According to USA Today, several airlines are charging $50 surcharges for flights around Thanksgiving. Airlines are also slashing the number of available flights, leading to more layovers, less convenient flight times, fewer seats available for people who miss connections, crowded overhead luggage space and jam-packed seating arrangements.

Passengers will also be nickel-and-dimed more than ever. Many airlines that didn't have baggage fees have added them--usually $20 for the first bag. Thirsty? A bottle of water will set you back two bucks. And don't expect a complimentary meal anytime soon.

New security rules will put the squeeze on travelers, too. Suspicious powders and liquids will be sampled to test for traces of explosives, and travelers are required to book flights using their full legal names.

Combine this with low gas prices and more travelers are opting to ditch the skies and hit the roadways for the holidays, adding more stress to already-packed highways. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the heaviest travel day of the year.

Crowded highways and poor winter weather conditions make Thanksgiving one of the deadliest driving days of the year.

But accidents aren't inevitable. Check out InsWeb.com's 10 Winter Driving Safety Tips to keep your vehicle safe and sound on the way to mom's house for Thanksgiving.

Luckily, the Internet is here to educate us on the matter.

Ever wonder which side of the road drivers use in India or Zimbabwe, China or New Zealand? Do drivers use the left or right side of the road in Italy, France or Argentina?

Check out this nifty map of the world's driving laws to find out--it could improve your score the next time you play Trivial Pursuit :)

The 13-year-old cat looked lethargic and had trouble breathing, and was diagnosed with H1N1--the first such diagnosis in a feline. It is unknown if pets can transmit the virus to humans.

Get the scoop by reading the full article at HaloPets.com.

But for those of you who can't wait, here's a preview:

Lease Expensive Cars to Insure

1. Mercury Grand Marquis
2. Buick Lacrosse
3. Toyota Avalon
4. Kia Sportage
5. Chevrolet Equinox

Most Expensive Cars to Insure

1. Aston Martin DB9
2. Bentley Continental
3. Dodge Viper
4. Porsche 911
5. Chevrolet Corvette

To learn more and get free insurance quotes, visit InsWeb.com.

Skip the visit to the doctor. Technology being developed by American and Australian scientists would allow cell phone users to cough into their phone for an instant medical diagnosis.

Scientists hope this new technology will tell patients whether they have a flu, common cold, pneumonia, some other respiratory disease or (for hypochondriacs) nothing at all.

Check out the full story at Telegraph.co.uk

That's where I came in. As part of the InsWeb Challenge, I hooked Dennis up with three qualified car insurance agents who helped him learn about his policy and save money with free quotes.

When it was all said and done, Dennis saved over $370 per year!

So, how'd he do it? Get the secret by checking out the new addition to InsWeb.com's News & Features section.

Yep, the watchdog is an audible security alert (barking) and time-tested theft prevention (biting) all rolled into one.

The only drawback? You'll have to feed them. You'll also need to take them to the vet for shots and, if you're a nice owner, walk them to the park every once in a while.

A pack of watchful canines won't help you qualify for an auto insurance discount for anti-theft devices, but a car alarm, Lo-Jack system or other car security device could save you a bundle.

Last month, an Erie Country police officer spotted a speeding driver around 2 a.m. After stopping the vehicle, the officer noticed that the only occupant had crawled into the back seat and, when questioned, claimed he hadn't been driving. As you may have guessed, the driver was clearly intoxicated.

After some humorous back-and-forth banter, the officer came to the obvious conclusion that the 38-year-old was indeed the driver. He was charged with DUI and hauled away to jail.

Here's a tip: The "I wasn't driving" defense doesn't work with only one person in the vehicle.

Here's how it works: By increasing tire pressure, clearing trunk space, reducing idle time and keeping your pedal off the medal, you increase your eco-rating.

The first time I played, I scored a big fat zero. My second go-around, though, I tallied a whopping 28,596! The secret? Don't exceed 24 miles per hour on the freeway, and avoid accidents (obviously).

It's not quite Need for Speed 3, but it's entertaining nevertheless. Give it a try at EcoDrivingUSA.com.

Every November 2nd, the world celebrates Plan Your Epitaph Day. The premise? A forgettable gravestone is a fate worse than death.

A few memorable epitaphs:

• "I told you I was sick!" - Gravestone in a Georgia cemetary

• "That's all, folks!" - Mel Blanc, voice of Porky Pig

• "Here lies an honest lawyer, and that is Strange" -Sir John Strange, a lawyer

• "...Curst be he that moves my bones" - William Shakespeare

Plan Your Epitaph Day coincides with the Latin American holiday honoring the dead--Día de los Muertos or "Day of the Dead."

With so much mortality in the air, you may want to get a term life insurance policy just to be safe. It'll protect your loved ones if you drop dead while choking on a piece of old Halloween candy, too.

To keep from having your bank account bled dry, you'll need a hefty amount of home liability insurance, and probably a good lawyer. Same goes if your Doberman mistakes a kid's skeleton costume for a life-sized chew toy.

The moral of the story? Sugar-buzzed kids, darkness and full-body costumes don't mix. Give kids an excuse to roam around in the dead of night with their faces concealed and trouble is bound to happen.

But liability lawsuits aren't the only concern. For instance, let's say an unruly group of little devils decides to smash a dozen or so rotten pumpkins all over your vehicle. Are you covered? If your auto insurance doesn't include comprehensive coverage, which covers vandalism, tough luck--you're on your own.

If you turn away trick-or-treaters and they respond by trashing your house (like the Halloween episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry refuses candy to a couple of teenagers because they aren't in costume) it would be considered vandalism and home insurance will cover the damages. If the kids take things a step further and start a bonfire on your lawn, you're still covered.

So we've covered auto and home insurance, but how could we forget about life insurance on Halloween? You never know--if a really scary costume gives you a heart attack and you drop dead, won't you need life insurance for your loved ones? And every Halloween I watch Night of the Living Dead (the original, not the lame remake), and it always scares me half to death. Could this be the year it scares me all the way to death?

If your insurance policies are lacking, crank up your coverage.....before it's too late.

I appreciate his passion for literature, but has he ever heard of books on tape?

We already know that talking on a hand-held cell phone increases a driver's crash risk by 1.3 times, and that those who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident as other drivers. But reading while driving? That danger level has gotta be off the charts.

Read more about numbskull drivers and distracted driving habits here.

The Viper SmartStart can be used from virtually anywhere iPhone service is available.

Mike Simmons, CEO of Directed Electronics, gave a demonstration by starting a car in California using his iPhone in Kansas City.

Viper SmartStart comes with a remote start feature that works on any vehicle with power windows and locks. It does not require an existing remote start feature. It is on sale at Best Buy for $499.

Whatever happened to car keys?

Police first stopped the 47-year-old driver as he sped past an unmarked police vehicle at 100 miles per hour.

In addition to speeding and other violations, the man drove dangerously close to other vehicles, sped through a construction zone and evaded police as they attempted to stop the vehicle. Worst of all, it all took place during a violent rainstorm.

Police seized the man's driver's license and ordered him to be tested for medications and illegal drugs.

With 15 traffic tickets on his driving record and a possible DWI still looming, maybe it's time Speed Racer picked up a bus schedule.

Apparently classic school lunch fair—tater tots, fish sticks, Sloppy Joes and the like—are not helping kids stay fit and trim.

This is just the latest attempt by many national and state organizations to improve the quality of the food and beverages kids have access to at school. Many school districts have already banished sodas and other "energy" drinks from campuses, as well as nutritional classics such as Ho Hos and Ding Dongs.

Apparently long gone are the days when a corn dog and a Coke fit into the USDA pyramind...

Read more about the Institute of Medicine's report here.