Safety Tips for Busiest Travel Day of the Year

Happy Holidays! Did you know Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year?! Yes, that’s right it beats all of the other lovely holidays throughout the year. In fact, around 47 million people travel for this wonderful day, and more than 89% of them are on the roads! We want all of our family, friends and customers to be as safe as possible on the road when travelling to their Thanksgiving feasts. Below, you will find our top tips to stay safe and arrive to your big turkey dinner without any problems.

Five Star’s Top Ten Thanksgiving Travel Tips

• Check your vehicle.

Start early! We recommend checking your car for any mechanical issues, fluid levels and tire pressure. It’s also important to make sure your spare tire is fully inflated and ready to go in case of emergency. Need help doing this? Bring your car into Five Star and our team will be sure to help you out!

• Pack an emergency bag.

Any road trip calls for an emergency bag that can take care of all the what-ifs. This bag should include a first aid kit, blanket, road flares, jumper cables, flashlight and bottled water.

• Get a good night sleep the night before driving.

One major safety concern, often overlooked, is driving when tired. This can cause accidents on the road and endanger your passengers, when your eyes are getting droopy and you’re bored of sitting in the car for a long period of time. It’s important to get a full night of sleep before hopping in the car. It is recommended to try to avoid driving between 1 and 3 PM when the body is naturally more tired.

• Plan ahead using Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, etc.

Forget the old-fashioned, paper map – these apps can help you plan when to leave accordingly. Plus, they will notify you of traffic (and any accidents too!), so you can take the quickest route possible. There is nothing worse than a cold dinner, so plan ahead and leave early!

Pro Tip: According to Google Maps traffic data, the worst time to return home on the road is 4PM the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The best time to hit the road is at 6AM on Friday after Thanksgiving!

• However…. Anticipate possible travel delays.

Even if you plan ahead and leave early, sometimes travel delays are impossible to avoid, especially when you cannot control road conditions. In that case, load up your car with snacks, water, and games for the kids.

• Fuel up.

Start with a full tank of gas, so you don’t need to make any immediate stops after beginning the drive. You’ll have more energy in the beginning and the determination to reach the big meal awaiting.

• Clean the windshield at stops.

For your ultimate safety, having the front and back windshield free of debris and bugs will ensure you will be able to see clearly when driving. Heading to Tahoe? You know you want to be able to see on those windy mountains! When fueling up, quickly wipe down your windshield with the provided cleaning supplies. Kids love doing this, so put them to work as they stretch their legs!

• Keep distractions to a minimum.

Don’t put yourself and your loved ones at harm by texting, talking, playing with the music, or anything that keeps your hands off the wheel and eyes off the road when driving. Let your passenger be the assistant and handle it all for you!

• Buckle up.

It is so important to wear your seatbelt when in the car whether as the driver or passenger! When used correctly, wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger occupants by 45% and risk of moderate to critical injury by 50%. Wear a seat belt– statistics prove it’s the smart thing to do!

• Abide by all road laws and don’t speed.

We all know that one person who was pulled over on Thanksgiving because they got just a little too excited by the delicious food waiting for them. A speeding ticket isn’t worth it, save your money and the point on your record, and go the speed limit.

 

And above all, enjoy the holiday! Five Star Auto Center wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Season! Travel safe, and make an appointment at Five Star today to get your car ready for the big day.