LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More than 100 million people are expected to drive to a holiday destination this year, according to AAA. If you plan to hit the road, AAA recommends getting your car ready now.
Lynda Lambert, a spokesperson with AAA East Central, offered these tips.
- Check your car's battery: Batteries over 3-years old can be unreliable, and winter weather impacts their performance.
- Fill your tires: Cold temperatures can impact your tire pressure, so make sure they're filled to the right level.
- Check your tread: Having enough tread on your tires makes driving safer. An easy way to look is by turning a quarter upside down into the tread. If you can see the top of Washington's head, your tires are too bald.
- Change your wipers and wiper fluid: It's important to be able to clear off your windshield, in case you have to drive through snowy conditions.
“The top three reasons people call for assistance are flat tires, dead batteries and lockouts, so before you leave make sure your car is in good working condition," Lambert said.
She said AAA expects to rescue 900,000 stranded motorists this holiday season.
If you do get stuck, you'll want to have an emergency kit in your vehicle.
“You want to have things like extra blankets and batteries, clothing, a cell phone charger, jumper cables, emergency triangles you can put beside your vehicle in case you break down," Lambert said.
Once you're on the road, consider these safe driving tips:
- Check the forecast for your destination, as well as along your route.
- Try to leave early or late, at times when the roads aren't likely to be congested.
- Slow down and be patient.
- Increase the following distance between you and other cars.
- If you happen to slide, look in the direction you want the car to go, and steer in the same direction. Try to avoid the impulse to slam on the brakes.
Ahead of intense cold and possible snowfall expected in Kentuckiana, Lambert said AAA is ready.
"We have our fleet ready and we have drivers on standby and are ready to take those calls if people need us," she said. "It is a busy time, winter is always a busy time for roadside assistance because of things like batteries and tires.”
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