How To Stay Safe During A Road Trip? 8 Key Tips

tips for road trips

Going for a road trip is all about escaping the daily routine to enjoy quality time with your family and friends without worries. With every kilometer driven, you’ll make new memories.

Taking a road trip is an opportunity to bond with the people you’re travelling with. If you’re travelling as a family, this can be a great way to spend some quality time together. To get ensure you have a great road trip, you need to spend time planning a few things in advance,  including gathering important documents like driver’s licenses and ensuring you have an International Driving Permit (IDP) if necessary.

These are the top 8 considerations for staying safe on the road.

#1 – Be Prepared for the Weather

There’s nothing like an unexpected storm to cause stress as you drive. Whist no one is capable of completely accurately predicting weather conditions, you can gain a rough idea of what to expect. If bad weather is predicted, get prepared mentally and have a backup plan if you want to make a stop.

It’s also important to avoid rushing to destinations, especially if bad weather is imminent as it can make for very dangerous driving. About 22% of vehicle accidents happen every year in adverse weather conditions.

If you are uncomfortable to continue driving in bad weather, slow down and pull over at the next hotel or parking lot to wait until the weather improves.

#2 – Tint Your Car Windows

Sunlight and glare are common reasons for car accidents. Therefore, you may want to look in to window tinting. Window tinting not only enhances the aesthetics of a car, and keeps it protected from the elements, it can help with safety, too.

When the tinting reduces the glare from the sun, it also minimises the heat penetrating the car, which is an added bonus in summer.

Tinting films come in various thicknesses so you can choose the level of tint you want. According to car window tinting Melbourne this is a relatively affordable method compared to the costs of having car windows replaced.

#3 – Get Enough Rest

Driving while you’re super tired is very risky. Each year, drowsy drivers get involved in severe car accidents. This is because as the driver’s eyelids droop, their capability to react faster, keep their cars in the correct lane, and make a sound decision gets affected too.

You might not think that you’re very tired to continue driving responsibly. However, some studies show and prove that driving for 18 hours without taking a rest can make a driver’s brain function like people with BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.05%.

Lack of sleep is not the only thing that may contribute to your drowsy driving. Taking some medications can also make you tired and sleepy.

To avoid this, be sure to swap with another driver who is more refreshed to give yourself a rest. Alternatively, you can stop at a nearby hotel and get a night’s rest then continue driving the following morning.

#4 – Don’t Get Distracted

Being distracted as you drive can have terrible consequences. So, set your smartphone on silent or turn it off to avoid those distracting messages and notifications that could tempt you to have a glimpse at it. Let every one in the car know they need to avoid loud noises or doing anything that could distract you easily.

#5 – Research the Route

Undoubtedly, many people deliberately choose to use less travelled routes during their road trips. Even so, it’s a good idea to research the route before your road trip. This will help you getting lost and potentially into an unsafe situation, but it will also point out any difficult terrain.

Researching the route will also help you identify other points such as where animals cross, trucks turn, and other spots, which might your attention. Vehicle GPS tracking from a trusted tracker can also provide detailed information and updates as you drive.

#6 – Talk to Your Doctor

If you’re travelling on the road for a long time with anyone with a health condition or is pregnant, then talking to a doctor is also a good idea. Some medical conditions such as clotting disorders, prior preterm labor and so on might mean any long road trip isn’t wise. Some conditions could be triggered by long periods being seated in a car, and treatment can be hard to find in unfamiliar locations.

In addition, traveling can be a risk factor for blood clotting, and pregnant women have an increased chance of getting those blood clots. Certain disorders and conditions can as well increase the risks of blood clots.

#7- Assemble Emergency Kits

Having some travel essentials with you is important for a stress-free road trip. Be sure to pack your emergency kit, which could include a flashlight with extra batteries, a raincoat, paper towels, drinking water, snacks, a car charger, and jumper cables, just to name a few.

It is also important to get some kind of road assistance if your car breaks down. Even a car that has passed inspections with flying colours can still run into trouble while on the road.

#8 – Organise Entertainment 

Keeping your group occupied is one of the best steps to happy road trip experiences and memories. The best choices are small in size but offer hours of entertainment.

For that reason, if you have kids, opt for old-school items, such as coloring books, pads, puzzle books, and pencils. Of course there is also the iPad if you don’t mind your child looking at a screen instead of out the window.

Chances are, you might as well hear the first cry of ‘are we almost there yet?’ within 15 minutes of driving. So you might want to handle the natural impatience of your kids by keeping them entertained and engaged in all possible ways.

MORE – How To Prepare For A Road Trip (7 Essential Steps)

MORE – Three Of The Best Road Trip Destinations

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