Driving during the holidays can be stressful. Make sure you reach your holiday destination by preparing your car and yourself for this high-traffic, high-danger season.
You're locked inside the family car for hours, slogging it out with other holiday-time drivers.
The kids are cranky, your spouse is tired, and you're on edge, thinking about all the things you've left unfinished.
Welcome to the holiday drive time, that time of year when stress, fatigue, distractions, holiday parties and winter weather combine to make some of the most dangerous driving conditions.
No matter how far you travel, though, you should brush up on ways to cope with holiday stresses and stay safe on the roads.
Get a Car Checkup
First, be sure your vehicle is in good shape for that long drive to the in-laws or that trek over the mountains to Aunt Jennie's.
If you haven't already had your car inspected and prepared for winter driving, by all means get your vehicle to a reputable shop before embarking on that holiday travel. Among the major items to have checked are:
Battery and charging system: Very cold temperatures can reduce a battery's power by up to 50 percent. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) advises that batteries more than two or three years old be checked for strength so you avoid inconvenient and costly breakdowns.
Engine oil: CAA experts also point out that dirty oil makes it harder for the engine to turn over in cold weather. Change the oil at least as frequently as recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual. And make sure that it is the right grade and recommended viscosity range for cold weather operation. And you should also keep the air and oil filters clean.
Tires: Worn tires don't provide sufficient traction, of course. More so in wet, cold, snowy or ivy conditions, obviously. The very best and safest policy, for winter driving in Canada, is to install a full set of the best winter tires you can find. This notwithstanding, do make sure that the pressure in each of your tires matches the figure recommended by the tire manufacturer, for the load you plan to carry, passengers included. Don't forget your spare wheel. And if you see uneven wear on one or more of your tires, have a specialist look for possible alignment, suspension or wheel balance problems.
Belts and hoses: CAA notes that these items deteriorate over time and should be checked before cold, harsh weather takes its toll. Also examine windshield wiper blades and replace if worn. Fill the windshield washer reservoir for the long winter season, with the proper antifreeze liquid solution.
Cooling system: This system should be inspected annually and the strength of the antifreeze - namely its freezing point - checked to make sure it's up to taking you into those cold temperatures.
Lights: Winter brings shorter daylight hours and longer night time hours. So headlights, taillights and brake lights are even more critical than usual. Make sure they all are in good working order. Exhaust system: Be sure your system is working properly, solidly installed and free from leaks.
Managing Stress Is Important
We hear it every year: The holidays are a stressful time. And perhaps because of the events of Sept. 11, many more of us are on edge this year. So it's especially important to resolve to leave stress outside your car. Don't let it affect you behind the wheel.
How? Practice stress-management techniques. When you sit down in the driver seat, take a moment before starting the car. Take deep breaths, not shallow ones. Pull the air in deeply, hold it a second or two, then exhale long and strongly. Use your diaphragm.
As you clear your lungs and body of bad air, clear your mind of your stresses. Resolve not to think of them while you're in the car. Instead, pledge to focus on the drive and your responsibility behind the wheel to keep yourself and everyone else in the car safe. Consider turning off that cell phone while you're in the car, too, so you can avoid distractions and further stress. And listen to relaxing tunes.
As you drive, be sure to look far down the road, not just at the bumper of the vehicle in front of you. This will help you better control your car by giving you a view of what's ahead. It also will help you prepare for sudden stops or traffic backups.
Allow enough time. Don't wait until the last second to head out to your destination. Plan your travel time realistically and keep in mind that roads this time of year can be busier than at non-holiday times.
Lastly, steer clear of aggressive drivers. Don't respond to aggressive drivers by becoming aggressive yourself. And leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
Carry Emergency Gear
These end-of-the-year holidays coincide with wintry weather, so if your travel takes you far, be sure you're prepared in the event of a breakdown or severe delay.
Check what items you have on hand inside your vehicle. Experts advise that you carry an ice scraper, small brush or broom, windshield washer fluid, rags, winter outer gear, shovel, flashlight, a red cloth or flag and reflective warning signs.
Proper traction bars are best, but you can also carry a bag of sand or even cat box litter for traction if you get stuck in snow.
Food and water also are smart supplies to have with you, especially if you're traveling with children. And if you're headed into a mountainous region, you should probably consider carrying tire chains, if your vehicle is not running on four winter tires. Studs also provide a substantial gain in traction, but their use is regulated by provincial law in most cases.
The Fatigue Factor
The holiday season, with its added stresses of shopping, parties, traveling and year-end business and semester workloads, means less sleep for many people. That won't necessarily keep them off the roads, but it should. Stay alert, and vigilant.
And thus have a great Holiday season
You're locked inside the family car for hours, slogging it out with other holiday-time drivers.
The kids are cranky, your spouse is tired, and you're on edge, thinking about all the things you've left unfinished.
Welcome to the holiday drive time, that time of year when stress, fatigue, distractions, holiday parties and winter weather combine to make some of the most dangerous driving conditions.
No matter how far you travel, though, you should brush up on ways to cope with holiday stresses and stay safe on the roads.
Get a Car Checkup
First, be sure your vehicle is in good shape for that long drive to the in-laws or that trek over the mountains to Aunt Jennie's.
If you haven't already had your car inspected and prepared for winter driving, by all means get your vehicle to a reputable shop before embarking on that holiday travel. Among the major items to have checked are:
Battery and charging system: Very cold temperatures can reduce a battery's power by up to 50 percent. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) advises that batteries more than two or three years old be checked for strength so you avoid inconvenient and costly breakdowns.
Engine oil: CAA experts also point out that dirty oil makes it harder for the engine to turn over in cold weather. Change the oil at least as frequently as recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual. And make sure that it is the right grade and recommended viscosity range for cold weather operation. And you should also keep the air and oil filters clean.
Tires: Worn tires don't provide sufficient traction, of course. More so in wet, cold, snowy or ivy conditions, obviously. The very best and safest policy, for winter driving in Canada, is to install a full set of the best winter tires you can find. This notwithstanding, do make sure that the pressure in each of your tires matches the figure recommended by the tire manufacturer, for the load you plan to carry, passengers included. Don't forget your spare wheel. And if you see uneven wear on one or more of your tires, have a specialist look for possible alignment, suspension or wheel balance problems.
Belts and hoses: CAA notes that these items deteriorate over time and should be checked before cold, harsh weather takes its toll. Also examine windshield wiper blades and replace if worn. Fill the windshield washer reservoir for the long winter season, with the proper antifreeze liquid solution.
Cooling system: This system should be inspected annually and the strength of the antifreeze - namely its freezing point - checked to make sure it's up to taking you into those cold temperatures.
Lights: Winter brings shorter daylight hours and longer night time hours. So headlights, taillights and brake lights are even more critical than usual. Make sure they all are in good working order. Exhaust system: Be sure your system is working properly, solidly installed and free from leaks.
Managing Stress Is Important
We hear it every year: The holidays are a stressful time. And perhaps because of the events of Sept. 11, many more of us are on edge this year. So it's especially important to resolve to leave stress outside your car. Don't let it affect you behind the wheel.
How? Practice stress-management techniques. When you sit down in the driver seat, take a moment before starting the car. Take deep breaths, not shallow ones. Pull the air in deeply, hold it a second or two, then exhale long and strongly. Use your diaphragm.
As you clear your lungs and body of bad air, clear your mind of your stresses. Resolve not to think of them while you're in the car. Instead, pledge to focus on the drive and your responsibility behind the wheel to keep yourself and everyone else in the car safe. Consider turning off that cell phone while you're in the car, too, so you can avoid distractions and further stress. And listen to relaxing tunes.
As you drive, be sure to look far down the road, not just at the bumper of the vehicle in front of you. This will help you better control your car by giving you a view of what's ahead. It also will help you prepare for sudden stops or traffic backups.
Allow enough time. Don't wait until the last second to head out to your destination. Plan your travel time realistically and keep in mind that roads this time of year can be busier than at non-holiday times.
Lastly, steer clear of aggressive drivers. Don't respond to aggressive drivers by becoming aggressive yourself. And leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
Carry Emergency Gear
These end-of-the-year holidays coincide with wintry weather, so if your travel takes you far, be sure you're prepared in the event of a breakdown or severe delay.
Check what items you have on hand inside your vehicle. Experts advise that you carry an ice scraper, small brush or broom, windshield washer fluid, rags, winter outer gear, shovel, flashlight, a red cloth or flag and reflective warning signs.
Proper traction bars are best, but you can also carry a bag of sand or even cat box litter for traction if you get stuck in snow.
Food and water also are smart supplies to have with you, especially if you're traveling with children. And if you're headed into a mountainous region, you should probably consider carrying tire chains, if your vehicle is not running on four winter tires. Studs also provide a substantial gain in traction, but their use is regulated by provincial law in most cases.
The Fatigue Factor
The holiday season, with its added stresses of shopping, parties, traveling and year-end business and semester workloads, means less sleep for many people. That won't necessarily keep them off the roads, but it should. Stay alert, and vigilant.
And thus have a great Holiday season
