Travel Safety Tips for the Holidays

Holiday Travel Safety Tips

The holidays are finally here!  Many of us are eager to get out and visit family and friends. Whether you’re going by car or plane, here are a few safety tips to help ensure you and your loved ones travel safely this season.

Road Trip Safety

• Make sure your vehicle is in good running condition before leaving.  This includes proper tire pressure and completing any necessary maintenance.
• Leave early to avoid holiday traffic.
• Research weather conditions along your route and plan accordingly.
• Travel with an emergency kit that includes first aid supplies, bottled water, food, necessary medications and pain/fever relievers, reliable flashlight, blankets, flares, and other important items.
• Keep valuables out of sight when traveling.
• Take your cell phone and charger, but do not text while driving.  Use hands-free services or find a safe place to park if you need to use your phone.
• Remind children not to talk to strangers.
• Many places follow heightened safety measures so carry a mask with you and, if applicable, your COVID-19 vaccination card.

Traveling by Plane

• Arrive at the airport early.
• Have your photo ID and boarding pass readily accessible.
• Pack light and take important items, like medication, in your carry-on bag.
• Bring food, snacks, and water with you in case you are unexpectedly stuck on the plane for an extended period.
• Allow enough time between flights so you do not miss your connection.
• Keep valuables out of sight when traveling.
• Remind children not to talk to strangers.
• Many airlines and destinations follow heightened safety measures so carry a mask with you and, if applicable, your COVID-19 vaccination card.

Other Safety Tips

• Be careful when using social media while traveling. Posts about your travel plans or current location alert potential thieves that you are not home. This invites burglars to visit your home or stalkers to visit your location. Consider obscuring your location or delaying social posts.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash.
• Keep your wallet, cellphone, purse, and hotel keys in a secure place. Pickpockets are highly skilled at dispossessing you of wallets, money, and cell phones. Consider putting a rubber band around your wallet and other items in your pocket to make it more difficult to slide out. Ensure your purse is securely closed and that outside pockets are empty.
• Avoid dimly lit areas, especially when using ATMs or pulling out your wallet.
• Use all available door locks in your hotel and put valuables in the in-room safe.
• If possible, travel with others.

Get more holiday travel safety tips from the National Safety Council.

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