Thanksgiving is one of the busiest long-distance travel times of the year with Thanksgiving Day being the heaviest travel day for vehicle trips. According to the United States Department of Transportation, long-distance trips increase by 54 percent during the Thanksgiving holiday. The average Thanksgiving trip is 214 miles.
Drive safely, plan ahead and review the following safety tips:
- Buckle up – wear your seatbelt and ensure children are buckled up appropriately based on the age and size of the child. If a child is under the age of 13, the child should be seated and buckled up in the back seat of the vehicle.
- Drive sober –driving drunk is against the law – obey the law!
- Pay attention – stay focused and alert while behind the wheel of the car.
- Check the air pressure in your tires to make sure your tires are inflated properly.
- Check the tread on your tires to make sure they are not worn.
- Check your wiper blades to make sure they are in good working order and operating properly.
- Check your headlights, brake lights and blinkers to make sure they are all working properly.
- Make sure you have plenty of gas.
- Check your oil.
- Plan your travel route – check weather, road conditions and traffic.
- Allow enough travel time.
- Be prepared for an emergency – snow shovels, brooms, ice scrapers, jumper cables, flashlights, flares, emergency road markers, blankets, cell phone and charge, water, food, necessary medicine.
- If you are stranded, do not stay in a running vehicle for a long period of time to avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide.
It is always a good idea to let your loved ones know when you plan to arrive at your destination and what route you plan on taking. If you become stranded, your loved ones will be alerted when you do not arrive on-time. They will also be able to better locate you if they know the route you have taken.
Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for our family and friends and enjoy great food. Be safe this Thanksgiving holiday.
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