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AAA Offers Travel Tips for a Safe, Enjoyable Holiday

31 August 1998

AAA Offers Travel Tips for a Safe, Enjoyable Holiday

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Aug. 31, 1998--One of the fastest ways to put the brakes on a great vacation is with an emergency, says AAA. Mechanical failure of a car or worse -- a risk to your personal safety -- can be upsetting for the whole family.
    By planning ahead and preparing properly, travelers can minimize risk. AAA offers these precautionary tips:

-- Have your car checked by an auto technician before leaving on a
    trip.
-- Don't let the gas level get below one-quarter of a tank.
-- Select your route on a map ahead of time and study it to know
    exactly where you are going.
-- Reserve all accommodations in advance.
-- Lock your car when you leave it and keep valuables out of sight.
-- Secure children and adults in safety seats or seat belts as
    required by law.


    To help children enjoy the drive more, AAA offers these suggestions:

-- Pack special snacks and favorite toys that are appropriate for
    in-vehicle use.
-- Bring books, compact games and puzzles that can be used quietly.
    Books of stories or information about your destination can pique
    children's interest in the trip.
-- Dress children in comfortable, seasonal clothes.
-- Let children choose a radio station, tape or CD that they like.
    Bring recorded stories and songs for youngsters.
-- Leave a pillow in the car so your child can nod off comfortably
    once all the sights and sounds of the trip have become
    exhausting.


    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 96 clubs with more than 1,100 offices serving nearly 41 million members in the U.S. and Canada with a full line of travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.