Holiday Travel Tips

Winter Driving Tips: Easier and Safer Winter Road Trips

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For road travelers, winter can also be the most dangerous time of year. Motor vehicle accidents involving bad weather, mostly ice and snow, claim the lives of 6,000 Americans and injure 500,000 more every year (National Center for Atmospheric Research, 2005). The following winter driving tips will help you stay safe and a little less anxious on your next trip.

Have your car examined before you leave. This is one of the most crucial winter driving tips. It's the climatic scene of many movies, where someone's car breaks down in a strange town. The last thing you want to worry about is your car falling apart, leaving you stranded far away from home. Take it to your local auto shop for a quick once over, and make sure your tires are winter ready and properly inflated.

Be prepared for a change in course. Before you depart, become confident in knowing your route. It's very important that you're ready for anything on the road that could slightly change your plans, including construction, road closings and traffic hurdles. Remember to keep the directions as well as appropriate state map(s) handy, in case you need to reroute your trip.

Stay hydrated for the journey. It probably seems like dehydration isn't very likely, but a recent Mayo Clinic study shows that a mere one- to two-percent loss of body weight can quickly lead to fatigue and decreased alertness, which could be deadly in icy winter driving. Also, your body requires more fuel in the cold — so rely on high-energy food including sandwiches, a thermos filled with soup and fruit.

Pack a winter safety kit for the car. Don't leave without the essentials for a safe road trip — a cell phone (don't forget the car charger); ice scraper; tow rope and jumper cables; sand or cat litter to aid with traction; blankets; flashlights, matches and emergency candles; first aid kit; portable radio; and a good book, in case you do get stuck.

Make frequent rest stops. Winter driving is much more fatiguing than in the summer, so you'll want to make time to stop and stretch your legs. Just a few minutes off the road will make all the difference in improving your alertness when you're back behind the wheel.

Ditch the fast food. Fast food is a drain on your wallet and your energy levels, and, considering how much you'll be eating over the holidays, you just don't need all that fat-, sugar- and salt-laden fare. Instead, pack a cooler full of sandwiches on whole wheat bread, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables. The fiber and protein in all of these will boost your energy levels and make you more alert while preventing the sugar crash that can follow fast-food meals. And toss a few peppermints into your glove compartment; research has shown that they're as stimulating as caffeine. As an added bonus, packing your own lunch will save you gas: Idling in drive-thru's can cost you up to 19 percent of your fuel economy.

Speed limit. Automotive experts note that most cars get optimal gas mileage when driving between 60 and 65 miles per hour on the highway.

Dont drink and drive! If there will be drinking at your holiday get-together, choose a designated driver who will remain alcohol free.

• Be alert! Because driving requires your full attention, pull off the road if you have to use your cellular phone.