stay safe on the holiday roads? Here are a few tips.
Prepare for Anything That Could Go Wrong
Be prepared for any scenario, including a roadside emergency, accident, road construction, or inclement weather. Even if you’re heading to your parents’ house and you’ve driven there and back a million times, check for road closures or road work and for the weather along the way. If you know in advance that there will be a snowstorm along a certain route, you can find another way to get to your parents’ house to avoid dangerous road conditions.
Even so, have an emergency kit in your vehicle just in case something happens. Things to include in your emergency kit are
- Battery jumper cables
- Emergency flares and triangle reflectors
- Motor oil, engine coolant and tire inflator
- First-aid supplies
- Blankets and a flashlight
- Extra batteries for the flashlight
- Non-perishable food and water
- Paper towels
- Pen and paper
You might also keep a small tool kit in your vehicle, a pocket knife and an ice scraper. All of these things will come in handy if you have a roadside emergency or get stranded for some other reason.
Don’t Drive Tired
Even though you’ve selected the safest route and stuffed your vehicle with emergency supplies, you’ll still need to get plenty of rest before your trip. Tired drivers are dangerous drivers, and you might feel as if you’re alert, especially with that jumbo coffee drink, but your cognitive skills will suffer if you don’t get plenty of sleep before you hit the road. Take breaks along the way, too, to refresh yourself.
Drive Defensively
Other drivers might be tired or, worse, impaired by alcohol or drugs. You already drive defensively, but during the holidays, it’s particularly important to keep an eye on everyone around you. Is the person in front of you swerving too much? Stay back. Is the person behind you tailgating? Change lanes and let him or her pass. Is another driver posing a significant danger? Have a passenger call 9-1-1 to report it.
Finally, don’t allow yourself to be distracted by your or another person’s mobile phone. Integrity Auto Repair in Eugene, OR, wants you to stay safe on the holiday roads this year, so call us for an automobile inspection and service visit.
