The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the biggest
travel holidays. You can make sure you arrive safety at
your family destination, by following the
recommendations below:
- Service and inspect your vehicle before your travel,
such as tire condition and air pressure, brakes,
windshield wipers, headlights, tail lights and hoses.
- Time: Give yourself plenty of extra
time. The Wednesday before the holiday is the most
traveled. Always allow for traffic delays. If you are
traveling to local mountains or areas with snow, please
see
Driving Safety in Snow Conditions
- Holiday traffic includes more big, slow recreational
vehicles. Be on the lookout for them, especially on
hills and curves.
- Take driving breaks regularly by switching drivers
every couple of hours or pulling over to a safe location
to stretch and rest.
- Try to plan your travel during daylight hours, as
more fatal crashes occur during the night.
- Drive on major highways if possible, as smaller
two-lane roads because these are the deadliest;
interstate highways are safest.
- Avoid distractions while driving. Being distracted
by talking on a cell phone or talking to passengers have
been shown to be one of the leading causes of motor
vehicle crashes. Some research claims that cell phone
users are about as likely to have a crash as are drunk
drivers.
- Do not allow anyone if they have had even one
alcoholic drink.
- Insist that everyone in the vehicle wears safety
belts or uses a child safety seat anytime the vehicle is
moving, no matter how short the trip. See
Child Passenger Safety
- Vision:
Take the time to clean your windows and mirrors, before
and during your trip.
- Lights: Even though you can see, drive with low-beam
headlights in snow, fog or just winter murk. Keep all
lenses free of dirt by wiping them periodically. Dirty
headlights can cut visibility by 50 percent or more.
- Tires: Be sure your tires have adequate tread for
traction in snow and to reduce the risk of hydroplaning
in rain or puddles on the road. Remember that every time
the outside temperature drops 10 degrees, the tire air
pressure goes down about one pound per square inch and
under-inflated tires are the major cause of tire
failure.
- Ice/Freezing Rain: At 30 degrees ice is twice as
slippery as it is at 0 degrees. It also forms first and
lasts longer on bridges and in the shade in mountain
areas. If you hit an unexpected patch, do not brake,
accelerate, or downshift. First, let up on your
accelerator and then, let your vehicle "roll" through
the slippery area.
- Skidding: If you go into a skid, act quickly by
taking your foot off the accelerator and steer in the
direction the back of the vehicle is skidding. In other
words, if you want your vehicle to go right, turn right.
If you want it to go left, turn left. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and turn gently, not sharp.
- Deer: If you are traveling and see highway signs
indicating "deer crossing", be particularly alert when
traveling and slow down.
Driver Distraction
California Mountain Pass Closures
California Highway Information
Driving Preparation (FEMA)
For more information please call (213) 351-7888
