Embarking on lengthy road trips to spend holidays with faraway loved ones has become a coveted pastime for many families. For those whose holiday tradition includes hours traveling the unpredictable open highway, the excitement surrounding the holiday season is tinged with the inevitable strain of road travel—is the vehicle going to make it without problems? Will we spend countless hours in a traffic jam? Though not all of life’s travel inconveniences are avoidable, you can take precautions to reduce the chance that your family’s holiday travels will involve some of the most dreaded road travel setbacks.

In the scurry to pack, get children ready, wrap gifts and arrange for pet and plant care, many holiday travelers neglect getting the adequate number of hours of sleep before a long trip. Since drowsiness contributes to thousands of automobile accidents, having a cautious, alert driver is perhaps the most important safety measure a family can take to prepare for an accident free trip. Planning and packing in advance can help alleviate the last minute rush that leads too many drivers to miss out on valuable sleep prior to a long trip.

One important step that cannot be overemphasized is preparing your vehicle for the trip—ahead of time. Even newer vehicles need to be inspected by a trained eye to ensure that they are in road trip condition. Do not wait until the last minute to have your vehicle checked. Allow enough time to have any repairs performed if needed. If you will be traveling in an area where severe winter weather is probable, ensure that your vehicle is equipped with proper gear for the climate, such as snow tires or chains. If everyone took these simple precautions before traveling, less stranded vehicles would clog the roadways and create another major travel foe—the traffic jam.

Traffic jams evoke frustration and disrupt travel plans for many holiday travelers. Sometimes, encountering heavy traffic during the holiday travel season cannot be avoided. However, it is becoming more feasible than ever to learn what traffic conditions lay ahead so that you can redirect your planned route when conditions are adverse. Research whether there are travel information websites or phone numbers in your travel area, useful resources which provide information about routes that have traffic delays caused by construction, an accident, or unfavorable weather, for instance. Modern GPS devices are even beginning to incorporate live traffic information features that allow motorists to avert traffic jams altogether.

Even after your vehicle has been thoroughly checked and undergone any necessary repairs, it is still a good idea to have an emergency kit that contains items such as flashlights, blankets, a first aid kit, jumper cables, and an inflated spare tire to protect the family if all does not go as planned.