The holidays are quickly approaching. Whether you are well into your shopping and planning, or you’ve only just started to give it some thought, there’s no denying that there’s not that long to go. We have so much to think about. You’ll be decorating, writing lists, buying cards and presents, baking, planning nights out and starting to prepare festive treats. Within all of this, it’s important to remember what Christmas is really all about. Whether you are religious or not, a big part of Christmas time is spending quality time with your friends and family. It’s about being surrounded by people that you love and doing things to make each other happy.
Nowadays, for many of us, this includes some travel. Years ago, families lived close together. Children got married and had children, while never moving more than a few streets away from their parents. Whole families lived within walking distance of each other, and big family festivities were easy to achieve. Now, we move. Few of us spend our entire lives living in the cities that we grew up. We move for work, for love or for a fresh start.
Red Car Home For The Holidays Card
This can be great, and video calling and social media mean that the world is much smaller than it used to be. Even if you live on the other side of the world, it’s easy to keep in touch with your family. But, it does mean that arranging a big family Christmas is much more difficult. It might also mean that you are starting to feel a little homesick. This distance means that many of us are starting to plan a long drive home for the holidays. When it comes to this all-important trip, it’s essential that you stay safe and take care to avoid the need to let the Derrick Law Firm handle your car accident case or a Christmas trip to the hospital.
Car Safety
You should always check your car before any long journey, but with so much else going on, many of us ignore engine warning lights and any car issues, because we haven’t got the time or spare cash to cover any repairs. Don’t make this mistake.
Take the time now to give your car a thorough check over. Test the lights, brakes, and tires. Take a look at your fluid levels and your dashboard lights. Take it in for a service if it’s been a while. If you’ve got any doubts at all, take it into the garage for a check-up while you’ve still got time.
Timing
Many of us would love nothing more than to finish work a few days before Christmas, to drive home slowly and to enjoy a long and leisurely break without having to rush back. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. Most of us face a rushed journey after work one night or early Christmas morning.
Rushing like this, especially in poor weather can cause accidents. If you can, take time off and drive back before you absolutely need to. If you can’t, accept that your journey is going to take time, go slowly, stay safe and take plenty of breaks. It’s better to take longer and stay safe, instead of rushing and getting into trouble.
Packing Tips
When it comes to packing for a winter drive, you need to put a little extra thought into it. Pack your luggage first, then presents, taking the time to make sure they are well wrapped, and unlikely to get broken or damaged. Then, add some emergency supplies for your trip on top, so that they are easy to reach.
You’ll need blankets, snacks, and water, just in case anything happens, and you have to spend the night in the car. It’s also a good idea to keep a sweater in the cabin, with a map and some sunglasses.
Winter Driving Basics
Driving is harsh winter conditions, on busy roads, when you’re tired and hurried, is very different from a standard drive. Taking things slowly will help. But, you also need to take more care. Check the weather forecast so that you know what to expect, and make sure to take your time cornering, braking and changing lanes. Read more about winter driving, to make sure you are prepared for the challenges that you might face. Then, make sure you are dressed warmly and comfortably, and that you’ve got a playlist of your favorite Christmas hits so that you can try to enjoy your drive.
BONUS TIP
Rent, if you can! Kendall and I rented a car from Budget the last time we drove to Mississippi. For some reason, I had a ton of anxiety about renting a car and picking it up, but it couldn’t have been easier! We rented a smaller SUV that gave us plenty of room and was super comfortable. My advice is to pay a little extra for the full tank of gas upon pickup (which also means you don’t have to fill up for return!) Be sure to check your insurance policies as well. Some travel-specific credit cards had rental car insurance, and your regular car insurance should cover rentals as well- you don’t want to also purchase theirs and pay twice! Also try to not rent from an airport, the prices to rent can go up by almost double!
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