Drivers are discovering the right and wrong ways to carry Christmas trees home with cars
A shocking number of Americans are carrying Christmas trees home incorrectly, posing risks to their cars and other drivers on the road.
Failing to properly secure a Christmas tree to your car poses significant risks to others on the road and your vehicle, but following certain precautions will ensure this holiday staple arrives safe and sound at home.
Adhering to these preliminary measures is especially important given how many Christmas trees fall from vehicles in the United States.
A study revealed that a whopping 44 percent of Americans transporting real Christmas trees were using unsafe methods, AAA research reports.
This figure translated to 16 percent of drivers experiencing a Christmas tree falling from their vehicle during transport.
Using a car’s roof rack is considered the easiest and most reliable method for carrying a Christmas tree home.
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A roof rack also elevates a tree so its pine needles and sap don’t damage your roof’s paint surface.
Some drivers may secure a Christmas tree to a vehicle without a roof rack by running nylon ropes or straps through the car doors and back up to the roof.
However, this method can create tears in door seals, according to Consumer Reports.
Dedicated tie-downs like nylon ratchet straps will ensure the tree stays fastened to your roof, even if you’re traveling at highway speeds.
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Buying a tree that’s bagged or netted also lowers tree wind resistance while driving and confines branches.
Drivers who can fit a tree inside their vehicle can skip this roof rack method altogether.
But pickup truck owners must still secure a tree when using their bed.
Motorists who don’t have access to a car with a roof rack can alternatively ship live trees to their homes through businesses like Lowe’s, Costco, or some local farms.
