How To Stay Safe Driving during the Holiday Season
Holidays is the time for happiness and togetherness however it is also the time to be careful while sitting behind the steering wheel.
With the rush of people to finish their shopping and to prepare for the upcoming festivities, you will often find yourself stuck in endless traffic, scurrying pedestrians, mindless drivers, crowded roads, and rampant vehicles.
Here are a few tips you can follow to stay safe while you drive around during this holiday season.
Giving yourself some extra time ensures that you are not in a rush at the last moment and consequently avoid any kind of driving hazards which you might generally face otherwise.
Don’t text and drive. Keep your passengers and the other cars on the road safer by avoiding distractions, like texting, fiddling with the music or eating. And when reaction time can be compromised by slippery roads, it becomes even more of a problem. If you’re the driver, let others deal with the cell phone or wait until you’re stopped. If you’re a passenger, help your driver do their job.
Plan your drive with a travel app. Install a road trip app on your smartphone and map out your route. If possible, research heavy traffic times for the urban areas you’ll be passing to avoid the most congested times.
Assign a designated driver. If your holiday celebrations include some parties, make sure you have a designated driver. Planning makes it easier for everyone to enjoy happy hour and the safe ride home.
Get your car serviced. Make sure your car is up to date on maintenance and in good working condition by checking in with your mechanic for a thorough review of your car’s winter roadworthiness. It’s a great idea to winterize your vehicle and stock your car with a winter car survival kit.
Prepare a Winter Car Survival Kit. It’s important to have an emergency kit even when you least expect the worst to happen. Here is a list of items we recommend including in your emergency kit:
Flashlight (preferably crank-type because batteries don’t last long in extreme cold)
Reflective safety triangles or flares
Small first-aid kit
Snow brush and scraper
Small shovel with long handle
Plenty of windshield washer fluid
Booster cables
Lock de-icer (in extreme cold, keep it with you, rather than in your vehicle!)
Small tool kit (screwdriver, pliers, etc.)
Hand and foot warmers
Bottles of water
Granola bars
For more information or if you have any questions, please talk to one of our Service Advisors (204) 987-2461 or email service@frankmotors.ca