Holiday travel often means busy airports, crowded roads, long drives, changing weather, and winter conditions that can disrupt even a well-planned trip. Snow, ice, freezing temperatures, poor visibility, and heavy holiday traffic can make travel more challenging, especially when families are driving long distances or traveling during a winter storm.
Planning ahead can help reduce many of these risks. Before leaving home, check the weather and road conditions, prepare your vehicle, allow extra travel time, and be willing to change your plans if conditions become unsafe. Holiday travel safety also includes preparing for emergencies, protecting your home and belongings, and making appropriate arrangements for children and pets.
Check the Weather
Winter weather can change quickly and may affect roads, flights, and other transportation. Before leaving, check the forecast for your entire route and destination, not just the weather where the trip begins.
Pay attention to winter storm warnings, snow and ice conditions, low visibility, and travel advisories. If dangerous conditions are expected, consider leaving earlier, delaying the trip, changing the route, or postponing nonessential travel until conditions improve. NHTSA recommends checking weather and traffic reports before traveling and considering postponing nonessential travel when roads are in poor condition.
Let someone know your route, destination, and expected arrival time, particularly when traveling long distances or through areas affected by winter weather.
Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter Travel
A vehicle that performs normally in mild weather can develop problems when temperatures drop. Before a long holiday road trip, inspect the vehicle and address maintenance problems before leaving.
Check Tires and Tire Pressure
Cold temperatures cause tire pressure to decrease. Check tire pressure when the tires are cold and inflate them to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure, which can usually be found on a label inside the driver's door frame or in the owner's manual.
Inspect tires for adequate tread and signs of damage, including cuts, cracks, bulges, or punctures. Do not forget to inspect the spare tire if the vehicle has one.
Check the Battery
Cold temperatures can reduce battery performance and make starting a gasoline or diesel vehicle more difficult. Before winter travel, make sure the battery and charging system are in good condition.
Electric and hybrid vehicles can also experience reduced driving range in cold temperatures, so charging stops should be considered when planning a winter trip.
Check Lights, Wipers, and Fluids
Make sure headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and emergency flashers are working properly. Check windshield wipers and replace worn blades.
Keep the windshield washer reservoir filled with winter-rated fluid appropriate for freezing temperatures, and make sure the vehicle's defrosters are working. The cooling system should also contain the proper coolant recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Pack a Winter Emergency Kit
Holiday travelers should be prepared for delays, breakdowns, road closures, and the possibility of becoming stranded during winter weather.
A winter vehicle emergency kit may include:
- Blankets and extra warm clothing
- Water and nonperishable food
- Necessary medications
- First aid supplies
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Cell phone charger
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Small snow shovel
- Jumper cables or an appropriate jump starter
- Sand or another abrasive material for additional traction
- Reflective warning devices or emergency markers
NHTSA recommends carrying winter emergency supplies and keeping the fuel tank close to full whenever possible. Electric vehicle drivers should also begin trips with adequate battery charge and account for reduced range in cold conditions.
Drive Safely in Snow and Ice
Even a properly maintained vehicle cannot eliminate the hazards created by snow and ice. Drivers need to adjust their driving to the road and weather conditions.
Slow down and leave additional space between vehicles when roads are wet, snowy, or icy. Avoid sudden braking, rapid acceleration, and sharp steering movements that can cause the vehicle to lose traction.
Do not use cruise control on snowy or icy roads. Roads may also become icy when they only appear wet, particularly when temperatures are near freezing.
Remove snow and ice from windows, mirrors, lights, and other areas that could interfere with visibility before driving. Give snowplows plenty of room and avoid traveling beside them because plows may make wide turns, overlap lanes, and create clouds of snow that reduce visibility.
Avoid Distracted and Impaired Driving
Holiday travel can involve long drives, unfamiliar routes, busy schedules, and late-night driving. Drivers should remain focused on driving and avoid texting or using a phone while the vehicle is moving.
Program navigation before leaving or have a passenger handle directions and other tasks. On longer trips, plan regular stops to stretch, eat, check messages, or change drivers.
Never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Fatigue can also affect safe driving, so stop and rest or change drivers if you become drowsy.
What to Do If You Become Stranded
A breakdown or road closure can become much more serious when temperatures are below freezing.
If you become stranded during severe winter weather, staying with the vehicle is often safer than attempting to walk for help, particularly when visibility is poor or roads are covered with snow and ice. Make the vehicle visible to rescuers and use the emergency supplies you packed before the trip.
If the engine is used for warmth, make sure the exhaust pipe remains completely clear of snow. A blocked tailpipe can allow deadly carbon monoxide to accumulate inside the passenger compartment. Do not run the vehicle continuously for long periods while stranded.
Holiday Travel With Children
Make sure every passenger is properly restrained on every trip. Children should use the appropriate car seat or booster seat for their age and size, and the seat should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Winter coats require special attention. Bulky coats can interfere with the proper fit of a car seat harness. NHTSA recommends using thin, warm layers and placing a coat or blanket over the child after the harness has been properly tightened.
Bring additional clothing, blankets, food, water, medication, and other supplies children may need if the trip takes longer than expected.
Holiday Air Travel Safety
Winter weather and heavy holiday travel can cause flight delays and schedule changes, so check flight status before leaving for the airport and allow adequate time for check-in and security screening.
Keep identification, medications, travel documents, and other important items accessible. Travelers age 18 and older should verify that they have identification currently accepted at TSA checkpoints before leaving for the airport.
Pack Batteries Safely
Power banks, portable chargers, and spare lithium batteries must be carried in carry-on baggage rather than checked baggage. Spare batteries should also be protected against damage and short circuits. If a carry-on bag is checked at the gate, remove spare lithium batteries and power banks before giving the bag to the airline.
Airlines may have additional restrictions, so check with the airline before traveling with unusual batteries, battery-powered equipment, or other potentially hazardous items.
Protect Luggage and Personal Belongings
Keep luggage and personal belongings under your control while traveling and do not leave bags unattended in airports, terminals, hotel lobbies, or other public areas.
Label luggage with contact information and consider keeping a record or photographs of important belongings. Medications, identification, keys, travel documents, electronics, and other items that would be difficult to replace should generally remain with you rather than being placed in checked luggage when practical.
Avoid displaying large amounts of cash or leaving valuables visible inside a parked vehicle. At hotels, lock the vehicle and take important belongings inside.
Keep Your Home Secure While Traveling
Holiday travel safety begins before you leave home. Take a few precautions to make the house less vulnerable while it is unoccupied.
Arrange for mail, newspapers, packages, and other deliveries to be held or collected by someone you trust. Timers or automated lighting can be used to turn lights on and off while you are away.
Lock doors and windows, secure garages and other entrances, and avoid publicly sharing detailed travel plans or real-time information showing that the house is empty.
If severe winter weather is expected while you are away, consider arranging for someone to check the property.
Traveling Safely With Pets
Holiday road trips require additional preparation when pets are coming along. Make sure identification tags and microchip contact information are current, and bring food, water, medications, a leash, and any necessary veterinary or travel records.
Pets should be safely secured while the vehicle is moving. A properly secured, well-ventilated carrier or appropriate restraint can prevent a pet from moving around the vehicle and distracting the driver.
Never leave a pet unattended in a parked vehicle during cold weather. A parked vehicle can become dangerously cold and expose an animal to hypothermia.
Be Prepared for Holiday Travel Delays
Winter weather, heavy traffic, mechanical problems, and flight disruptions can turn a routine holiday trip into a much longer journey than expected. Keep phones charged, carry important contact information, and make sure necessary medications and essential supplies remain accessible.
Build extra time into travel plans rather than rushing to make up for delays. If weather or road conditions become unsafe, reaching the destination later is better than continuing into dangerous conditions.
Make Safety Part of Your Holiday Travel Plans
Safe holiday travel starts before anyone leaves home. Check the weather, prepare the vehicle, pack for winter emergencies, and make sure everyone traveling knows the plan. During the trip, slow down when conditions deteriorate, avoid distractions and impaired driving, wear seat belts, and be prepared to change plans when winter weather makes travel unsafe.
Holiday schedules can be changed, and delayed trips can be rescheduled. When snow, ice, severe weather, or other hazards make travel dangerous, the safest decision may simply be to wait until conditions improve.
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