Being able to go on road trips again is the most amazing news we have had in over a year, we cannot wait to hit the open road. There is something uniquely magical about piling into your car with friends or family and just driving. Road trips are meant to be filled with happiness and an adventurous spirit but that is only true if you drive safely so follow these 5 tips to avoid an accident during your trip.
- Use A Maintained Vehicle
Make sure that the vehicle you use for your road trip has been properly serviced and maintained. Before you set out on your journey, get a mechanic to check your brakes and brake fluid, your tires and tire pressure, and all the car’s fluid levels like oil, water, and wiper fluid. If you can, have the vehicle serviced the week before you leave – that will give you peace of mind that the car won’t give you any trouble during your trip.
- Secure Your Luggage
When you’re packing for your trip you must have sure that your luggage is properly secured to your vehicle. If not, you run the risk of your luggage falling into the roadway as you’re driving and causing an accident. If you need to you can buy extra straps and ropes before you leave because it is always better to be safe than sorry. Always pack the larger, heavier items at the bottom to keep the centre of gravity low and so that you can optimize weight distribution.
- Get Enough Sleep
Avoid getting into an accident and likely injuring your neck by making sure that you are well rested before you leave. Getting enough sleep will help you stay focused on the road and will allow your body to have the proper response time it needs to avoid an accident. The driver must get at least 8 hours of good sleep the night before you embark on your joyful journey.
- Plan Your Trip
I know that the best road trips are usually spontaneous and they still can be – you just need to plan the routes you’ll take along the way. This will allow you to check the traffic levels before you leave so you can avoid congested roadways where you would be more likely to get involved in a car accident. Planning your trip properly will also allow you to maximize the time you have available to spend at your chosen destination points by reducing the amount of time you will need to spend in traffic jams.
- Have A Driving Team
This tip is particularly important if you are embarking on a long-distance or cross-state journey because the longer you drive the more fatigued you will get. People often fail to acknowledge how tiring driving can be, it can take it out of you and leave you feeling flat. For this reason, it is smart to have a team of drivers that you can share the drive with, rotating out so one can rest whilst the other drives.
