For many families, the holiday season includes a substantial amount of time on the road, travelling to visit family or friends. The Alberta Motor Association (AMA) is reminding motorists of a few basic safety tips to help them get to their destinations in one piece.
“Everyone is doing the same thing you’re doing – trying to get home for the holidays,” said Gere Woldu, senior driving instructor with AMA in Calgary. “Share the road, keep distance, keep your car clean and ready for the road, and get home safe.”
Before travelling, Woldu recommends ensuring your vehicle is ready for a safe trip. Keeping your vehicle well-maintained by regularly checking the oil and the battery, and making sure all fluids are topped up, will help prevent breakdowns.
Cars should also be equipped with quality winter tires.
“We find that winter tires stop about 15 metres sooner on ice compared to all-season tires,” he said.
Drivers should also ensure they pack an emergency kit in case of an unexpected breakdown, according to Woldu. This should include blankets, warm clothing, dry food, candles and matches, a flashlight, booster cables, a caution sign and a folding shovel.
“You can’t predict what’s going to happen on the road, so it’s important to be prepared,” he said. “Cars do break down…so if you don’t have a safety kit, by the time help gets to you, you may freeze to death.”
As you prepare to head out on the road, Woldu said, windows should be cleared and defrosted to ensure proper visibility. Make sure to have a full tank of gas, a fully-charged cell phone and a charger so you can call for help in case you do become stranded.
Woldu also recommends planning your route and checking road and weather conditions before setting out.
Once on the road, he emphasized the most important thing to do is keep a safe following distance with plenty of room between you and the car in front, limiting the chance of a collision in the event traffic comes to an abrupt stop.
“Just in case something does happen, you have time to react to it and be able to stop,” he said.
In winter conditions, Woldu suggests leaving earlier and travelling slowly, regardless of the posted speed limit. It’s also important for motorists to stay alert and scan the road ahead to watch for other vehicles or pedestrians. If you are tired or intoxicated, he added, don't get behind the wheel.
“Take your time,” he said. “You’re going to get there eventually; there’s no rush.”
If something unfortunate does happen and you wind up in the ditch, the best way to stay safe is to remain in the car while waiting for help to arrive, Woldu said. To avoid carbon-monoxide poisoning, make sure the exhaust pipe is free of obstructions, and keep windows open to allow for ventilation. Woldu recommended only running the vehicle periodically if stranded, to preserve gasoline. To stay warm, bundle up with blankets and warm clothing while the vehicle is turned off.
“Then, just keep communication with your family so that they know your status until [help] shows up,” he said.
