Gearing Up For HolidayTravel (NAPSA)—Before you take to the road this holiday season, heed these hints that can drive down on-the-road tensions. Prepare Your Vehicle Make sure your turn signals, wipers, parking brake, brake lights and headlights are working. Check the air pressure in your tires, including the spare. Check the oil, radiator, and windshield washer fluid andrefill as needed. Rememberto pack safety equipment such asa flashlight, first-aid kit, blankets, jumper cables, food and water. A cell phone is also helpful for emergencies. Plan Your Route Minimize stress by mapping out your route in advance and having an alternate in case of heavy traffic. Keeping a road atlas on hand for quick reference can be a good idea. To help, Michelin recently launched a brand-new atlas for North America. This spiral bound, compact atlas lies flat for easier navigating andis organized geographically, not alphabetically, as are most atlases. That means you can focus on your trip and spend less time fumbling to find the right map. Don’t Eat and Run Don’t eat a big holiday dinner and immediately get back into the car for a long drive. A big meal can make you drowsy and a tired driver has slower reaction times. Take a walk after dinnerto get the blood flowing or better yet, take a nap. Once you do headout, take a 15-minute break—or more—every two to three hours to stretch and break the boredom of driving. A little advance planning can help keep your family in a festive mood throughout your holiday seasontravels. Leave Early, Stay Late If your schedule permits, avoid peak traffic by leaving a day earlier than everyone else and returning a day earlier or a daylater. Entertain The Kids Entertaining car-basedactivities for the kids will help make the journey more pleasant. Compact board games with magnetic pieces or such classic games as “I Spy,” scavenger hunts or even counting cows can help make the time pass quickly. Try giving children their own mapor atlas so they can track the journey and learn how to use a map at the same time. Make a gameout of it and see whocancalculate the distance thefastest. Spending time together on a road trip can be a great way to have quality time with your family. Some advance planning can help keep your family in a festive holiday mood. For more information on Michelin’s North America Atlas, call 1-888-610-5122.
