Rules of the Road

By Jack Dowd

Holiday season, which will ramp up over the next few months, is peak travel time. “From Atlantic to Pacific / Gee, the traffic is terrific,” goes the song, and it’s about 10 times truer today than it was when Perry Como sang it in 1954. The more people on the road, the more important it is to take extra care preparing for your trip and driving with safety in mind.

Preparation Is Key

90% of safe travel is in the planning. Even if you’ve driven to grandmother’s house more times than you can count, it’s still essential to run through a safety checklist before you hit the road.

Auto Insurance

Make sure your auto or motorcycle insurance policy is up to date and has the coverage you need. The rates of accidents spike during the holiday season, and even the most careful drivers can find themselves in dangerous situations. It’s best to be sure you’re covered.

Jack Dowd

“The one guaranteed result of road rage is regret. Don’t leap at the opportunity to join in on someone else’s bad judgment.”

License and Registration, Please

And pack proof of insurance while you’re at it. Again, despite a careful driver’s best efforts, accidents do happen, so be sure you’ve got an active driver’s license, current registration, and proof of insurance at the ready. We know you’ll follow all state and local speed limits, of course, so we won’t even bother to discuss that here.

Roadside Assistance

Whether you have roadside assistance through your insurance agency, your bank, a cell-phone carrier, or AAA, make sure your policy is active before you set out on your trip. If you choose not to participate in a roadside assistance program, be sure you have all the tools you need to change a tire or take care of any other minor repair en route. While you’re at it, check your spare and be sure it’s properly inflated and in good condition.

Basic Car Maintenance

If you’ve been putting off an oil change and haven’t checked your tire pressure in a while, take a little time to get your car ready for the long haul. Check the levels of oil, coolant, windshield fluid, and brake fluid. Test your lights, including turn signals, taillights, reverse lights, and the low and high beams on your headlights. Bring your tires up to their recommended PSI. Make sure your wipers work well and your windows are clean.

Know Where You’re Going

Don’t be too dependent on your phone to tell you where to go. Review your route carefully before you leave, and note some of the key milestones, exits, and turns. Heaven forbid you lose cell service, overshoot a turn, and miss the turkey!

Watch the Weather

Keep an eye on the weather forecasts for all the regions you’ll pass through along the way. Watch out for storm warnings and predictions of rain, snow, and ice. If it looks like a major storm will impact your route, seriously consider delaying the trip until it’s cleared. If you’re traveling through steep or mountainous terrain, or roads that tend not to be cleared regularly, bring tire chains with you or put your snow tires on before you leave.

Charge Your Devices

Start your drive with a fully charged phone. Bring along both a car charger and a rechargeable battery pack. That way, should your car break down, you can still keep your phone charged to call emergency services, friends, relatives, hotels, or airlines.

Keep a Calm State of Mind

When it comes to safe holiday driving, getting there is what’s important. Don’t worry about getting there before the car in the other lane or teaching that tailgater a lesson. It’s not a contest, and it’s not a race. The one guaranteed result of road rage is regret. Don’t leap at the opportunity to join in on someone else’s bad judgment. Maintain a smooth, safe speed; drive carefully; and visualize grandma’s apple pie. Relaxing music also goes a long way.

Mind the Speed Limit

Should you still be tempted to drive aggressively to make up time, get ready for a big surprise. According to AAA, speeding accomplishes nothing of the sort. If you drive 65 mph on a 45 mph-posted road for five miles, the most you will save is a whopping 1.9 minutes — not exactly worth risking your life or the lives of others. Keep cool and prioritize arriving in one piece.

Jack Dowd is vice president of the Dowd Agencies in Holyoke.