Whether you’re heading over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house or you’re taking a trip, you’ll be one of millions on the road this holiday season.
In anticipation, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet offered up a series of tips to help motorists arrive at their respective holiday landing spots safely.
“Please give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and be especially cautious after dark,” Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said.
Demonstrating extreme caution and enhanced preparedness is essential in consideration of 104 million people expected to drive to their holiday destinations this year, according the American Automobile Association.
Tips offered by KYTC include:
- Traveling only when necessary during major snow events.
- Stocking vehicles with ice scrapers, jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, a cell phone charger, non-perishable snacks and a first aid kit in the event you get stranded on the road.
- Winterizing your vehicle by checking your car battery, tire pressure and brakes – while also ensuring your heater, defroster, headlights and windshield wipers are working properly.
- When snow and/or ice are on roadways, driving slowly no matter what type of vehicle you drive. It takes more time and distance to stop your vehicle in poor weather, so brake early and slowly.
- Paying attention to weather advisories and allow more time to travel for routine commutes.
- Slowing speeds when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shaded areas – candidates for developing black ice, a thin coating of hard-to-see clear ice that can form on the pavement surface.
- Maintaining a safe distance from snowplows and other heavy highway equipment and refraining from passing snowplows on the shoulder.
- Downloading the free WAZE app or visiting ky.gov to check traffic conditions before you travel.