Travel safety tips for your holiday journeys

Consumers should take precautions while traveling this holiday season, whether by car, plane or public transit. 

The holiday season, particularly the period around Christmas and New Year’s Day, is known as the busiest travel period of the year, according to AAA, which reported last year that it expected almost 113 million Americans to travel during that time. 

According to a recent Deloitte survey, meanwhile, nearly half of Americans say they are going to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January this year, while 27% of respondents say they plan to travel from Christmas through New Year’s Eve. 

With this in mind, it is important for consumers to take extra steps to stay safe during the busy holiday season.

Consumers traveling by car should plan ahead, share travel info with others

Auto travelers should plan ahead to stay safe, such as by taking advantage of rideshare services like Uber or Lyft, especially if there is going to be drinking involved. 

The National Safety Council reports a third of all fatal accidents that occur during the holiday season involve alcohol, stating hundreds of individuals die each year during accidents on Christmas, New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving. 

For consumers who choose to drive, it will be important to ensure vehicles are in good running condition and prepped for any emergencies, including potential breakdowns in inclement weather. 

“Car trouble is a common issue for travelers during the holidays,” Safety Advisor Safewise says in a blog post. “You don’t want to end up stuck on the side of the road in cold weather instead of tucked in around the table with a piece of Grandma’s homemade pie.”

Consumers will also want to be aware of recent automobile recalls, with Ford, Tesla, Chrysler, Toyota, Hyundai and Kia initiating vehicle recalls in September and October. 

Other safety tips when traveling by car include sharing your travel information with others and familiarizing yourself with your final destination, according to Nonprofit Group RAINN. 

Air travelers can take steps to avoid sickness, discomfort this holiday season

Consumers who travel by air this holiday season should take steps to stay healthy, with the spread of illnesses and disease heightened by contact with airplane tray tables, armrests and entertainment units, according to AccuWeather. 

Air travelers can alleviate concerns by wiping down their seating areas with an alcohol-based wipe and washing their hands. 

Individuals with pre-existing health conditions and/or who may be more sensitive to changes in elevation, such as those with lung problems or those dealing with a sinus infection, could also benefit from contacting a doctor prior to flying. 

Low humidity in an airplane cabin can also cause a traveler to suffer from discomfort by way of dryness in their eyes and/or skin, heightening the importance to stay hydrated before, after and during a flight, according to AccuWeather. 

Consumers may also experience discomfort from cramped conditions on an airplane, with a slowing of blood flow that can cause ankles to swell and increase a risk of blood clots. 

For this reason, the Aerospace Medical Association advises consumers to wear loose clothing and comfortable shoes, avoid sitting with crossed legs and get up and walk down the aisle at least once an hour, if possible, AccuWeather reports. 

Those who take public transit must abide by safety rules, common etiquette

Public transit, such as train, subway, bus or taxi, is another option for consumers who want to avoid dealing with traffic this holiday season. 

Consumers who choose to travel by public transit will want to follow basic safety guidelines like planning a route ahead of time and remembering not to run to the train, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). 

Other safety tips when taking public transit include avoiding unlit or deserted areas when waiting for a bus or taxi, allowing other passengers to exit before boarding a subway train and holding onto a railing when a bus or train is making a turn or slowing down. 

Individuals who travel by public transit this holiday season also must abide by certain etiquette, such as offering seats to those who are elderly and/or disabled, using headphones if listening to music and not using multiple seats to store items, according to PennDOT.

Are you planning on traveling this holiday season? If so, what method of transportation will you use? Let us know in the comments. 

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