These are brief, sensible tips on driving safely on a trip which are derived on the basis of professional advice: vehicle preparation, planning, using seat belts, avoiding impairment and distractions, and remaining alert because of reduced pace and increased separation in winter driving. The combination of maintenance inspections, defensive driving, and resting significantly reduces the risk of crashes, and therefore, increased holiday traffic, winter weather, and post-night festivals increase the risk of accidents on busy Thanksgiving-New Year roads.
| Form data | Data |
|---|---|
| Trip date | Holiday season |
| Departure | Off‑peak hours |
| Vehicle check | Tires, battery, wipers |
| Safety focus | Seat belts, no DUI |
Prep the car first
Vehicle: Book a maintenance check up: tires (tread/pressure), battery, brakes, wipers, lights, fluids and a full tank to go before departure to minimize breakdowns during high holiday season. Prep an emergency kit including blankets, chargers, flashlight, scraper, jumper cables, snacks and signals: little preparation is most effective during traffic jams and in bad weather conditions.
Weather and traffic planning.
Test the roads and predict the flow of the traffic, and depart before or after the traffic is at its peak to evade congestions; earliest mornings or evenings departures reduce delays and risks of fatigue. Set up buffer time, pre-plan routes, last-minute detours/closures should not require risky speed or hasty decisions to occur.
Buckle up and secure kids
Make sure all passengers are strapped and children should be in special car seat and booster which are correctly fitted according to safety requirements before the wheels turn. The seat belts are the safest mode of preventing injury during the crashes, particularly during the seasonal rises in the traffic or the mixed conditions.
Slow, space, and stay alert
Obey signs and pass at slowing rates, and even minimal speeds hardly save time but can dramatically increase the severity of crashes and stopping distance on cold, wet, or icy roadways. Be aware of taking breaks after every 2 hours or 100 miles, change drivers where feasible and avoid nighttime driving, drowsiness when driving can be as risky as intoxication by a legal limit.
No impairments and reduced distrctions.
Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, assign a sober driver or take a taxi/rideshare and be particularly attentive to impaired drivers late at night or on the eve of the holidays. Stow the phone aside and get rid of all visual, manual, and cognitive distractions; concentrate on the road only when in congested, stop and go holiday traffic flows.
Savings trip credit.
On snow, rain, or black ice, slow down, triple following distance, apply smooth inputs and take into account winter tires or winter chains where necessary; bridges and overpasses freeze over first. When the conditions are not favorable, it is better to stop somewhere safe and wait; it is better to be late rather than drive under low-visibility conditions or in the wet weather.
What is the safest departure time?
In the early mornings or late evenings when there are no or very few rush hours to reduce traffic and pressure
What is the frequency of rest among drivers?
After every 2 hours or every 100 miles; do not drive overnight and change driving whenever feasible.
What’s the top winter rule?
Decelerate and increase distance, steer/brake smoothly to avoid skids on wet roads.