Heading to Grandma’s For Thanksgiving?
Getting together with family and friends makes the Thanksgiving holiday very special. So special that it is historically the busiest travel period of the year.
With so many families hitting the road to visit Grandma’s house, it is important to take a few precautions to ensure the safety and comfort of your family as they travel.
Pre-Trip Vehicle Maintenance Check Up
Nothing can ruin a trip faster than having car trouble when on the way to your holiday destination. To help avoid being stuck by the side of the road, Consumer Reports recommends doing the following prior to leaving on a longer trip.
- Perform basic maintenance. Check wipers, fluid levels, change your oil.
- Check your battery and inspect your tires for proper inflation and tread depth. And don’t forget about your spare tire.
- Have your brakes inspected.
Traveling with Young Children
When driving with younger children make sure you pack enough snacks, water, games, movies and music to keep them occupied. Don’t forget the chargers and extra batteries for all your electronic devices. If you have any musical instruments for the trip, it’s good practice to bring some replacement parts, such as the best violin rosin.
Avoid Peak Travel Times
Make sure you check traffic and weather conditions. The worst days to travel in terms of traffic volume are the Wednesday prior to and the Sunday following Thanksgiving Day. If you can leave a day early or avoid Sunday, you won’t be sharing the road with so many other travelers anxious to get to their destinations.
In Case of an Emergency
“Be prepared” is important advice when traveling during the winter months. If you have been injured in a car accident, legal representation may be in your best interest. Talk to a skilled lafayette car accident lawyer and have him or her review your claim. You should also carry gloves, boots, blankets, flares, ice scrapper, a small shovel, some sand (or kitty litter), a flashlight and a cell phone. Keeping your gas tank half full at all times is also good advice. For roadside assistance, you can visit towingless.com.
Slow Down and Enjoy the Trip
Expect to hit traffic and for your trip to take longer than normal. Driving around commercial trucks can be dangerous, so always take extra precautions. If you’ve been hit by one, you might be wondering is it worth getting a truck accident lawyer. If the damage is severe, then you should definitely hire a truck accident lawyer. By building in extra time to reach your destination, you’ll minimize the stress on everyone. If you get into an accident and a reckless driver is at fault, you can contact a car accident attorney if you want to take legal action.
Use a GPS app or an old fashioned paper map to show you alternative routes if you need to navigate around traffic bottlenecks.
When driving watch your speed, make sure everyone is wearing seat belts, and enjoy the trip to Grandma’s. Read more here for precaution.
Happy Thanksgiving!