Thanksgiving. It’s a time of year where families happily come together and express their gratitude for the world and the loved ones around them. Alright, who are we kidding – Thanksgiving is stressful. All the preparation for one meal, getting the family together, and making sure you don’t give the whole family food poisoning can be a real struggle. Toss in the stress of driving through the crowded highways, and you’ve got a migraine.

That’s why we’re here with 5 easy-to-follow tips that’ll make your trip easier than saying yes to that second slice of pie.

1. Respect the Speed Limits

You’ve been stuck behind this loaded down mini-van for 8 miles of stop-and-go traffic. You see the jam starting to break up, and you want nothing more than to make up for lost time. Don’t chance it. Getting pulled over is only going to tack more time onto your journey, and a ticket is a sure-fire way to over salt your country ham. In the words of parents everywhere, “we’ll get there when we get there.”

2. Bring a Podcast or a Book on Tape

Listening to music is great, but on a long trip we find listening to a book on tape or podcast is incredibly relaxing. Did someone just cut you off? Don’t sweat it, let the polished prose of Earnest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, or Douglas Adams soothe your indignation. Not into literature? There’s surely a podcast our there for you. We recommend Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, or if you’re feeling adventurous, the Mystery Show.

3. Prep Now, Cook Later

Holding hot food in the car is not only uncomfortable, it can be downright dangerous. If you’ve signed up to bring a certain dish, we suggest prepping it at home and cooking it at your destination. Of course, you’ll want to check with the dedicated kitchen-master and see if this is permissible.

4. Charge All Devices/Bring Chargers

This is a biggie if you’re traveling with youngsters. While we don’t love the solution of shoving screens in front of kids to quiet them down, it does have its merits on long car rides. Don’t forget to charge, or bring chargers for the ride! You’ll definitely want them if the traffic get too hectic. Just remember, if you’re driving, there’s no safe time to use your telephone.

5. Plan an Alternate Route

Navigating while on the road gives a whole new meaning to the word cartographer. But being the navigator is an important job, and planning an alternate route could save you time and Advil. Consult a map and find a different road to take if your original route is too crowded. Just remember to double check your new direction – nothing causes more stress than going the wrong way or missing your turn.

And finally, remember that driving defensively and taking your time may not get you there the fastest, but it is safer and more relaxing. Follow our tips above and we’re sure you’ll have a safe, successful, and serene thanksgiving drive. Happy holidays!

The post Traveling This Thanksgiving? Follow Our 5 Tips to Make the Trip a Breeze appeared first on Leith Porsche Blog.

Blue and red lights in your rear-view. “Is that for me?” You wonder.

Unfortunately, yes, you’re being pulled over. In a few minutes, an officer will approach your window and you’ll be in the hot-seat. This can be very stressful, but just remember they may not even be giving you a ticket. There is no sure-fire way to avoid getting one when you’ve made a mistake, but there are a few things you can do to make the officer’s job easier and make them feel more comfortable.

From Their Perspective

Police officers are often the bearer of bad news. Most of them are not excited about having to tell you it either. They’re people like you and me, with the hard job of protecting all civilians. The bad news in this case is you have somehow endangered others. It happens to everyone, so don’t take it too personally. Just follow these tips and hope for the best.

1. Make Them Feel Comfortable

Don’t try and give them a backrub, just pull over, turn the car off, and keep both hands visibly on the wheel. This will make the officer feel safer when approaching your vehicle, because they can see you are not holding any weapons.

2. Don’t Admit to Speeding

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” Your answer is always “No officer, I don’t know.” Police officers will often pull you over if they think they saw you speeding. This means they haven’t always clocked you, and may not know whether you were actually speeding. Therefore, don’t incriminate yourself.

3. Ready your Registration

Don’t go fumbling around for your registration and license when the officer asks you for them. It’s ok to be nervous, but try to remain calm and be prepared. If you can, have them out and ready before they ask to see them. Again, make their job easier.

4. Be polite

Being cordial in this situation is paramount. If you are disruptive, you could be leaving the scene in the officer’s car. Most police officers are not out to ruin your day – if you make their job less of a hassle, they may just cut you a break.

There are lots of ways to fight a ticket in court that we’re not going to go over – we’d rather you avoid the ticket entirely. If you do get a speeding ticket and need some advice on how to get out of it, we recommend hiring a lawyer to defend you in court. They’ll often get a ticket dismissed or at least reduced to avoid points on your license.

If you get cited for something that needs repairing on your vehicle like a tail light or windshield,  you can usually bring proof that you had the vehicle repaired and have the citation dismissed. Come by the Leith Porsche service center and we’ll get you fixed up in no time.

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