Mechanic Encourages Getting Car Checked Before Thanksgiving Travel

Kyle Rizzoli, general manager of Rizzoli’s Automotive Repair, said with Thanksgiving just days away, a lot of drivers are coming in to get their cars serviced.

Rizolli said they have “seen a marked increase this week” and have between 40 and 50 cars to take care of.

Rizzoli told KCOY/KEYT’s Cory James that an overheated engine is one of the major causes of car failure while on the road. He added having the engine checked out and other parts of the car can help solve that problem and prevent troubles while on the road.

Caroline Murray has already done her trip check. She is traveling to San Francisco for the holiday and said distracted driving is her biggest concern.

“When you see someone swerving and you drive by and see that they are looking at their phones,” said Murray.

California Highway Patrol says in 2013, 33 people died in traffic collisions on state roads and 88 percent of them did not have a seat belt on.

CHP wants drivers to know there is going to be a lot of traffic out there and said the best thing to do is to “slow down and don’t get into a hurry.”

Trip Advisor reports 60 percent of those traveling by car will be driving more than 200 miles to their destination, a 9 percent increase from 2013.