To California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Newbury, it's an all-too-familiar sign of the season.

"You see them all the time, vehicles loaded down with all this stuff for the summer and the driver's out on the shoulder changing a flat tire," he said.

Experts say the key to keeping road trips on the road is preparation.

Visiting a mechanic a few weeks before visiting Yosemite National Park might reveal major car problems -- and allow enough time to have them fixed, said Elaine Beno, a spokeswoman for the Automobile Club of Southern California.

It's also a good opportunity to have tires checked, including the spare, she said.

Beno said the American Automobile Association responds to 7 million calls for road service nationwide from June through August -- most of those calls come in August and most of them are for tire problems, she said.

And even if you're taking a summer road trip, a windshield wiper check is in order, Beno said.

"As you're driving you might pick up dust and debris or even insects," she said. "You want to be able to clear that off your windshield so you can see."

That means checking windshield wiper fluid along with fluid levels in the car's other systems, such as the engine, transmission and cooling systems, she said.

And in a pinch, having a couple of extra gallons of water on hand can cool down people and overheated engines, Beno said.

Newbury shared some of his personal strategies for safe road travel, starting with updating his cell phone's location information when he gets to a new area -- it may get you better service and prevent roaming charges.

And check weather Web sites for potential hazards between you and your destination, he said.

Newbury said road trippers should also avoid driving during peak traffic times and at night, especially on holidays that tend to be celebrated with alcohol.

"Try to get where you're going before night falls," Newbury said. "Sleepy drivers, impaired drivers -- they all come out when the sun goes down."

Call staff writer Colleen Mensching at 760-739-6675.

RELATED STORY:

REGION: Steep decline in holiday travel forecast