Stay Safe On The Roads This Holiday Season With These Safely Tips

If you are on the way to grandmother’s house or just going to the mall for some last minute shopping, it is wise to take a couple of safety measures to avoid the holiday hassle of an accident.

Heavy traffic, motorists preoccupied with holiday plans and winter weather make the perfect storm for motorists throughout December.  The truth is, it is among the highest months for traffic accidents.
But with proper preparation, some preventive driving measures and a close watch on the weather report, people can safeguard themselves and their cars throughout the holidays.

The gurus on holiday travel mishaps, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, repair a huge number of cars every year that were battered in snowy, icy accidents.  We give motorists a few helpful suggestions to help make holiday travel less dangerous.

Remember:
•   Check your route: Investigate weather conditions ahead of time to know if there'll be any hold-ups
•   Keep in touch: Take a cellular phone in case there are issues
•   Lower the Jingle Bells: Lessen distractions like loud music
•   Do Not Invite Thieves: Gifts in the back of the car are more enticing than cookies and milk for Santa.  Secure them in the trunk area to avoid break-ins
•   Have A Break: If you're traveling a long distance, take breaks or a quick nap at a rest stop to keep attentive
•   Protect Yourself: Continually use a seat belt
•   Do Not Text and Drive: Text messaging and driving can not just possibly hurt yourself and your family but pther people driving their cars. Keep the cell phone stored for emergency situations. When it's vital to send a message, safely pull to the side of the road first

Examine Your Visibility:

•   Fill Your Fluids: Add de-icer to your windshield wiper fluid
•   Improve Your Wipers: Ensure that your windshield wipers are without ice before going out on the road – and give consideration to updating with new flexible windshield wipers before the snow strikes
•   Examine Your Field of Vision: Be sure that every mirror is clean and adequately adjusted
•   Take a Look At Your Lights: Clean bleary headlights and check bulbs in all of your automobile lights – back and front

Slow Down and Stay Back:

•   Watch Out For Holiday Revelers: Some motorists might take in a few beverages before hitting the roads. Stay aware and observe other motorists in case they start to swerve
•   Keep It Slow: if there's snow or ice on the roads, drop you vehicle's speed ten or twenty miles per hour under the speed limit
•   Allow Some Space: Leave no less than two or three car lengths in between your car or truck and the vehicle ahead of you
•   Cruise With Caution: Don't use cruise control on slippery roads
•   Stay Alert to the Surface: Use extreme caution on bridgework, overpasses, and sporadically traveled roads since these can be slippery from ice and use extreme caution when driving your car on one-lane streets

Prepare for a Snow Day:

•   Weight It Out: If your automobile has rear wheel drive, keep sacks of sand, litter or bricks to keep your motor vehicle easier to handle
•   Stock Up On Supplies: Pack a snow day pack in case you get stuck.  Worthwhile items to incorporate are a blanket, gloves, hat, water, granola bars, flashlight and extra batteries, extra cell phone battery, flares, compass, scissors, rope, wooden patches in waterproof container and first aid kit.
•   Take Your Tools: Make a tool kit for digging your vehicle out with a collapsible shovel, 2x4 planks to put under tires, an ice scraper and a snow brush, reflective triangles, flares and exterior windshield cleaner.

If an unfortunate holiday collision does take place, we recommend having a collision plan in place so you're not stuck on the roadside waiting for assistance.  CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts at Steve's CARSTAR Auto Body Repair provides top-quality, reliable repair service in Arnold, Missouri.  Just call 636-464-6080 when you get in an accident and they'll send the tow truck, speak to your insurance provider, arrange for a rental car and fix the car.