According to statistics from AAA, holiday travel by personal vehicle outpaces air travel by around 10 million people each year. That’s a lot of cars, and a lot weary drivers, cranky kids, restless pets and potential accidents. If you’re planning a road trip this year, a little advance preparation can keep you and those you love safe and sane.

Safety First

Before you hit the road, have your vehicle checked for road-readiness. Fluids should be filled, tires properly inflated, and your windshield wipers need to work well against potential winter precipitation. Most oil changes include these checks as part of the service.

No one expects to be stranded on a highway during a winter storm, but we’ve all read news stories about it. Be prepared for the worst – especially if you’re headed to an area where unexpected winter weather can occur. Throw a couple of blankets in with the gifts and luggage, as well as portable hand warmers, bottled water and “emergency only” snacks like nuts and protein bars. Here are a few more suggestions:

• Equip your vehicle with a basic first-aid kit. They can be purchased for around $20.00.
• Give your phones and electronics a full charge before you leave, and don’t forget their cords and portable chargers.
• Turn your phone to “airplane mode” to save your battery if you’re worried about being unable to recharge often.
• If you haven’t made this trip before, take along a paper travel map or atlas. GPS is amazing, until you don’t have phone service. You can order travel maps on AAA.com (but give yourself enough time to get it in the mail!)
• Along those lines, take the time to make a list of phone numbers of friends and family, your hotel, and your auto insurance agent. Smart phones are only smart if they have a signal and battery life.
• Fill up the gas tank the night before you leave – it will be one less thing to think about once you’re on the road.

Turn your phone to “airplane mode” to save your battery if you’re unable to recharge often.

Happy Kids = Happy Trip

This is definitely the time to spend a little money on new iPad apps and/or games for the handheld game systems. Shop resale stores like Game Xchange or Game Stop for good prices on these, and hand them out every couple of hours rather than all at once to avoid the “Are we there yet?” chorus.

Snacks will be more effective at keeping up morale if they’re healthy. Opt for fruit and nuts over candy and pack sandwiches instead of stopping for fast food. Plan for leg-stretching and bathroom breaks by mapping out a route that will give you plenty of options – whether they are rest stops or restaurants. And remember, four-legged kids need portable snacks and drinks just like the two-legged ones.

Road snacks are more effective at boosting morale if they’re healthy!

While electronics are being recharged (because you remembered the power cords!) you will need activities that don’t require batteries. Create a scavenger hunt list of things that kids can find on the road. Count the holiday lights, red trucks, or find all the letters in the alphabet. You can make it more educational by searching for certain land forms or makes and models of automobiles. Bonus points for specific items like “a man in a green t-shirt driving a Corvette”!

Be safe out there – and happy holidays!