Page 12 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – May/June 2022

Summer Road Trip Checklist
Summer vacations should be fun. It’s necessary to plan ahead for a safer, lower-stress vacation road trip. In the weeks before, see what you can check off your to-do list and how AAA can help.
Does the family car need to be serviced?
Today’s cars don’t require frequent oil changes
or coolant flushes. This does not mean vehicles are maintenance-free. Check your owners manual to see if you are approaching a service interval. Most owners manuals have a do-it-yourself section to walk you through checking fluids, tires, wipers and lights. You also could make an appointment with your dealer or a AAA Approved Auto Repair provider for a pre-trip check-up.
Helpful Hint: Many newer vehicles do not have spare tires. If you have a spare, check the air pressure. Most spare tires are temporary tires and do not include a sensor to alert you when the tire pressure is low. If you don’t have
a spare, now is the time to find out. This also will help
the dispatcher determine whether or not you need a tow should you need to contact AAA for emergency service.
Plan possible routes ahead of time.
If your road trip is more than a few hours, planning makes a big difference. Where will we take meal breaks? Do we need hotel accommodations? Stop by one of our AAA offices and sit down with one of our Auto Travel associates. Digital or paper, planning ahead will reduce stress.
Helpful Hint: GPS is a navigation system to get us from A to B. Maps help us explore what’s between A and B.
Will your trip take you on toll roads, bridges or tunnels?
If your normal commute does not have tolls, you may
Shutterstock: Wavebreak Media
not have bothered to start an E-ZPass account. Many states have moved to cashless tolling. If you don’t have an E-ZPass transponder, you will be billed based on license plate readers. If these bills are not paid promptly, you will be charged late fees. Unpaid tolls also will stop you from being able to renew your vehicle registration. You can purchase a preloaded E-ZPass starter kit at the AAA Travel Store. E-ZPass is currently accepted in 18 states.
Do you have children who need child seats?
Everyone, front seat or back, needs to buckle up. New York requires all children under 8-years-old to use height and weight-appropriate child seats. Long road trips are safer and more comfortable with correctly fitted child restraints. Even if the child seats are installed correctly, the harnesses and buckle positions may need to be adjusted. To make sure your seats are in properly, contact a AAA Certified Child Safety Seat Technician to set up an appointment at 518-426-1000, ext. 2442 or trafficsafety@aaahv.com.
Extra summer road-trip must-haves:
• Water and snacks
• Cell phone car charger and backup battery
• Entertainment (that does not distract the driver)
• Up-to-date driver’s license, vehicle registration and
insurance cards, as well as AAA membership cards • Health insurance cards
• All confirmation numbers and up-to-date emergency
contact information
Have a safe and memorable vacation. Find out how some of these same tips can help you with gas mileage on the next page.
Michael Sweeney is a Traffic Safety Educator at AAA Hudson Valley.
12 I MAY/JUNE 2022