Americans loves the open road. Every year about this time, people load up their vehicles and head out to visit loved ones, get out of town and enjoy their holidays. Last year, AAA projected that 38.4 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more away from home during the week of Thanksgiving. With more drivers on the road at this time of year, it’s important to know and practice safe driving.
- First and foremost, make sure you have had plenty of rest the night before. Lack of sleep is one of the major causes of holiday driving accidents.
- Take regular breaks and rest your eyes. Stopping once every few hours can help make your trip more enjoyable and keep you safer.
- If possible, share the driving duties to reduce strain and fatigue on any one driver.
- Watch your speed. It’s best to plan for extra travel time rather than to speed and risk an accident or getting a traffic ticket.
- Turn on the air conditioning or crack a window. Cool air will help keep you feeling refreshed and more alert.
- Cut down distractions. Bring along games or videos to keep your children entertained but make sure they are not interfering with you paying attention to the road.
- Don’t forget to buckle up, and make sure all passengers are properly secured, as well.
- Don’t drive intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. The holidays are a time for celebrating and everyone wants to have fun, but driving after drinking is never a good idea.
- Before you leave, make sure your vehicle is properly maintained and in good shape. Check the basics, such as: tire pressure, oil and coolant levels. You can bring you vehicle by Prestige Ford and have it checked out and serviced, if necessary.
Following these guidelines will help make the roads safer for you and everyone else out on the road.
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