Good music, good company and fantastic sightseeing – all ingredients for a successful road trip. But while fun is the objective on a road trip, spending a lot of time on the road also means there’s a lot of room for something to go wrong. Safety is one thing you can’t afford to overlook when traversing the county by car.
By following these tips, you’ll ensure that your road trip won’t end poorly.
1. Make sure your car is as ready for the trip as you are. There’s no better time than before a road trip to make a thorough inspection of your vehicle. Make sure your tires are properly filled and aren’t showing signs of wear. Even if they look good, bring a spare along in case you run over a nail. Check your fluids. If you’re due for an oil change, don’t wait until after your trip.
2. Equip your car with an emergency pack. In addition to things like engine coolant, wiper fluid, road flares and a car jack, pack some extra water and food in case you get lost or stuck in the middle of nowhere. Bring extra blankets and warm clothes in case you break down in cold weather. Pack a first aid kit to treat minor injuries.
3. Make sure you have the proper documents for your car, including proof of auto insurance and registration. If you are a member of AAA or another provider of roadside assistance, make sure you bring along your membership card. If you are driving a rental car or somebody else’s vehicle, make sure you are covered by your car insurance in case of an accident.
4. Always adhere to safe driving practices. When you are traveling hundreds of miles and doing plenty of sightseeing, it’s easy to get distracted behind the wheel. Let the passengers handle things like changing music or grabbing snacks. If you feel your attention starting to drift or you start getting fatigued, hand the wheel over to somebody else or take a break.
5. Keep your bearings. Bring an atlas or maps of the states or provinces where you’ll be traveling. Even if you have a GPS system, it’s a good idea to bring paper maps as backup in case of a system error or malfunction. Bring a cell phone and keep it charged in case you get hopelessly lost or have to deal with an emergency.
For more information on safe driving practices or auto insurance, visit Allstate.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
