5 Simple Things You Can Do To Make Your Holiday Road Trip Safer

Thanksgiving holiday, the heaviest 102 hours of the year for roadway travel, officially begins tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. and ends at midnight on Sunday.   According to the National Safety Commission, Thanksgiving holiday is historically, not only the biggest travel weekend of the year, it is also the deadliest for drivers and passengers.  Many in North Florida will be hitting the roads to visit family and friends.   Here are five simple safety tips to make your holiday trip as safe as possible:

• 1. Avoid blow-outs.  Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained and its tires are up for the drive; especially with the car loaded down. Before you leave, check for adequate tread and proper inflation. When was the last time you checked your tires?  
• 2. Pay attention to the road at all times. Avoid driving distractions such as cell phones and texting while behind the wheel. Keep both hands on the wheel, both eyes on the road and pay attention to the road and other drivers. Distracted driving is the leading cause of crashes on the road. Many things on the roads we cannot control, distracted driving is not one of them.  
• 3. Buckle up! Proper use of seat belts and age appropriate safety devices is the number one thing you can do to keep safe in the event of an accident. It is also the law in Florida.  Three ways to protect your most precious cargo - your child passenger.
• 4. Follow the speed limit and keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you. Experts recommend the 2 second rule  to make sure you have adequate time to come to a stop. Tailgating is a form of aggressive driving. Aggressive driving has been shown to be a factor in at least half of accidents. Four factors to keep in mind when keeping your distance.
• 5. Avoid driving drowsy and allow plenty of time to reach your destination. Driving sleepy can have the same effect as alcohol. It can decrease awareness, slower reaction time and impair judgment. Make frequent stops to stretch your legs and be realistic about how many hours a day is safe for you to drive and at what time of the day. It just takes a few seconds of nodding off to cause a tragic accident.  What you should know about drowsy driving if you are planing a long road trip.

Have a safe Thanksgiving weekend!