Holiday Travel Tips To Keep You Safe This Season

Traveling around the holidays can be a mix of stress and jubilation as people take to the roads to visit friends and family. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas fall on the top ten list of most dangerous times to drive. This year, AAA is estimating that over 112.5 million people will be hitting the roads between Christmas Day and New Years, 5 million more than last season. Whether you’re staying in Topeka, Kansas or hitting the interstate, heightened awareness and safety should be a priority this time of year especially. More vehicles on the road means a statistically greater chance for an incident or accident. Our staff at the Topeka Auto Now dealership wishes you a wonderful holiday season and with it, some tips to keep you and yours safe this holiday season.

Check vehicle

You won’t be going anywhere this holiday season if your car isn’t working or has an unresolved issue that could surface. If you have the time, run it over to your preferred mechanic and ask them to go through a quick inspection. Inform them you are hitting the road and want to make sure you get to your destination safely. If you can’t get in to see your mechanic, don’t panic. You can do your own walk around of your vehicle.

• Starting with the tires, check the pressure and fill them to the correct PSI designated in the vehicle’s manual, not on the tire.
• Check your fluids and be sure you have an anti-freeze windshield wiper fluid.
• Check your oil and grab a bottle just in case you need to top it off.
• Make sure your battery is in good working order. Batteries and cold weather don’t get along so you’ll want to make sure you have jumped cables or a charger just in case.
• Lastly, take your vehicle for a spin around the block and pay attention to any noises or odd handling.

1. Plan your route

One of the funnest parts of traveling is sitting at a table with a map plotting out your route. Of course, there’s always the GPS you can plug in and follow, but where’s the fun in that? Sitting down with a map or the route on a computer will help familiarize yourself and is beneficial if the roads become chaotic and you can’t focus on the GPS. Coming up with alternative routes just in case is also a good idea and can save you time and may be less stressful of a ride.

2. Have an emergency kit in the car

It seems like nearly every year we see huge snow storms covering vehicles on highways bringing traffic to an immediate stop. Rescue missions are set up as temperatures drop. Especially if you’re traveling on the more rural stretches of road outside of Topeka, having a safety kit is essential this time of year. Planning for the worst case scenario can be a smart move. Pack a first aid kit, some food, flashlights with batteries, phone charger for your vehicle and blankets. If you get stranded somewhere waiting hours for a tow truck, you’ll be glad you did.

3. Get plenty of sleep and avoid fatigue

Sleep deprivation is a leading contributor to accidents and incidents all times of year. During the holiday season, heightened levels of stress and adrenaline can make you feel wide awake one minute and barely able to keep your eyes open the next. Be aware of your sleep habits and try to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep the night before a big travel day.

4. Leave early

While waking up early may be hard, hitting the road early has benefits of getting through congested areas or putting on some miles while the rest of the world is still asleep. Not only that, but as the days are shorter, you’ll be driving when it’s light out and limiting time driving during the night after what could already be a long day in the car.

5. Lock your house

There’s nothing worse than being hours from home and realizing you forgot something, like locking your house. This time of year, burglary is known to spike because people are traveling. Leave a note for yourself on your car dashboard to remember to lock your house.

6. Avoid fuel hikes

Main routes and areas around busy cities tend to have a higher price for gas. These days, there are phone Apps that can tell you the rate for gas in your vicinity. Another rule of thumb is not to get off at a rest area on a major turnpike or highway and drive just a bit off your route to find cheaper gas.

7. Watch for speed traps

Not everyone is in the holiday mood this time of year. Especially if they’re working. As the busiest time of year for travel is upon us, you can bet police will be out making sure everyone is behaving.

8. Don’t drink and drive

This is just obvious. Drinking and driving not only puts you at risk, but it puts everyone around you on the road at risk. Have a plan and stick to it. If you are tempted to drink, know your limit or assign a designated driver and hand over your keys. According to the CDC, more than one million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence in 2016.

9. Have fun!

Being prepared, having a plan, and making sure your vehicle is operating smoothly and safely will help to limit stress while traveling and help you focus on what’s important during your holiday travel.

Whether you just purchased a vehicle from our used car dealership in Topeka or you’re looking to come in and speak with a member of our Auto Now team, we appreciate your business and are always here to help. As your neighbors and members of your community, our staff is dedicated to helping find a car you love and can afford. It’s not too late to get you into a vehicle before the holidays. Come in and chat with one of our experts at our Topeka dealership today and ask about our buy here pay here program.