Did you know that during the holiday season, road traffic can increase up to 25%? That’s more than any other time of the year and can mean longer travel times and more stress. At Robert’s Collision & Repair, we know how stressful this kind of travel can be, but we also know there are ways to make it better.
Start by scheduling your vehicle’s regular maintenance. This way you’ll know that all of your fluids, belts, tires, battery and other important car parts are well prepared to get you where you want to go. Having regular maintenance performed can go a long way to keeping you safely on the road. Right before you leave, give a thorough once-over yourself: check fluids, the air pressure in all of your tires, check for anything stuck in your tires and test out your windshield wipers.
Give yourself plenty of time and don’t be in a hurry. Have your favorite playlist ready to go to help keep you calm, happy, and to sing the entire way. Have your GPS set before pulling out of the driveway and use alternative apps like Waze to let you know if there’s an unfortunate accident up ahead or road construction. It has the power to redirect you and keep you moving forward.
Have a few games ready to go when the signing starts to become annoying. Not that you can’t sing, mind you! Here are a couple of suggestions: Banana… every time you see a yellow car you yell out ‘BANANA’; I-Spy… I spy with my little eye, give clues about what you see around you; print out a map of the US and when you see a license plate with a particular state, cross it off your map. What’s one of your favorite road-trip games?
Make sure your emergency kit is up to date and includes: a flashlight with extra batteries; a portable phone charger; good snacks (no bad ones); extra water; jumper cables; a shovel; extra meds; a blanket; gloves; a good book; a deck of cards; crayons and coloring books whether you’re traveling with kids or not; band-aids; hand sanitizer; road flares; duct tape; and anything else that is relevant to where you live and where you’re going. Think about what would make you happy, or at least less unhappy, if you get stuck on the side of the road for a few hours. Then pack that too.
The team of professionals at Robert’s Collision & Repair wish you and yours the happiest and safest of holiday seasons possible. We’re here for you if you need us and we look forward to seeing you BEFORE you end up stranded!