Travel Planning with TRiPS Published Nov. 14, 2012 By 60th Air Mobility Wing Safety Office TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Traveling is such an important part of the holiday season for the Air Force community. Most everyone wants to spend as much time as they can with family and others just want to get away. In our haste to get there, many times the most basic safety principles are at risk of being ignored. Travel Risk Planning System is a tool that can help mitigate this risk. What exactly is TRiPS? It is an on-line, automated risk-assessment tool to aid Airmen in recognizing and avoiding hazards they face on the road. Some of the hazards are fatigue, driving too far, not using seat belts and weather and road conditions. An important aspect of TRiPS is that it actively engages leaders in everyone's travel plans by opening a productive dialogue to discuss the risks of your individual plans. For those of you who have used TRiPS, you'll be pleased with the upcoming improvements. Airmen will see an updated, more user-friendly program with enhancements that include CAC-enabled access. Another not-so-obvious benefit of TRiPS is that there will always be someone who knows your plans. You can enhance this benefit by always telling someone when you expect to arrive. Do this before you leave so someone will expect you at your destination in case if you do not arrive when you should so that he/she will call for help. Trip preparation is not just about the risk mitigation of the plans, but also about making sure your car is prepared. Is it in good mechanical condition? Do you have equipment if you should come upon unexpected weather? The bottom line for everyone is to have a wonderful holiday season and return to work safe and sound.