Millions of Americans will head to tree lots nationwide to find the perfect Christmas tree this holiday season. While finding just the right one may seem challenging, getting it home safely is where the real challenge begins. Transporting a tree is no different from moving furniture, appliances, or other large objects. If not properly secured, a tree can cause vehicle damage, such as scratched paint, torn door seals, or distorted window frames. Even worse, it could fly off or out of the vehicle and become dangerous to other drivers.
“A real tree can complete your home’s holiday décor memorably, but motorists need to use caution when transporting a live tree,” said Terri Rae Anthony, safety advisor, AAA East Central. “Negligence could mean putting other lives at risk and setting yourself up for costly repairs to your vehicle.”
Risks Associated with an Improperly Secured Holiday Tree:
According to previous AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research, more than 200,000 crashes involving debris on U.S. roads over a four-year period resulted in 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths. All 50 states have laws that make it illegal for items to fall from vehicles while on the road. State penalties can result in hefty fines, some as much as $5,000, with some states listing jail as a possible punishment for offenders.
Transporting a Christmas tree is easy with these tips from AAA:
- Plan Ahead. Before heading out to buy a real Christmas tree, bring strong rope or ratchet straps, an old blanket, gloves, and the right vehicle. One with a roof rack is ideal, but a pickup truck, SUV, van, or minivan can work just as well.
- Wrap & Cover It. After finding the perfect tree, have the lot wrap it in netting before loading it. Loose branches can also be secured with rope or twine to help protect the tree from damage. Also, before loading the tree, cover the roof with an old blanket to prevent scratches to the paint and protect the car from any damage.
- Trunk First. Place the tree on the roof rack or in the truck bed, with the trunk facing the front of the car. If there is enough room in the vehicle and it does not have a roof rack, place the tree inside.
- Secure It. Tie down the tree at its bottom, center, and top using strong rope or nylon ratchet straps. Avoid using the nylon offered by many tree lots. Use fixed vehicle tie-down points and loop the rope or strap around the tree trunk above a branch to prevent side-to-side or front-to-rear movement.
- Tug Test. Once tied down, give the tree several strong tugs from various angles to ensure it is secured and will not come loose.
- Nice and easy. Drive slowly and take back roads if possible. Higher speeds can create significant airflow that can damage your tree or challenge the best tie-down methods.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 69 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.