Holiday Road Trip Preparation

‘Tis the season to gather with friends and family, and for many of us, that means making arrangements to hit the road to visit those we love the most. But as wonderful as the holiday season is, it can also be stressful—especially if you plan on throwing travel coordination on top of your other plans. Here are a few ways to make sure you reach your holiday destinations safely and ready to celebrate.

Check your insurance coverage

No one sets out on a road trip thinking that the worst might happen, and odds are you won’t need to even think about contacting your insurance company over the holidays. But accidents happen year-round, and with an influx of people on the road, the possibility of getting into an accident increases. Double-checking your insurance coverage, specifically road trip accident coverage options, will give you peace of mind that even if something does happen, you’ll be protected.

Service your vehicle

Keeping up with vehicle maintenance is important for many reasons, the most important of which is accident prevention. If it’s been a while since you have had your vehicle serviced, make sure all its components—from tires to transmission—are up to the challenge of a multi-hour (or even multi-day) car ride. If you’re traveling to a destination known for snow or dramatically low temperatures during this time of year, it’s a good idea to winterize your vehicle, complete with a winter car survival kit in the event something happens.

Give yourself plenty of time

Want a good recipe for travel disaster? Take heavier-than-average traffic, throw in being rushed behind the wheel, give or take a pinch of uncertain weather conditions and you have yourself one miserable, not to mention dangerous road trip. Instead, plan on making the journey part of the overall holiday experience with car games, sing-alongs, treats, or even gifts along the way.

Nominate a designated driver

Holidays mean parties, and parties often mean drinking. Plan ahead for these events and make sure that you have a designated driver in place and decided well in advance. This will help ensure everyone gets to enjoy happy hour without compromising safety on the ride home.

Don’t text and drive

In a family road trip situation, it’s best to nominate someone to handle all correspondence for you while you’re behind the wheel. Distracted driving is problematic all year, but throw in congested streets and the possibility of inclement weather, and the risks increase. This will help keep you and your family, not to mention others on the road, safe.

Keep a charger handy

While you shouldn’t be on your cell phone if you’re in the driver’s seat, it’s always a good idea to make sure your device is well charged in the event of an emergency. If your vehicle has Bluetooth capabilities, make sure your phone is paired so you can access it hands-free.

Hammer’s Autoworks wants everyone to enjoy the holiday season and all the merriment it brings. These tips are designed to help ensure the travel part of your holiday travel plans runs smoothly and safely. Whatever your holiday destination, we hope you have a wonderful time.