NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — AAA urges everyone to prioritize safety when transporting a live Christmas tree and preventing it from becoming a fire hazard.
"We recommend, first of all, having the right kind of vehicle to transport it," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "We recommend a vehicle with a roof rack. If you don't have a roof rack on your vehicle, use the bed of a pickup truck or an SUV, or inside a van or minivan, so you can fit the tree inside with all the doors closed."
According to AAA, 44% of Americans who plan to purchase a real Christmas tree will transport the tree using unsafe methods.
"If you do need to fix it to the top of your vehicle, put down a blanket to protect your vehicle's paint from getting scratched," Steward said. "We don't recommend tying twine or rope through the window openings, because that can damage your windows, weather stripping inside your doors can be damaged from that."
Also, the tree on the roof changes the aerodynamics of the vehicle, so it might be good to take a different route.
"We strongly recommend, if you can, take a route on your way home with the tree that's going to be slower speeds, maybe less traffic," Steward said. "That drag that's created by the tree on the top of your vehicle can cause an issue, we just want to make sure that we don't need to travel as fast."
Before you leave the lot, give the tree several strong tugs from various directions to make sure it is secured in place and will not blow away.
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