The team here at Weelborg Chevy will be taking some time off for the holidays. Furthermore, we would like to take this time to wish you and your family a happy holiday season! Thank you for choosing us for your new and pre-owned vehicle needs! As a New Ulm, Minnesota town, we appreciate the opportunity to serve the fine people of this municipality as well as our surrounding communities.
We understand everybody is with family and friends celebrating the holidays. But, we just had to take a moment to wish every one of you, Chevy fans, a happy new year. And to help make it a safe and happy experience, we’ve compiled a list of driving tips this holiday season. Enjoy!
1. Inspect Your Vehicle
It’s always a good idea to regularly inspect your vehicle. Ensure your lights are operational, your tires have sufficient air, and that your windshield wipers are functional. Make this a regular part of a routine vehicle checkup (especially during the winter) and you’ll never be caught off guard by any unexpected servicing that is overdue on your vehicle.
Such an event can really throw you off, especially during the holidays, when you may already be strapped for cash. So ensure that you check your oil, wheel alignment, brakes, tire pressure, etc.
2. Watch for Spikes in Fuel Costs
With the cost of gas usually spiking during the holidays, be vigilant of any nominal prices around and try to refuel prior to those spikes taking place. It’s usually around this time of year that gas prices take a quantum leap. And if you fill up beforehand (or after, if possible), you could save yourself some cash, which means a little more money to allocate to gifts for loved ones!
3. Be Wary of Speed Traps
The holiday season is usually when the squad cars and patrolmen are in full effect. They’re on the lookout for any speed-demons who may be driving a bit recklessly. To arrive home safely (and avoid getting an unnecessary ticket), be mindful of speed limits as well as the conditions of the road.
4. Stave Off Fatigue by Getting Enough Sleep
If you’re doing any long-distance driving for the holidays, ensure that you get enough sleep prior to getting behind the wheel. A study conducted in 2013 by Virginia Tech concluded that 20% of accidents are caused by driver fatigue! And when you look into it, it’s easy to see why this is the case.
When you’re tired, everything begins to slow down: your focus on concentration levels drop, your motor skills become compromised, and your cognitive abilities suffer as well -- all as a result of a lack of quality sleep.
5. Lock up Your Home and Secure Your Vehicle
As you’re spending time with friends and family during the holidays, the last thing on your mind is getting robbed. And while this is something you’d rather not think about, it’s a good thing to, well, think about it.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and just to be sure you’re in the clear, it never hurts to be thorough when you’re driving to new destinations for the holidays. Prior to leaving, ensure your home is locked and secured, And upon arriving, make certain that your vehicle is secured in the same fashion.
6. Map Out Your Path
Going on a road trip to visit family for the holidays? Be proactive and make a plan. Consider all the variables you can think of; everything from weather to traffic to the specified route you plan on taking -- have it all mapped out so you can have a smooth and seamless trip.
7. Prepare for Unexpected Events
Winter can be a dicey time of year. Adverse weather, slippery roads, and rushed holiday shoppers all coalesce together into an accident just waiting to happen -- if you’re not careful. So plan accordingly before hitting the road: have some sodium chloride in the case you get stuck in a snowdrift; ensure you have a spare tire; get your winter tires on before that first snowfall, etc.
8. Don’t Drink and Drive
This seems obvious, however, you’d be shocked at how many people get behind the wheel after a few drinks because they didn’t properly plan ahead. It’s not worth it. If you think you’ll be drinking or even tempted to drink during your holiday celebrations with friends and family, then coordinate with someone willing to be a designated driver.
9. Give Yourself Enough Time
As you’re heading out to enjoy the holiday festivities, keep in mind, hundreds of others are going out to do that as well. So give yourself enough time by leaving early, not only will your guests appreciate your punctuality, but you will avoid all of the mayhem associated with Christmas and New Year’s gridlock.
10. Have Fun!
Despite all the rules to be followed and precautions to be taken, the holidays are a time for fun, entertainment, and appreciation for your loved ones. So don’t forget to do the most important thing this holiday season, which is to have fun with the people you love and who love you!
Conclusion
We truly hope you have a wonderful holiday season and happy new year! If you need some gift ideas, why not give the gift of a new or used vehicle this holiday! At Weelborg Chevy, we offer a vast array of different makes, models that are both new and pre-owned. Get in contact with us today to learn more!