FRESNO, Calif. — ‘Tis the season for holiday travel which could mean hours stuck in gridlock traffic and navigating through thick Valley fog.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
AAA forecasts nearly 82 Million Americans are projected to travel over Thanksgiving.
The CHP holiday enforcement period kicking off Thanksgiving Eve through Sunday.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Local mechanics advise if you wait too long to maintain your car, your holiday travel could turn into a nightmare.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
That includes checking everything from your engine, to your brakes, even down to your car’s fluid levels.<\/p>\n
“…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.<\/p>\n
From a blowout to a medical emergency, the CHP is a phone call away.<\/p>\n
“If you’re on the highway and you dial 9-1-1, it will go to the CHP dispatch,” said Ofc. Daulton.<\/p>\n
A final word of advice for holiday travelers…<\/p>\n
“Say a prayer, hit the road, drive safe, don’t rush,” said Ames.<\/p>\n
For news updates, follow Christina Lopez on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n