FRESNO, Calif. — ‘Tis the season for holiday travel which could mean hours stuck in gridlock traffic and navigating through thick Valley fog.
“Always turn on your headlights — low beams. Do not use the high beam when you’re in the fog because that actually makes your visibility worse,” said CHP Officer Anthony Daulton.
The National Weather Service Hanford forecasted Valley visibility down one quarter mile to as low as 200 feet Friday night which prompted a Dense Fog Advisory beginning at Midnight Saturday and stretching into the late morning.
AAA forecasts nearly 82 Million Americans are projected to travel over Thanksgiving.
The CHP holiday enforcement period kicking off Thanksgiving Eve through Sunday.
“Make sure your vehicle is in good standing. Make sure your tires are good, and just prepare for anything that could potentially happen,” said Ofc. Daulton.
“The one thing that I do see when people put off going to the shop regularly, they end up in the shop for something really major, said Brandy Ames, a Technician Manager with Sunnyside Auto Repair.
Local mechanics advise if you wait too long to maintain your car, your holiday travel could turn into a nightmare.
“The most important thing anybody can do is get your car to a trusted auto shop every 5,000 miles. For most of us that’s twice a year,” said Ames.
That includes checking everything from your engine, to your brakes, even down to your car’s fluid levels.
“…Especially your coolant and oil because if those are low, you overheat — it could be catastrophic, and it’s not just inconvenient, it could be the end of the car or a major repair,” said Ames.
From a blowout to a medical emergency, the CHP is a phone call away.
“If you’re on the highway and you dial 9-1-1, it will go to the CHP dispatch,” said Ofc. Daulton.
A final word of advice for holiday travelers…
“Say a prayer, hit the road, drive safe, don’t rush,” said Ames.
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