Holiday Travel Tips to Keep You Safe and Save You Money on Car Insurance

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As you know, the more accidents and claims you have can lead to higher car insurance premiums.   This holiday season, make some wise choices regarding holiday car travel and avoid an unhappy new year.

In 2011, the holiday travel from December 23rd to January 2nd will be one of the busiest on American roadways, according to the AAA.   Cars remain the first choice of holiday travelers, accounting for 91% of holiday transportation and, during the holiday season, some 83.6 million Americans will travel over 50 miles to get to their holiday destination.     With winter storms already hitting the middle of America, here are travel tips for your holiday travel season:

Don’t Drive Too Close

Be aware of the distance between you and the car in front of you.  Leave enough room in front of you so you can avoid ice and snow blowing on your windshield to obstruct you vision.  Also, leave enough room so you can see to maneuver around patches of ice in front of you.  Be extra cautious at night.

Be Careful Around Trucks

When sharing the road with big trucks, be aware that larger trucks have blind spots.  Some trucks have signs which show you their blind spots so you know how to avoid them.  Remember, the driver of a truck cannot see you if you cannot see the driver in his or her side mirrors.  Also, keep in mind big trucks are heavier and cannot easily make a complete stop.  Avoid cutting in front of a truck and wait until you are at a safe distance in front of the truck before you move into the truck’s lane so the driver can slow down if it’s necessary to avoid hitting you.

If You Can, Avoid Extreme Weather

Be flexible and try to avoid driving in snow, ice or hail.  You might want to plan to get to your destination early or cut your travel into two days, instead of one, to avoid being in a hurry.   It’s also okay to get to your destination later than planned, if you are safe.  If possible, do not drive during a storm and try to travel during the day.   If you must travel during a storm, bring an emergency kit with you with a battery powered radio, blanket, jumper cables, flares, a first aid kit, bottled water and non-perishable food.  

If you take these precautions when driving during the holidays, you should have a safe and claim-free new year. 

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