For many families, Thanksgiving means a good old family road trip. So many families that AAA predicts the 2019 Thanksgiving will be a record-breaking year for traffic. According to their predictions, “More than 55 million travelers are making plans to kick off the holiday season with a trip of 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving.”
GoKid’s 2019 Thanksgiving Driving Safety Tips
Unfortunately, with more cars on the road for the holiday, it also means more car accidents. That’s why we’ve put together a list of ten Thanksgiving holiday driving safety tips. We hope our advice goes a long way toward protecting your most precious cargo this Thanksgiving.
- Know when to hit the road.
If it is at all possible, try to avoid driving on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. This is the worst day for driving traffic over the Thanksgiving holiday – specifically in the hours after people get off of work. The best time to drive over the holiday is actually Thanksgiving morning, so try to convince your family to cook a Thanksgiving dinner instead of lunch.
- Practice patience.
One of our best driving safety tips is all about patience on the road. Your mindset will go a long way in making your Thanksgiving road trip a better one. If you prepare yourself for traffic and know you will have to deal with more traffic than usual, then the trip will be easier for everyone.
- Take alternate routes.
The interstates will likely be packed on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. Instead, take alternate routes that may be longer normally but will have less traffic.
- Use driving apps.
Real-time route optimization is a standout feature of GoKid’s app. It allows users to take the quickest routes from Point A to Point B. If you aren’t carpooling over Thanksgiving, then be sure to give apps like Waze a try. It will keep you up-to-date with driving conditions and provide alternate routes when traffic incidents occur.
- Pay attention to the weather.
Thanksgiving falls in the in-between time for fall and winter weather, so it is wise to pay attention to the weather before you hit the road. Take advantage of the National Weather Service Road Condition Map to see if you will be driving through any inclement weather.
- Pack an emergency car kit.
Just like you always have a diaper bag with you when you have a baby because accidents happen, you should always have an emergency car kit with you on road trips. Your kit should include items like jumper cables, cell phone chargers, blankets, and an ice scraper. Many retailers sell pre-made car emergency kits, so one of our best Thanksgiving driving tips is to purchase one before you leave for your trip.
- Stock up on snacks.
If we haven’t made it clear, you may end up in your vehicle longer than you expect. Therefore, you want to stock up on snacks for everyone in the vehicle. Snacks can help prevent road rage for drivers and calm the backseat jitters for your riders.
- Know the state’s driving laws.
While we’d like to say, “Don’t be a distracted driver,” we recognize it may be more effective to remind drivers that states have different laws regarding cell phone use in vehicles. For instance, some states ban handheld cell phones and other states ban all cell phone use. You can see the state laws at NCSL Cellular Phone Use and Texting While Driving Laws.
- No drunk driving.
Sadly, many of the driving fatalities that occur over Thanksgiving are the result of drunk driving. One report found, “Beer sales increased by 270 percent and liquor sales spiked by 114 percent on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” and AAA has even issued a warning to the public about the potential dangers of drunk driving. If you enjoy some grown-up beverages over the holiday weekend, stay off the road.
- Clear your trunk.
Finally, make sure you clear your trunk to make space for all your Black Friday shopping. Don’t forget driving safety tips while you are out shopping on Black Friday. You should stay alert as you drive from one mall to the next. As people rush for bargains, they tend to be less focused than normal. Progressive Insurance reports:
“Thanksgiving night accidents increased by 20 percent […] A large chunk of the accidents (31%) were backing or parking-related, perhaps indicating that shoppers were getting a head start on the midnight Black Friday sales […] Black Friday accidents increased by 34 percent […] with the data showing that 31 percent of claims on Black Friday were backing or parking-related, more than any other claim type filed on that day.”
Stay safe on the roads this Thanksgiving!
