10 Tips to Have a Safe Road Trip (Summer Blog Series)

Check out more of the summer blog series here.

A multitude of people prefer going by road rather than by railway, air, or water. When you travel by road, you have the freedom to stop your car anywhere, have some rest, and then resume the journey as per your own convenience. Traveling by road also allows you to spend some quality time with your friends or family, which is probably not possible when you travel by public transport. You get a chance to sit together for hours, have some chit-chat with close ones, and get to know each other more deeply. If you are also planning to have a road trip this year, then here are the top 10 safety tips to follow:

1.                  Sleep well: Driving when drowsy contributes largely to the number of road accidents every year. If you are driving the next day, make sure that you get a good nights sleep. To stay fresh and relaxed, try taking turns with other adults to drive.

2.                  Get your car checked: Before you start your journey, make sure that the car you are driving is in good physical and mechanical condition. Get your tires, fluids, belts, battery, and AC checked by a mechanic beforehand.

 

3.                  Seat safety: 80% of car and booster seats are not installed correctly. This can put the travelers, especially children, at high risk of injury. Take your car to a nearby seat-check facility to get a safety seat inspection.

4.                  Pack an emergency kit: Your emergency kit during road trip should include water, flash light, jumper cables, warm blankets, flares, first-aid kit, tire changing tools, and a fully-charged cell phone.

5.                  Safe from sun: All passengers should use sunglasses and sunblocks, and get a good sunshade for the backseat. When you leave the car, safety seats should be covered with blankets, so that they do not become too hot to burn someone’s skin. Never leave children alone inside the car.

6.                  Safety for kids: All doors and windows should be activated with child safety locks. Any poisonous substances like washer fluid should be removed from the backseat. Also look for any choking hazards, such as loose coins between the cushions, knobs that can pop off quickly, or any potential projectiles.

7.                  Get extra keys: Make copies of your car keys and give them to different people in the group. This will not only keep you from being locked out, but will also be of help, in case you lose your set.

8.                  Have a spare tire: Do not forget to take a spare tire, and get it checked too. If possible, learn how to change a tire. If you get stuck in the middle of the highway, there may be no help for several miles ahead.

9.                  Passport: If you are traveling on a cross country border, do not forget to take your passport and visa along. Also make sure that your passport has enough remaining time on it.

 

10.                  Roadside assistance: Sign up for one, as these services may assist you in case of an emergency, and also set you up with directions and free maps to your destination. Take their numbers, so that you can contact them, in case you get stuck somewhere during the trip.

 

Follow these safety tips, and you will definitely have a memorable road trip of your lifetime.

 

What other tips to have a safe road trip?