{"id":424605,"date":"2024-11-28T11:01:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T11:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=424605"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Gear-Up-for-Holiday-Road-Trips-with-Winter-Prep-Tips-from-Mercury-Insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Gear-Up-for-Holiday-Road-Trips-with-Winter-Prep-Tips-from-Mercury-Insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"Gear Up for Holiday Road Trips with Winter Prep Tips from Mercury Insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>(BPT) &#8211; As the holiday season gets underway, millions of Americans are planning road trips to visit loved ones or enjoy seasonal getaways. <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.acg.aaa.com\/aaa-record-number-of-travelers-expected-to-travel-for-thanksgiving\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">AAA projects<\/a> that nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/record-80-million-americans-expected-travel-thanksgiving-holiday-industry-group-2024-11-18\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">80 million travelers will journey<\/a> 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday period, with 71.7 million traveling by car\u2014a record number.<\/p>\n<p>Mercury Insurance would like to offer essential tips to prepare your vehicle for winter conditions and ensure safe travels during this busy time.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Winter and holiday road trips bring unique challenges, from unpredictable weather to heavier traffic,&#8221; said Kevin Quinn, Mercury Insurance VP, auto claims. &#8220;Our goal is to help drivers prepare for safe and stress-free travels while protecting their vehicles and loved ones during this busy time of year.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Winter and Holiday Road Trip Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Heavier Traffic:<\/strong> Holiday travel increases congestion, making defensive driving and proper vehicle maintenance critical.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tire Performance:<\/strong> Tire pressure drops with colder temperatures, potentially compromising your car&#8217;s ability to grip icy or snowy roads.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Battery Drain:<\/strong> Cold weather can weaken your battery, increasing the risk of breakdowns during long trips.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Unpredictable Weather:<\/strong> Sudden snowstorms or icy roads can significantly impact your journey, especially in northern or mountainous regions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Holiday Road Trip and Winter-Weather Preparedness Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li><strong>Inspect Your Tires:<\/strong><br \/>Check tire pressure and tread depth before hitting the road. Properly inflated tires improve fuel efficiency, which is especially helpful for long-distance travel. Consider switching to winter tires if you&#8217;re traveling through snowy or icy regions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prepare an Emergency Kit for Road Trips:<\/strong><br \/>Pack essentials such as blankets, snacks, water, a flashlight, jumper cables, a first-aid kit, and a phone charger. Include an ice scraper, tire chains, and sand or kitty litter for added traction if you get stuck.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check Your Battery:<\/strong><br \/>Test your car&#8217;s battery to ensure it&#8217;s road-trip ready. Replace it if it&#8217;s over three years old or showing signs of wear.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintain Visibility:<\/strong><br \/>Replace wiper blades and refill washer fluid with a winter-grade solution to prevent freezing. Ensure your defroster and headlights are functioning properly, especially for nighttime or snowy conditions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check Your Brakes:<\/strong><br \/>Ensure your brakes are in good condition before a long trip. Winter weather reduces stopping distances, so well-maintained brakes are essential for safety on icy or snowy roads.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Monitor Weather and Traffic Alerts:<\/strong><br \/>Use navigation apps to monitor real-time weather and traffic updates. Adjust your departure time or route to avoid severe weather or heavy traffic delays.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Review Your Insurance Policy:<\/strong><br \/>Holiday travel can mean driving in unfamiliar areas, so ensure your auto insurance policy provides adequate coverage. Mercury Insurance offers options that protect you from winter-related incidents and roadside emergencies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&#8220;Planning ahead can make all the difference for a safe and enjoyable holiday road trip,&#8221; added Quinn. &#8220;With a little preparation, you can focus on the joy of the season instead of worrying about unexpected challenges on the road.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Mercury Insurance offers comprehensive auto insurance policies designed for every season. Drivers can also take advantage of discounts for proactive safety measures like regular vehicle maintenance and winter tire installations.<\/p>\n<p>For more tips on preparing your car for holiday and winter travel, or to learn about Mercury Insurance&#8217;s coverage options, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mercuryinsurance.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mercuryinsurance.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><strong>MercuryInsurance.com<\/strong><\/a> or contact your local Mercury Insurance agent.<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/images\/imgupload\/d7bc676be33ded8fe965bc3f67541dfe.jpg\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" \/><br \/>Gear Up for Holiday Road Trips with Winter Prep Tips from Mercury Insurance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(BPT) &#8211; As the holiday season gets underway, millions of Americans are planning road trips&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-424605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=424605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/424605\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=424605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=424605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=424605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}