Safe Holiday Travel Month

November is a critical month for traffic safety and it’s historically one of the worst months for crashes, especially around the Thanksgiving holiday.

If you’re traveling this year, be sure your vehicle is in good running condition, get plenty of rest and be prepared for any emergency. Traveling by car during the holidays has the highest fatality rate of any major form of transportation based on fatalities per passenger mile.

Hundreds of people die every year in crashes on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Alcohol impairment is involved in about a third of these fatalities.

Here are some safety tips:

1. Get a full inspection of your vehicle.
Before hitting the road on a long trip, it’s always smart to get a full inspection on your vehicle. This is one of our top holiday safety tips! Many mechanic shops do inspections for free (with the hope you’ll use them for any repairs you may need), so shop around and schedule a time to get your car inspected. Even though this can be time-consuming, it’s well worth it! Remember, you don’t want to find out you have an oil leak or a bad battery on the side of the road. Find out beforehand, so you can get everything fixed up. This will give you peace of mind while heading to your holiday party!

2. Pack an emergency kit.
We always recommend having an emergency kit in your car, but you should definitely bulk up that kit when you go on a road trip. Here’s a full list of family road trip essentials, but keep in mind the specific needs of your trip.

You’ll need a first aid kit, cold weather essentials, and basic car repair tools. A few other items would be hand sanitizer to wash your hands, something to charge your cell phones, winter gear, band-aids, tire inflator, de-icer, and blankets, if headed towards cold weather.

3. Leave early and prepare for setbacks.
Don’t rush. Get a good night’s sleep before departing and avoid drowsy driving Feeling behind and racing to your destination will only increase your risk of danger. Leave early and expect setbacks of every kind. Whether it’s uncooperative kids or a road closure, you need to have a backup plan. Choose alternate routes, pack extra entertainment tools, choose frequent stops, and relax. You’ll get there when you get there.

4. Always buckle-up. Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled.

5. Reduce Distractions. Put that cell phone away; many distractions occur while driving, but cell phones are the main culprit.

6. Share your travel plans with loved ones.
Before you leave for your family get-together, let your loved ones know your travel plans. Let them know when you’re leaving, the route you’re taking, and when you plan to arrive. That way, they can check in on you regularly and know when to get help if you’re absent. The last thing you want to do is to break down or spin off the road without service and have no way of contacting help!

7. Avoid sharing your travel plans on social media.
Though we think it’s great to share your travels with loved ones, don’t post your travel plans on social media. Criminals look for opportunities to break into homes when people are away for the holidays. Advertising being away is like an open invitation to those looking to take advantage of you being out of the house for a long period of time. To ensure you arrive home safely with all your belongings in your house, share your holiday adventures after the trip.

8. If you are the party host, designate a sober driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party.

9. Have a good time but remember that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.
Before drinking, choose a designated driver, or schedule a ride-sharing, ride-hailing or taxi service
If you are hosting a party where there’s alcohol, offer non-alcoholic drink options and make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
Always wear your safety belt — it’s the best defense against drunk drivers.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, safely pull over and call law enforcement.

10. Stay safe on the roads over the holidays — and every day.