Everyone wants to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their loved ones but sometimes that means they have to drive on the busy roads because families now have spread out over the nation due to their employment and many other reasons and that means many hours of driving to get to your destination.
Some people will be flying or taking a train to their destination but driving has become increasingly popular due to the economy.
Yes, gasoline prices are high, but the price of plane tickets for your large family could cost a small fortune.
The Thanksgiving holiday usually isn't more than four days because that's all the time we can get off work.
So, not only do you have to drive a long distance, you have to do it in a short period of time.
When you get in your vehicle and head down the freeway, this is the time to practice a little defensive driving because there are a lot of drivers who don't have courtesy or safe driving on their minds.
Their only thought is to get to their destination as fast as possible so they can see family members they haven't seen for awhile and all they can picture in their minds in the delicious food and deserts that go along with this holiday.
There are a few way for you to make your trip a safe and happy one.
The first thing you should always do before going on a road trip is to make sure you have an emergency kit packed and ready to go.
This kit should contain a first aid kit, extra water, a blanket, a flashlight and extra batteries, flares, pen and paper and a disposable camera in case you get into an accident and need to take pictures of the accident scene.
You should keep your cars registration card and insurance information in a water tight package in your glove box or with your personal things.
Of course, one of the main tips is to drive safely and courteously, never speed and you should always wear your seat belt.
It is also your responsibility as the driver to see that all of your passengers are buckled up the correct way, especially any small children in your car who should be buckled into a regulation car seat or booster seat depending on their size.
If you begin to feel fatigued while driving back home or a little sleepy from eating way too much at the Thanksgiving table, you should also make it a habit to take the time to pull over at a rest stop or another convenient spot and take a breather from driving.
This should only take a few minutes and will make you a better safer driver because you will be more alert.
You don't want to become one of the many statistics during this holiday period.
These statistics have shown that the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the most deadly times of the year.