JACKSON, MISS. – Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) encourages drivers to prepare their vehicles for a busy summer travel season.
“Now is the perfect time to prepare your vehicle for all the upcoming summer travel,” said MDOT Executive Director Brad White. “A complete evaluation along with routine maintenance will provide a smooth and safe ride. Begin your summer trips with some peace of mind knowing that your vehicle is ready for the road ahead.”
Proper vehicle maintenance helps you avoid potential problems, and MDOT offers the following tips to help you make sure your vehicle is road trip ready:
- Check your tires for tread wear and proper air pressure.
- Air your spare.
- Check the battery.
- Ensure that seat belts and connectors are in good condition.
- Replace windshield wiper blades for those summer showers.
- Check brakes, headlights and turn signals.
- Ensure that the air conditioning is ready for that Mississippi heat.
- Keep an emergency toolkit in your trunk for unexpected situations.
With highway traffic expected to increase, MDOT wants to provide maximum travel capacity and minimal construction delays. Crews and contractors will halt all non-emergent lane closures from Friday, May 23 to Monday, May 26. While most construction work will pause, motorists should be aware that some lane closures will remain in place to protect the traveling public. MDOT encourages motorists to treat them as an active work zone.
In addition to these tips, MDOT offers free travel resources – the MDOT Traffic Mobile App and MDOTtraffic.com – to help make your summer travel a breeze. The traffic app and website offer real-time updates on crashes, closures and construction. These travel resources also show the locations of rest areas and welcome centers in Mississippi.
For more information about traveling safely this summer, visit GoMDOT.com/DriveSmartMS and follow @MississippiDOT on Facebook, Instagram and X.
