If you’re planning to visit friends and family this holiday season, make sure you’re as prepared as possible by following these helpful tips.
Get Your Car Serviced
Don’t start a road trip with an oil change that is 6,000 miles overdue. Plan accordingly and get your vehicle fully serviced before you hit the holiday highway.
Prepare for the Worst
Make sure your vehicle is equipped with emergency items such as flares, blankets, jumper cables, and a spare tire. Keep extra phone chargers, non-perishable snacks, and bottled water handy. Also, a physical map might become useful should your phone die or you lose a GPS signal.
Check Your Insurance Coverage
Don’t wait until you’re stuck in an accident to find out whether or not you have roadside assistance or accident coverage. Call your insurance agent before your trip to see what’s included in your policy.
Avoid Distractions
By now, you should know that texting while driving is a terrible idea. This also goes for loading apps or updating your GPS while on the road. Update your holiday road trip playlist before you start driving and keep your eyes on the road.
Choose a Designated Driver
The worst time to choose a designated driver is after you’ve arrived at the party. Choosing a DD beforehand ensures that the person is 100% on board with sippling on sparkling water and fruit juice while the rest of the group takes advantage of spiked holiday punch and eggnog.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Even in a post-Covid world, there’s still a considerable amount of traffic on the roads during the holidays. Couple that with winter weather and you might find yourself slipping and sliding into a caravan of SUVs. Leave early and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination without racing down a crowded interstate.
If it’s been a while since you’ve ventured out in the cold, check out our article on driving in winter weather.