O, Christmas Tree; O Christmas Tree . . . How Lovely are Thy Branches! Drivers, beware: those branches are only lovely if they’re not blocking your windshield as you drive home that flawless Frazier or unspoiled Spruce.
More important, however, is whether that holiday tree is properly secured to your vehicle’s roof, so it doesn’t become a holiday hazard if it falls from your car, warns AAA Northeast.
“The only thing flying this holiday season should be reindeer, not Christmas trees,” said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “An improperly secured tree can certainly compromise your driving abilities and that of others on the road.”
A 2019 AAA survey found 44% of Americans who had planned to purchase live Christmas trees that year would use unsafe methods to transport them home. Previous AAA research also found road debris, including loose spruces, contributed to more than 200,000 nationwide crashes over the last four years, which in turn resulted in 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths.
“Roads are treacherous enough during the holiday season with congestion and wintry weather,” said Mayko. “Why deck the roads with flying Christmas trees that will certainly add to driving difficulties?”
In addition to causing crashes, improperly secured trees can scratch a vehicle’s paint, tear door seals, distort window frames and result in costly repairs, said Mayko.
When you have a tree in tow this holiday, AAA Northeast suggests:
- Make a Plan — Ideally, you should use the bed of a pickup truck, an SUV or a vehicle roof rack. However, if those options aren’t available, use a properly secured blanket or egg crate-type mattress protect your vehicle’s roof finish.
- Wrap It & Cover It — Use quality tie downs such as strong rope, twine or nylon ratchet straps. Ask the vendor to wrap the tree in netting or use a blanket or a tarp to make sure no loose limbs impede your vision or injure car occupants.
- Trunk First – Position the tree’s trunk toward the front of the vehicle on the roof rack or the pickup bed. If the rack isn’t large enough, the tree will have to go inside your car – again trunk first. Use rope to secure the hatch or trunk.
- Secure It – Secure the tree at its bottom, center and top if you’re transporting on your vehicle’s roof. To prevent side-to-side or front-to-rear movement, secure the tree using the fixed vehicle tie-down points. Loop the tie-down around the trunk, above a lower branch and install the center and top tie downs in a similar manner.
- Pass the Tug Test – Once tied down, give the tree several strong tugs from various directions to make sure it’s secure.
- Easy Does It — Reduce your speed and be smooth with your steering, accelerating and braking. Higher speeds create significant airflow that can damage the tree and compromise the best tie-down methods.
- Follow Pandemic Protocols: – Call the vendor ahead of time to inquire about policies concerning crowds and reduced operating hours. Wear a mask; practice social distancing; bring sanitizer; and remain home if you’re experiencing Covid-related symptoms.