Edmunds.com Hits the Road with Summer Travel Tips
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edmunds.com Hits the Road with Summer Travel Tips
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — June 22, 2005 — Approximately 91 percent of all summer trips are made by car*. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, encourages road-trippers to ensure their car is ready to rack up the miles.
"A safe and fun road trip requires much more than a full tank of gas," said Karl Brauer, Edmunds.com Editor in Chief. "Spend some time getting prepared — or risk experiencing a scene that might have appeared in a Chevy Chase 'Vacation' movie."
- Give Your Car a Check-Up — Nothing takes the fun out of a road trip faster than having to spend time in the break-down lane. Check the tires, fluids, belts, hoses, battery and wipers before leaving home.
- Prepare an Emergency Kit for Your Car — Don't leave home without a first aid kit, water, some basic tools, a flashlight and flares.
- Avoid Fatigue — Driving when drowsy is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents. Get a good night's rest before heading out and switch drivers every hour or two.
- Tow Your Boat (or Trailer) with Safety in Mind — When towing a boat, camper or trailer, reduce speed, drive smoothly and exercise extreme caution.
- Carry Detailed Maps — Driving directions are great, but supplement them with detailed maps. These can help you identify alternate routes around traffic and construction, and find interesting places to stop along the way.
- Load Smart — Pack your vehicle intelligently to ensure that every window and mirror offers unobstructed visibility. Don't bury items that will be needed during rest stops. Load the car as evenly as possible for optimal handling.
- Bring Snack Food — Granola bars and other favorites will keep hunger at bay between rest stops, particularly essential if children are involved. A small cooler with water and juices will also come in handy.
- Don't Forget Important Documents — Carry the current vehicle registration and insurance cards, driver's licenses for all drivers and information on emergency roadside assistance programs for which you are eligible. These items may be necessary or helpful if you get pulled over, broken down or towed.
- Properly Secure Prescription Medication — Double check that any necessary prescription medicine is packed inside the car, not in the trunk where high temperatures can affect the efficacy.
- Take the Scenic Route — Part of the fun of the trip takes place along the way, so try not to focus on racing from point A to point B.
About Edmunds
Edmunds.com is the premier online resource for automotive information. Its comprehensive set of data, tools and services, including Edmunds.com True Market Value® pricing, is generated by Edmunds.com Information Solutions and is licensed to third parties. For example, the company supplies content for the auto sections of NYTimes.com, AOL, About.com and IGN.com, provides weekly data to Automotive News and delivers monthly data reports to Wall Street analysts. Edmunds.com also publishes a high-speed, on-screen car magazine called Inside Line available free at www.insideline.com. Edmunds.com was named "best car research" site by Forbes ASAP, has been selected by consumers as the "most useful Web site" according to every J.D. Power and Associates New Autoshopper.com StudySM and was ranked first in the Survey of Car-Shopping Web Sites as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif. and maintains a satellite office outside Detroit.
*National Household Travel Survey, 2001-2002, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
