| The holiday season is nearly upon us, and with more | | | | families on the side of the road waiting for a tow |
| and more people gearing up this year to travel during | | | | truck. Every year families find themselves on the side |
| the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, the | | | | of the road with flat tires from worn tread or bad air |
| thought of doing so yourself can be a daunting | | | | pressure or with engines billowing smoke from |
| prospect. Fortunately, if you can keep a few things in | | | | something that would have cost next to nothing to |
| mind, the upcoming holiday travel season doesn't | | | | have checked and fixed ahead of time. Spending a |
| have to be quite as overwhelming as in years past. | | | | little bit of time and effort up front can save you |
| Directions Are Everything | | | | spending a lot of time and money later. |
| Sure, there are all the stereotypes about men not | | | | Check Your Insurance |
| wanting to ask for directions, and the validity of | | | | While you certainly don't want anything bad to |
| those stereotypes is for another time. That being | | | | happen, in the event that something bad does |
| said, getting quality directions that you can trust and | | | | happen, it helps to have your insurance information |
| that you know will get you there is paramount to | | | | with you. Pretty much any state you're travelling |
| making your trip as smooth as possible. Calling your | | | | through will require you to have some sort of car |
| destination, be that a brother, grandmother, uncle, or | | | | insurance, even if it's just cheap car insurance. Making |
| hotel, for directions is a good first step. Not only will | | | | sure that you have your insurance information, |
| they more than likely know the best way to get you | | | | whether it's North Carolina car insurance, Virginia car |
| there, but they will also probably know go detours in | | | | insurance, or another state, is a good way to make |
| the event of traffic, accidents, or construction. | | | | sure that if the worst happens, you know what |
| In the event that your destination doesn't have good | | | | you're covered against. |
| directions for you, there are seemingly endless | | | | Before you set out you should also check to see |
| websites online that will give you turn by turn | | | | what your insurance covers in the way of towing, |
| directions, distances, times, and even maps. Take | | | | roadside assistance, and rentals in the event |
| those with a grain of salt as they may not be | | | | something does happen to your car and you need |
| completely up to date due to construction changes | | | | help or another way to continue your vacation. |
| to traffic patterns, addition or subtraction of exits, or | | | | Getting stuck at Grandma's house because your |
| the addition or removal of traffic signs saying which | | | | insurance doesn't cover a rental and your car |
| roads you're allowed to travel on. | | | | exploded is no way to spend the Thanksgiving and |
| Games, Movies, Books, and Snacks | | | | Christmas holiday. |
| The kids don't like the 13 hour drive any more than | | | | Be Prepared |
| you do, but at least you get to drive. Video games, | | | | This is the holiday driving season, when the seeming |
| card games, personal video players, even books (if | | | | entirety of the United States driving population will |
| motion sickness isn't an issue) are a great way to | | | | converge on the roads at the same time. Plan ahead |
| help make the drive pass for kids. Many of your local | | | | to give yourself plenty of time, factoring in stops for |
| electronics stores sell VHS and DVD players that | | | | food, gas, and just to stretch your legs. Leave early |
| have small monitors already attached for a very | | | | and expect to get to your destination early. |
| reasonable price and allow you to avoid having an | | | | Remember that for every great driver out there |
| entire home entertainment center installed into your | | | | that will let you merge in front of them there's |
| car just for road trips. | | | | somebody that will cut you off and cause an |
| Make Sure Your Car is Working Fine | | | | accident if you're not paying attention. Stay on your |
| Checking your tires for air pressure and tread and | | | | toes, relax, and enjoy your vacation this holiday |
| checking the oil and coolant in your engine is an easy | | | | season. |
| way to make sure that you're not one of those | | | | |