Drive safely this holiday season
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POLSON – According to new projections by AAA Travel, more than 116 million motorists are expected to be dashing through the snow to visit family and friends during this holiday season, which means the highways will be jam-packed with travelers.
"4.3 million more Americans will travel this year than last year,” posted AAA Travel Vice President Paula Twidale on the company’s website. “This marks the eighth straight year of new record-high travel volumes for the year-end holidays.”
AAA anticipates making more than 853,000 roadside assistance calls across the nation and offers these recommendations to motorists before heading out during this busiest holiday season on record.
To avoid a kink in your holiday travel plans, AAA suggests people take vehicles to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed vehicle maintenance before traveling. An oil change, check of belts and fluid levels, battery tests and tire inspections go a long way toward reducing the chances of a roadside breakdown.
AAA also recommends that drivers keep a bundle of cold-weather gear in the car, such as extra warm clothing, blankets, a basic emergency kit, additional medications, a flashlight with extra batteries, a fully charged cell phone with additional mobile power, a shovel and something to restore traction, such as sand or kitty litter. Packing extra food and drinking water for every person or pet in the vehicle is also suggested.
Before hitting the road, notify others and let them know your route, destination, estimated time of arrival, and take extra travel time. Montana’s weather and roadway conditions can rapidly change by the hour and can become a recipe for disaster if not monitored often along your route.
Montana Department of Transportation has a hotline you can call if you want to know about road conditions at 1-800-226-7623 or dial 511.
