Safety Tips for Holiday Travelers

 Originally written on 106 St Tire&Wheel Blog

You can be no safer on any road then the condition of your vehicle lets you be and there is something you can do by making safety your priority before the trip. Learn these travel tips and be safe this holiday season:

1. Start off well rested and well fed! Caffeine is not an answer as it wears off quickly and then you will need more. Your caffeine high can make you jittery and short tempered. This is not the optimum way to start any journey that includes road risks like traffic, weather, etc.

2. Mandatory: Pull over and take breaks every couple of hours and take a walk whether you think you need one or not. Stretch your legs, use the bathroom, splash some cool water on your face, have a snack, do some deep breathing, roll down the windows in your car and replace the air inside your cabin...tired? Take a nap.
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3. Got a co-pilot? How about changing drivers for a bit? This is ideal because then each of you can watch the road and each other to make sure the driver is alert. When driving alone, turn on the radio or put on a CD, and keep your window open just an inch. Please don't use your cruise control if you're driving alone at night -- concentrating on your speed can help you stay awake.

4. Park your vehicle off the road if you have to pull over. Never park on the shoulder or in the breakdown lane for any reason unless, of course, it's an emergency.

5. Laws vary from state to state about using your cell phone which btw should be fully charged before you begin your journey and you should have a car charger for your cell phone with you, its just good common sense, right? A hands-free device, of course, is the best and safest way to use a cell in a moving car.

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