Holiday Driving Safety Tips From Land Rover And The Roadway Safety Foundation

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 16 -- Surveys show that a higher percentage of Americans will choose to drive to their Thanksgiving-through-New Year's holiday destinations this year, so the folks at Land Rover have partnered with the Roadway Safety Foundation to suggest ways to make your journey safer.

According to Bill Baker, Communications Manager for Land Rover, makers of the British four-wheel drive vehicles, you should always start by making sure your vehicle is in good shape. The top five:

    VEHICLE CHECK
        *  Check your tire pressures.  Low inflation can cause heat buildup
           and poor handling.
        *  Make sure all fluids -- oil, windshield washer, coolant and
           transmission are topped up.
        *  Check windshield wipers for smearing and replace if necessary.
        *  Check all lights: headlights, turn signals, taillights, stop lights
           and fog lights if fitted.
        *  Make sure you have your Roadside Service numbers handy if your
           vehicle has such coverage, and your auto club numbers if you
           belong.

With the car ready to go, your next step, Baker says, is to ensure the safety of the occupants, with these tips:

    PASSENGER SAFETY
        *  Always wear your lap/shoulder belts, including rear seat
           passengers. Air bags alone do not provide sufficient protection.
        *  Use the proper child seat made for your infant's age and weight
           group. They must NEVER BE PUT IN THE FRONT SEAT of any vehicle as
           air bags can be very dangerous to an infant not properly
           restrained. Land Rover retailers offer free child booster seats for
           families who need them.
        *  Pack your vehicle sensibly. Don't stack hard items higher than the
           rear seatback in a station wagon or SUV as they will fly forward in
           a sudden stop or sharp turn.
        *  Understand your vehicle's handling characteristics. SUVs handle
           differently than cars and sharp, sudden turns should be avoided.
           Allow plenty of stopping room when it's slippery. Even though SUVs
           might have four-wheel drive, they can't overcome the laws of
           physics.
        *  Drive with caution on snow and ice with your SUV. Again, four-wheel
           drive will help you go in heavy snow, but speed is never a good
           idea.
        *  Don't eat, drink alcoholic beverages or drive with a telephone in
           your hand. Driving with your family requires full concentration and
           both hands on the wheel.
        *  Stop when you're tired. Long trips can be fatiguing and the urge
           "to get there, Daddy" might lead to pushing yourself too far.
           Remember that you're likely to get pretty sleepy after a big
           holiday meal so plan accordingly.
        *  Bring soft items to keep the kids amused during the drive. A
           parent should never turn to the back seat while driving to worry
           about what the children are up to.
        *  Prepare a "drive plan" and let your neighbors and family know of
           it, especially if traveling in rural areas or in bad weather.
        *  Be sure of your route ahead of time. There are good websites that
           provide turn-by-turn instructions to help you if you're headed to
           an unfamiliar area.

Finally, be familiar with the most common road hazards. The Roadway Safety Foundation has been working to eliminate the most dangerous roads and intersections in the country. Bill Fay, a trustee of the Washington-based group that works to make roads safer, encourages drivers to take a critical look at these nine areas and adjust their driving accordingly:

        *  Is the road wide enough for you, an oncoming vehicle and a
           pedestrian or bicyclist?
        *  Is there a wide enough shoulder for you to pull completely off the
           road and change a flat tire?
        *  Are there trees, utility poles or other fixed objects too close to
           the road or not protected by a guardrail?
        *  Is there a median strip or barrier to separate oncoming lanes of
           traffic?
        *  Are signs and pavement markings easy to read and understandable?
        *  Do signs and pavement markings give you advance warning of sharp
           curves and other abrupt changes in traffic flow?
        *  Do intersections have confusing turn lanes or blind spots that make
           it difficult to see other vehicles or traffic signals?
        *  Do lanes narrow abruptly as you cross a bridge?
        *  In bad weather, is the road quickly cleared and treated, or does it
           remain hazardous?

If you encounter these conditions, use extra caution, then notify your local highway officials of the problems.

By following Land Rover's tips and reading the roads you're driving, you'll be sure that you and your family will arrive safely, and you'll be taking a step to make traveling by car even safer in the long run.