Christmas travel safety tips
Published 6:40 pm Sunday, December 17, 2017
With Christmas comes family and friends visiting to celebrate the holiday. And whether you’re receiving guests or will be a guest, keeping travel facts and tips in mind is a smart thing to do.
According to AAA’s website, more than 107.3 million Americans are predicted to travel between Dec. 23 and Jan. 1. This will be a new record for holiday travel and is the ninth consecutive year of rising year-end holiday travel.
About 97.4 million people are expected to travel by car. 6.4 million people will take plane rides and 3.6 million others will travel by train, bus, rails and cruise ships, according to the website.
AAA predicts the greatest amount of congestion to be Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. The worst day to travel for Atlanta traffic in Dec. 21 between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., according to the website.
According to Safety Toolbox Topics’ website, make sure to add extra time in your travel schedule in case you hit heavy traffic conditions. A lot of people will be traveling.
Around 901,600 motorists are expected to call AAA during the holidays this year. Car battery-related issues, lockouts and flat tires are the top reasons the company is called for the holidays.
The website advises that those who are driving to make sure their vehicles are ready for the trips they are about to take. Make sure your phone is charged and take a portable phone charger in case of emergencies.
Always keep an emergency kit. According to Safety Toolbox Topics’ website, the kit should have a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, first aid kits, water, nonperishable food items, matches, blankets and warning devices. Your car should also have an ice scraper and a small shovel in case you get stuck in snow.
Of course, make sure to check the weather of the locations you are going to and will travel through.