The AAA analyzes these holiday traveling plans and released a statement last week saying that about 46 million people plan to travel this season. That's up 4 percent over 2013. The take-home message, though, is that fuel prices will be about 46 cents lower per gallon than last year. That's a seasonal low five years in the running.

The savings could be big enough that you could crank up your Christmas spending budget for things including gifts and celebrations, but some analysts say higher retail prices could hamper that. Nevertheless, you can still drive more on your fuel budget than you would have been able to otherwise.

If you're on the roads for any amount of time, however, the specialists at Christian Brothers in Tyler, TX recommend performing a holiday driving auto checkup soon. With more traveling, your likelihood of dealing with icy weather and storms goes up, making this especially important.

Come by, and we would be happy to assist with the following:

• Check the alternator, starter and battery
• Check the brakes
• Test for health-threatening CO2
• Test the thermostat and heater
• Check your automobile's schedule for stuff like spark plug replacement
• Check the tire tread and pressure
• Get winter weight” oil
• Check the headlamps for winter driving
• Clean and flush the engine cooling and antifreeze

Also, be sure to take steps like stocking the car with emergency food, clothing and tools. Finally, our techs say you should never let your fuel get too low to keep the fuel lines from freezing and cracking.