Tips to make your Christmas travel un-Grinch like

Over the Salish Sea and through the tangled traffic, to grandmother’s house we — oh, forget it, let’s stay home this Christmas.

Tap, tap, tap.

Sorry, my 5-year-old informs me that presents are waiting at Grandma’s. Right, so here we go.

Planning for holiday traffic around here can be as complicated as tying a gift bow, and just as tangled if your skills reside at shoelace level. But when walking’s not an option, here are some tips for getting to where you need to go with some holiday cheer still intact.

At least it’s not Turkey Day

Christmas is typically not nearly as bad as Thanksgiving traffic. That said, Christmas is on a Friday this year, which could have more folks going places for a weekend away.

The Washington State Department of Transportation each year puts out predictions for holiday traffic levels. Find this year’s at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Congestion/ChristmasDay/2015.

I-5 between Olympia and Tacoma is, not surprisingly, likely to see the worst holiday traffic.

If you want to beat even moderate to heavy traffic in that stretch on Dec. 24, be in Tacoma before 9 a.m. or after the 6 o’clock hour in the evening. For Christmas morning, before 10 a.m. is best. The worst traffic southbound in that stretch is expected 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 24.

If you come home northbound on Dec. 26, hit Olympia before 10 a.m. — and definitely before noon — or wait until 7 p.m. for the lightest traffic. Sunday is a bit better, with the worst traffic expected in the 2 and 3 o’clock hours.

The longest ferry lines are expected westbound Dec. 23 and Dec. 24 and eastbound Dec. 27.

I’m starting to feel like Frosty the Traffic Forecaster.

Other stuff to keep in mind

Some areas may be closed due to lingering storm damage and weather. Avalanche control could bring delays over the I-90 pass. Check pass conditions at www.wsdot.com/traffic/passes.

Toll bridges will operate on weekend rates for Christmas Day, and the I-405 express toll lanes will have a two-person toll-free carpool requirement in effect for those with a Flex Pass.

And there’s an extra holiday Amtrak train between Seattle and Portland on Dec. 27 to help car-free travelers return home.

Stay safe

Wait! Wait!

Ah, yes. My 8-year-old has honed her seatbelt radar, and reminds us all to buckle up before we pull out. Click.

Here are some other safety tips for winter driving from AAA and sane drivers everywhere:

– Slow down

– Increase your following distance

– Stay alert for icy roads, especially bridges and overpasses

– If in a skid, look and steer in the direction you want to go

– Don’t pump antilock brakes

– Four-wheel-drive vehicles look awesome but don’t make you invincible against ice

Besides that, be sure to have a cellphone charger and an emergency kit handy with other helpful items in case you get shouldered, such as blankets, jumper cables, an ice scraper and tire chains. Find a full recommended list at tinyurl.com/SScarERkit.

Have a question? Email us at streetsmarts@heraldnet.com. Please include your first and last name and city of residence. Look for updates on the Street Smarts blog.

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