The holidays are a time to gather with family, and families come in many different forms. In the wise words of Harry Styles, "You can throw a party full of everyone you know." Whether you’re flying home to see your parents for Thanksgiving, or driving to the next town over for Friendsgiving with your chosen family, here are five tips for safe holiday travels.
1. Secure your side dish.
Ask the host of the gathering if they would like you to bring anything to contribute to the meal. Whether you’re in charge of the mashed potatoes or only trusted to pick up a store-bought pumpkin pie, you’ll want to make sure your dish and your car arrive in one piece!
Here are a few ideas for safe food transport:
- Place your dish on a flat surface.
- Get lids that lock.
- Place something under the dish (e.g., a towel) in case of spills.
- Use insulated bags or coolers to keep food at a safe temperature.
These tips will also work if you’re bringing home leftovers!
2. Plan for busy roads by leaving earlier than usual.
The TSA expects the 2023 holiday season to be the busiest travel season ever. This means more people on the road, especially if you’re traveling near airports. Allow yourself some extra time to travel
3. Plan your route ahead of time.
Piggybacking off the last tip, don’t wait until you’re on the road to figure out how to get to your destination! Do some research and decide what route makes the most sense. Even if you’ve driven there many times, an uptick in holiday traffic may warrant finding an alternative route.
4. Avoid distractions.
Avoiding distractions is always a must for drivers. The holidays can bring out more distractions than usual: you may be receiving calls about changing plans, or maybe the kids in the backseat are extra rambunctious. Don’t let the stress of traveling distract you. Give the kids something to hold their attention, and ask a passenger to answer your phone. You could also set up an auto-reply letting callers know you’re driving and can’t answer the phone right now.
5. Designate a sober driver.
Our last tip is one of the most important things to do this holiday season: if there’s a possibility that you will be partaking in some holiday cheer that will leave you impaired, decide how you’re getting home ahead of time. Do not make the decision on the fly—poor judgment is a result of many substances.
Designate a sober driver, even if you’re not sure if you’ll need one. You could also call a rideshare service, or plan to stay at the host’s house until the next day.
We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season!
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