AAA Re-Issues Popular Trouble-Free Travel Guide

    ORLANDO, Fla.--March 5, 2001--"The AAA Guide to Trouble-Free Travel" - a self-help brochure on traveler safety - has been revised and re-issued to help vacationers improve their odds of having a safe trip if they adopt common-sense behaviors.
    "While few travelers are confronted by safety problems on a trip, those who prepare wisely can help ensure a worry-free and enjoyable vacation," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes.
    Hughes cited two key factors in successful trip planning. "First, make sure your vehicle is in top operating condition and second, thoroughly plan your route in advance," she said.
    The six-page brochure, which is available free from participating offices, provides tips for safety on the road, at accommodations and while sightseeing. It is part of AAA's ongoing efforts to improve travel safety.
    Trouble-free travel includes the following safety tips:

--	Keep your gas tank full, doors locked, windows up, safety belts buckled and children in properly installed safety seats;
--	Pack a flashlight, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher;
--	Carry a cell phone with you at all times;
--	Don't stop to help someone with car trouble. Go to a phone or use your cell phone to call police;
--	At night, park in a lighted, visible place;
--	When in your hotel, keep your entry and balcony doors locked, using deadbolts and chains whenever possible;
--	Whenever you go out, tell others in your party where you will be and when you will be back.

    If your vehicle breaks down and you can't get it off the roadway, get everyone out of the vehicle and stand on the shoulder safely away from traffic, AAA advises. If you can get your vehicle off the roadway, move it to the shoulder and away from the guardrails.
    "If your vehicle is safely off the road, stay inside it until help in the form of a police officer or road service arrives," Hughes said. "If someone comes along, roll down your window only enough to ask him or her to call police."