Driving Safety Tips for the Holiday Road Trip

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – You’re bags are packed and you’re ready to hit the road for the holidays. Before you put the rubber to the road, you may want to follow these few simple tips to help you safely arrive at your destination.

Car travel is still the most frequent mode of transportation during the holidays. Between December 21st and January 1st, AAA expects to handle nearly four million breakdowns including dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. Before hitting the road, motorists should take care of any vehicle maintenance issues.

“Check their tires over. Make sure they are properly inflated. Make sure the tread depth is good for traveling conditions. Also keep their fluids and oil change up to date. Make sure they check their belts and possibly check their alignment on their tires too,” says Terry Jennings of Miller’s OK Tire Store in Columbus.

Drivers need to check road and weather conditions before leaving. Working windshield wipers are essential when driving in severe weather. Before hitting the road, you want to make sure that the rubber on your windshield wiper isn’t dry-rotted, chipped or cracked.

Motorists should also carry battery cables, a flashlight, bottled water and an empty gas can. AAA estimates that 85 million travelers will hit the road for the holidays by the end of the year.

If you’d like more information on safe driving, just go to www.aaa.com.