With the holidays coming up in November and December, you want to make sure your car is up to the task of holiday travel. Roadway Insurance, Inc., a MAIF car insurance provider, provides things to make sure you’re driving safe this holiday.
Always Have an Emergency Kit
You never know what you’ll encounter on the road, especially when winter weather hits. Make sure you’re prepared. Keep jumper cables in the car, as well as flares if you wind up on the side of the road. A flashlight, ice scraper, and small knife can be beneficial for finding things that may be wrong with the car.
For the human side of things, always have a first aid kit on hand. Blankets, bottled water, and energy bars, or other nonperishable snacks are what you want on hand once things get messy. If you’re handy, keep tools that you can use to fix small issues with the car.
Get Your Car to the Shop
Before you’re taking any long drives, you want to make sure your car is up to the task. Take it into the shop for a checkup. The coolant system works harder in temperatures that are extreme, so make sure these components are checked. Winter brings a lot of precipitation, being snow, rain, or ice. Change your windshield wipers if they’re more than six months old for ideal visibility.
Tires are an important one to check on as well. Your tires should be in good condition with a substantial amount of tread left on them. If your tires are set, check that they’re inflated properly as well. This both keeps you safe and helps your fuel economy as well.
Keep Everyone Entertained
The last thing you want is a bored kid constantly asking if you’re there yet. If your car has a DVD player featured, it can be easy to stock up on some movies. Otherwise, you’ll have to get more creative. Put on a variety of music for car singalongs and play car games to help the time pass. If they don’t get carsick, books are always a good option. Handheld game systems like a Nintendo Switch can help too.
Know the Laws
If you’re crossing state lines, it’s important to know how the laws differ in the states you’ll be in. Traffic and vehicle laws are different for each state. Laws regarding cell phones and snow chains are some of the most important ones to know. You also have to know the speed limits, even if they aren’t posted.
Check the Weather
It’s important to know what weather you’re going to have to deal with on the drive, particularly in mountainous regions or Northern states. You want to make sure you’re not going to be traveling into the middle of the biggest blizzard of the year. It’s more important to make sure you’re safe than to be a bit late.
Get MAIF Car Insurance
Car insurance is also a necessary part of keeping you and your car safe. Call us or get a free quote online.