With many people in a rush to buy presents or trying to get to the next holiday party, traffic can be hard to manage. Read this post by Ace Hi Oil in Southlake, TX, on how to handle holiday traffic. 

Be Safe on the Road

The first part of staying safe on the road this holiday season is to ensure you drive with all of your senses. This means avoiding distractions like texting or scrolling through social media while driving. Even taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds could be fatal for you, other drivers, or pedestrians on the road. Driving should have your full attention. The holidays mean holiday parties and events, which could also mean drinking or consuming other substances that could impair your driving. According to statistics, in 2019, driving under the influence of alcohol contributed to over 10,000 deaths. Being impaired increases the risk of being involved or responsible for a car crash. If you plan to drink, make sure you have a way to get home safely, like using a ride share service or calling a taxi.

Holiday traffic can be challenging to navigate, and doing so with a car that isn’t in great shape can be even more nerve-racking. Keep your vehicle in good condition with the best products from Ace Hi Oil. Call their oil exerts at (817) 431-6664, and they’ll advise you on the best products for your vehicle.

Protect Your Children

It’s common to drive around during the holidays with your whole family in tow. If you have children, it’s vital to have them safely buckled. Crashes are a leading death among children, so you should do everything in your control to protect them while on the road. Seat belts, car seats, and booster seats are designed to reduce the risk for injuries or death while in a car, so it’s essential to use the appropriate option for your child’s height and weight. It’s important to mention that one common mistake parents make is buckling in their children while they’re still wearing bulky coats. While everyone needs to stay warm during the winter months, it’s also important to mention that bulky coats can reduce the effectiveness of seatbelts and car seat harnesses, so it’s a best practice to remove them when buckling in your child to their seat.

Do Some Basic Maintenance

Before the holiday rush starts, do some essential maintenance on your vehicle to ensure it’s in the best condition for holiday traffic. Here are some essentials you should check to avoid delays on the road:

• Tires: Check that your tires are at the indicated air pressure and that they don’t have any foreign objects embedded in them, as well as any bulges or cracks.
• Battery: Ensure that your battery holds enough charge and doesn’t have any corrosion around the terminals. If your battery has any bulges or it’s leaking, it might be time to change it.
• Oil and other fluids: If it’s been a while since your last oil change, do so now. Also, check that your coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and windshield fluid are all at the levels indicated in the owner’s manual.
• Air filters: Air filters are an essential part of your engine as they catch dirt and debris from entering your engine. If you haven’t changed in a while, this is an excellent opportunity to do so.
• Lights and horn: Your car’s horn and lights are essential safety features. Check them and make sure they’re all in working order.

Find the best products for your engine, like AMSOIL’s Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil at Ace Hi Oil in ​​Southlake, TX. Give them today at (817) 431-6664 for more information on their excellent products, or visit their online store for more details on their extensive line of products.

Check Road and Weather Conditions

An excellent way to avoid delays in holiday traffic is to check the road conditions and weather before leaving for your destination. Things like rain or snowfall can make visibility difficult when driving. Plan to leave with enough time so that sudden weather changes don’t delay you too much. It’s also a good idea to check road conditions like accidents or traffic before leaving so that you can decide to take another route or leave later when traffic has cleared up a bit. If your destination is far away, have a backup plan like staying at a hotel if the conditions aren’t ideal for driving.

We hope you find these holiday traffic tips helpful. Stay safe out there with a well-maintained engine. Give the experts at Ace Hi Oil a call today at (817) 431-6664, and their friendly pros will help you out in no time!