Is Your Road Trip Coming Up? Stay Safe, Have Fun

Photo by ArtHouse Studio.

Getting out on the open road, feeling the wind on your skin and enjoying that sense of freedom that traveling brings. The good news is that if you’re sitting there wondering exactly how you’re supposed to do this, then you’re in the right place. In this article, that’s exactly what we’re going to be looking at! If you would like to find out more about this, read on.

Check The Vehicle Before You Go

Of course, one of the most important things that you can do in terms of safety is ensure that you are checking the vehicle before you go. The last thing that anyone wants is for the vehicle to break down, or for you to find yourself in an accident because something went wrong with the vehicle that could have been avoided. Do your checks yourself, make sure that you are looking at everything, and then decide whether you think that it’s safe to do so.

If you don’t know much about cars or whatever vehicle you’re going to be driving, then you need to get it checked out by a professional. Take your car or vehicle down, ask them to check it over because you’re going on a road trip and they will be more than happy to do this for you. It might be the case that something you didn’t expect to come back as an issue is being flagged, and we strongly recommend that you get this checked and sorted before you head off. It’s always better to be on the safe side, as you don’t want to be the cause of an accident or anything like this.

Make Sure There’s Enough Room

Think about how many people are supposed to be coming on this road trip, consider the length of the road trip, and then ask yourself whether there is enough room in your vehicle. If you’re driving your car, then the answer might be no when you ask yourself if they are going to fit comfortably. Sure, there might actually be enough room in a physical sense, but does this mean that everyone is going to be comfortable while you’re traveling? It’s one thing when you’re going down the street or if you’re going to be driving for only a few hours, but anything longer than this and a cramped space is not ideal.

Don’t forget that it’s not just the people that are going to be in the vehicle. You’re also going to have all of your luggage and the things that you’re bringing with you. If you want everyone to be involved, then it might be worth renting a bigger vehicle for the trip. It’s up to you what you do, but it’s definitely worth considering the space before you set off. 

Sort Out A Playlist

No road trip is complete without the road trip tunes! Before you go, you need to sit down and compile an awesome playlist full of songs that are going to be perfect for your time on the road. This is going to include a whole range of music that you and the others traveling with you like. Most people put in a load of different types as you’re going to want to sing different things along the way. Old school classics, bangers that you never forget, newer music that you like, and maybe even some songs from an artist you like but you’ve never had a chance to listen to.

If you make it a collaborative playlist, you should all be able to add your own songs to the playlist, meaning one person doesn’t have to do it all.

Snacks Are Essential

Just like music, how are you going to get through a road trip without snacks? You’re going to need to invest in a cool box for the snacks that need to be kept at a certain temperature, and you’re going to need a big bag of snacks for all of the others. This should always be kept in reach of the person who is designated to take care of the snacks. If you’re going on your own, have it close to you, but ensure that you pull over if you want to go rifling through the bag to ensure that you stay safe.

Maybe you don’t know what kind of snacks are best to take on a road trip, and that’s where the internet comes to save the day. There are plenty of articles that have been written on this topic, so all you have to do is look it up and you will have your answers. Obviously don’t pack things that nobody likes just because they’re on a random list online, but do put care into what you choose. 

Pre-Book Accommodation

For those people who aren’t traveling in an RV, you are going to need to look at accommodation options that are along the way. There are plenty of different accommodation choices such as hotels, camping grounds, RV parks, cabins and so much more. Take a look at what is going to be on your route, and ensure that you are pre-booking somewhere to stay for each night of your trip. Should you forget to do this, you might just have to stop in and hope that you get lucky, but there aren’t always spaces and this could throw you into a pretty difficult predicament. Ensure that you’re budgeting for this while you’re going through how much the trip is going to cost. 

In-Car Entertainment

Long car journeys can be boring if you are not the driver. You can only stare out the window for so long before you get tired of seeing trees, greenery, and open spaces. If you have some in-car entertainment to keep you occupied then you will be kept busy while driving from one place to the other. There are plenty of options for this, including playing solitaire and watching your favorite TV shows online. 

More Than One Driver For Long Distances

If you will be driving long distances then it might be best to make sure you have more than one driver. The last thing you want is to be too tired to drive and then put everyone in the car in danger. It is recommended that you don’t drive for longer than six hours without a break, if there were two of you then you could rest while the other person was driving. You can cover much more ground and open roads with multiple drivers, two even three people to take some of the load off. There will be places where you want to stop every couple of hours which is great, however, this won’t be the case everywhere. Delegate who will be driving which roads and which parts of the country so you can then plan on when you are all going to rest. 

Stay In Touch

Another thing you might want to do while you are away is stay in touch with family and friends. There will be places along your trip that can be deemed as dangerous or unsafe, especially if they are in high crime rate areas. It can be reassuring not only for you but your family as well if you regularly check in to let them know you are safe. You could create a group chat and add everyone who wants to be kept in the loop while on your road trip. You can also add cool pictures of all the things you see on your trip, this can always be interesting for family members. 

Ensure Your Insurance Is Valid 

Finally, there is one thing you need for every trip you go on and a road trip is no different. You will need insurance to cover you for any and all injuries or health complications you might face while you are away. Make sure you are covered, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions that affect your day to day activities. 

You will also need a car insurance that covers you for a road trip. Make sure you are reading the small print as you may not be covered for all areas of travel. It might be best to ring your insurance provider and check if you will be covered. The last thing you want is to have an accident while you are across state lines and not be covered for anything. This will then need to come out of your own pocket which you might not have available when you need it. 

Hopefully you found this article helpful and it gave you some ideas on how you can not only stay safe but also have fun on your upcoming road trip. Road trips can be fun but they also present you with new dangers that you may not have needed to navigate previously.