25/12/2025
🚗 Heading Out for the Holidays? Read This First.
The roads between Christmas and New Year’s are some of the busiest (and most dangerous) of the year. Before you hit the Turnpike, Parkway, or head out of state to see family, here are 10 tips to get you there and back safely:
1. Leave earlier than you think you need to. Holiday traffic is unpredictable. Give yourself a buffer so you’re not rushing.
2. Check your tires before you go. Cold weather drops tire pressure. Low tires = less traction = bigger problems on wet or icy roads.
3. Keep your gas tank at least half full. You never know when you’ll be stuck in traffic or need to take a detour.
4. Increase your following distance. That 3-second rule? Make it 5-6 seconds in winter conditions.
5. Watch out for black ice. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas freeze first. If the road looks wet but there’s no spray from cars ahead—slow down.
6. Put the phone away. Seriously. That text can wait. One glance down at 65 mph and you’ve traveled the length of a football field blind.
7. Don’t rely on cruise control in bad weather. You need full control of your vehicle when conditions change quickly.
8. Know your route AND a backup. GPS is great until everyone’s GPS sends them to the same detour.
9. Take breaks every 2 hours. Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. Stop, stretch, grab a coffee.
10. If conditions get bad, it’s okay to pull over and wait. No destination is worth your life. Find a safe spot and let the worst pass.
From all of us at Mike’s Driving School—travel safe, drive smart, and enjoy time with the people who matter most. 🎄🎆
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