Check your vehicle….twice- It would seem obvious but some people are so eager to get their trip rolling they fail to do a basic maintenance check on their vehicle. Before hitting the open road make sure your primary means of transportation- your vehicle is up for the task at hand. Winter months can be brutal on car maintenance so be sure to check the following things to make sure your car is in tip top shape.

• Make sure tires are in good condition and are properly inflated to ensure a comfortable, safe and fuel efficient trip.

• Top off all fluids and check oil for all appropriate systems such as engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc.

• Consider a tune up to check for leaks, lose belts or other items that may be showing wear and tear.

• Make sure your battery is in good condition.

Get a map and a plan- One of the great things about a road trip can be the adventure of ending up wherever the road take you. While this can be great fun if you are traveling with a friend or companion you may want to have a general idea of where you are heading and how you are getting there. There is nothing wrong with taking the road less traveled unless it leads you to places you would prefer not to discover. It is especially important if you are traveling on a tight budget or with children to have a plan on where you would like to end up and how you will finance your trip to your destination and the return trip home.

Prepare for the unexpected- When traveling by the seat of your pants it is important to have a few things stocked in your car in anticipation of unexpected situations. Your vehicle may have passed all pre-road trip inspections but accidents can happen. Be sure to pack extra food and water in the event you get lost or experience car troubles in an isolated area. If you are not already a member of a travel club, consider signing up before heading out on the road. It is probably well worth the cost of membership to have backup in the event you find yourself stranded or locked out of your car in an unfamiliar location.

Plan games to pass the time- It may seem very romantic or adventurous the first hundred or so miles on the road but you may soon find that both you and your kids can quickly get bored with the passing scenery. Consider packing games or having road trip activities to pass the time when the miles seem to stretch longer than anticipated.

Stay alert- This is especially important when traveling to parts unknown. You should always remain aware of your surroundings and implement safe travel practices to ensure your adventure is just that- a fun adventure that will likely produce great memories to share for years to come.

Ready For A Road Trip- Check This List Before Venturing Out was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Photo Credit: TSA.gov

Photo Credit: TSA.gov

Photo Credit: TSA.gov

If you have ever traveled during the holidays, you have possibly experienced more stress due to increased volume at airports and on the road. Or, if you have traveled with infants and young children, you can appreciate that it just takes more time to juggle the stroller, baby, diaper bag and other kid necessities, especially as the impatient person stands behind you with no luggage waiting to rush through security.

However, this holiday season, airline travelers might be pleasantly surprised with less wait time to pass through airport security for some and reduced stress for families trying to manage little hands and extra items. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in time for this week’s Thanksgiving travel season, completed and unveiled its new family, expert and casual traveler lanes through security checkpoints in U.S. airports.

Less hassle in actual security lines coupled with an expected reduced amount of actual travelers will hopefully make holiday travels easier to navigate. Nearly 4.54 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to travel by airplane, representing a 7.2 percent decrease from the 4.89 million travelers who flew last year, according to AAA.

Based on sample data released by the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the three busiest travel days surrounding Thanksgiving Day are expected to be Sunday, Nov. 30, Monday, Dec. 1, and Wednesday, Nov. 26, respectively. On these days, ATA projects that planes will be, on average, close to 90 percent full.

“Despite the expected decline in passengers this Thanksgiving holiday travel season – the first such decline in seven years – Thanksgiving remains the busiest travel time of the year for airlines,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “And make no mistake – the airports will be busy and many flights will be 100 percent full.”

Hoping to ease congestion, provide additional help to those who need it, and to decrease wait time, the newly unveiled lanes, part of TSA’s Diamond Self-Select program currently at 48 airports, allow families, individuals unfamiliar with air travel procedures and travelers with special needs to go through security at their own pace, as reported by TSA. Click here to watch the Black Diamond Self-Select video.

Individuals traveling with medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols like baby formula, insulin, cough syrup, contact lens solution and prescription medications will undergo additional screening that will usually take less than two minutes to ensure these items do not pose a threat.

Just like a skier who sees the slopes marked with black diamonds for the “expert” to the green slope for the “beginner”, the security lines are now marked for “expert” travelers to those needing some more time to get through.

The introduction of lanes that will serve as both family lanes and dedicated lanes for passengers carrying medically necessary liquids strengthens TSA efforts to build a network of technology to detect liquid explosives, as reported in TSA’s release.

“Passengers have clearly demonstrated their preference to go at their own pace,” said TSA Administrator Kip Hawley. “Expanding these lanes to every airport and directing families and passengers with medically necessary liquids to them, increases passenger convenience and security.”

TSA has put together some tips to help people get through the screening process faster. Visit: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/screening_experience.shtm There is even a video demonstrating traveling with an infant available and special tips for this group of travelers: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

Family Travel Lanes Take Off in Time for Holiday Travel was created by and is property of American Consumer News.