Thanksgiving Travel Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays of the year and often means long road trips to visit family and friends.

If you’ll be hitting the road soon, follow these tips to be prepared and stay safe:

Plan your trip.
Having a GPS can make you lazy about planning. Always bring a “real” map just in case and have a list of addresses and phone numbers for your destinations.

Give your vehicle a once-over.
This includes checking the basics, including tire pressure, oil, steering fluid, brake fluid, wiper fluid, engine coolant, lights, and battery. It’s not a bad idea to get an oil change before your trip, which often includes a multi-point inspection.

Check your emergency gear.
Make sure your spare tire is properly inflated. Also make sure you have a jack and lug wrench to change a tire. Other handy items include a flashlight with fresh batteries, flares, jumper cables, tire chains, and a tire inflater, either the quick fix kind in a can or one that is powered by your cigarette lighter.

Prepare for bad weather.
If you break down on the road, you’ll want to at least have boots and warm clothing. Additional items that could make you and your family more comfortable as you do repairs or wait for a tow truck include blankets, hand warmers, and a small supply of food and drinks.

Charge your cell phone.
Ask the rest of your family to charge their phones as well. And make sure you bring a charger. This is your lifeline if you get stuck or have an accident.

Bring a credit card and spare cash.
If you have a breakdown or need a tow, you’ll need a credit card to pay for it since these services can get pretty expensive. And it’s always good to have cash just in case you can’t use your card for any reason. If you’re a member of an auto club, bring that card too.

Plan for carrying, transporting, and storing your firearm.
Check the rules for each state you’ll travel through. And think about how you’ll carry or store your gun at your destination.

Think extra hard about safety if there will be children around because when you’re passed out on the couch from all the turkey and stuffing, they could be darting all over the house. Don’t assume you’re clever enough to “hide” your firearm. Kids are way better at finding things than you are at hiding them.

Some extra travel tips:
Traveling with your gun legally
How to deal with a traffic stop when you’re carrying a gun

Have your Membership Card with you.
Your protection follows you wherever you travel in all 50 states. So never leave home without your Second Call Defense membership card. It includes the Emergency Legal Hotline number, your membership ID number, and instructions on the back for reporting a self defense incident and dealing with authorities.

Remember, the Emergency Legal Hotline is manned 24/7 by an experienced attorney even during the holidays.

If you want to increase your protection or add your spouse before your trip, call Member Services at 1-877-502-3300 during normal business hours and they can handle it over the phone.

If you’re not yet a member, this is a perfect time to join. Click here to choose your level and join today. Type THANKSGIVING in the Special Offer Code box and we’ll give you your first month free!

Eat well. Enjoy the football games. And most of all, cherish this time with your loved ones. That’s what this holiday is all about.

From all of us here at Second Call Defense, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,
Dean, George, Bill, Sean, and the team