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Avoiding Family Vacation Nightmares - 
Advice On Preparing Your Vehicle

Today, finding quality time together as a family is becoming more and more difficult. With demands from work, school, and outside commitments, families are finding fewer opportunities to be together. One good way to spend time with your family is to drive instead of fly to the next vacation spot or family holiday gathering; this can give you and your family the opportunity to spend more time together while seeing the country.

To make the most of your next family road trip you’ll need to spend some time preparing routes, outlining your agenda, and making sure that your vehicle is in condition for a road trip.

Before the trip, check and fill oil and other fluids and make sure your windshield wiper blades are working correctly. Cooling system hoses and belts should be checked and replaced if necessary, and the thermostat should be operating properly. Coolant or antifreeze should be drained and refilled at vehicle manufacturer recommended intervals. Inflate tires to recommended manufacturer specifications, inspect the tires, and replace those that show excessive wear. Have your brakes checked to verify that they are operating properly. It is always important to make sure headlights, turn signals, and brake lights are in good working condition.

No amount of preparation for the family trip can fully prepare you in the event of a collision. If you are involved in a collision, whether on vacation or not, pull off the road as far as possible and remember to close any doors that are next to traffic. Turn on your hazard lights to notify other drivers that your vehicle is disabled or that there is an emergency. Remember to keep all objects (like flat tires, jacks, or luggage) off the road and never accept a ride from anyone other than a police officer. If you have a cell phone, call the police for help.

First, make sure there are no injuries. If medical attention is needed, call for help immediately. Otherwise, notify the police and fill out an accident report at the scene whenever possible. It is important to fill this out even if there is no obvious damage to your vehicle; it will help if hidden damage is discovered later. For your own protection, it is a good idea to keep a collision reference sheet (such as the one available at www.goldclass.com) in an accessible location, such as your glove compartment.

Whether you choose to work with your insurance coverage or select a collision repair facility on your own, insurers and collision repair business owners alike say the key to selecting the right collision repair business is to look for evidence of properly trained technicians, such as the Gold Class Professionals® designation. The Gold Class Professionals designation helps you to feel confident about your choice in collision repair.

Properly trained collision repair businesses understand how to restore all of the safety features in your vehicle – the same safety features that will protect your family in the event of another collision. Wouldn’t you prefer that the vehicle that your family drives is repaired by someone who was trained on the latest technology – rather than by someone who learns through trial and error on your family’s vehicle?

Gold Class Professionals are dedicated to training their employees on the latest collision repair technology to help achieve a safe and complete repair. Use the online Gold Class Professionals business directory at www.goldclass.com to select a properly-trained collision repair business.