A road trip is a wonderful way for a family or group of friends to explore and spend some time together. There are many incredible and popular road trips already mapped out for you, or you may want to hit the road and find your own journey. Either way, a safe road trip can be a lot of fun and will create lasting memories for you and your loved ones.
However, road trips come with a certain amount of risk. In fact, car accidents are the leading cause of teen deaths in the USA and also lead to many deaths in adults, so you need to be careful. While not all accidents are preventable, there are some things you can do to reduce the chances of something going wrong on the road.
With that in mind, here are a few tips to make sure your next road trip is a safe one.
Stay Focused on the Road and Minimize Distractions
The first thing to do is make sure that the driver is always focused on the road. Distracted driving leads to many accidents, some of which are fatal. Distracted driving is dangerous for you and the occupants of your vehicle, as well as the other drivers on the road. Do not use any mobile device while driving, do not attempt to follow a map, and do not try and find your favorite music channel while navigating the road. These tasks should be handed off to your front passenger, if need be.
Other forms of distracted driving include eating, applying makeup or reaching into the backseat. It’s also important that the other passengers in the car avoid distracting the driver by attempting to show them things, wrestle, fight or throw things. A casual chat is fine, to make sure they are able to focus on safe driving.
Ensure Your Vehicle is Ready for the Road
Before you ever leave on a road trip, it’s important to make sure your car is ready. Take it to a mechanic for a check-up and routine maintenance. Make sure you choose a mechanic that has a good reputation for doing a good job at a fair price. During this check, the mechanic will make sure your fluid levels are good, your tires and in great shape, the brake pads are effective and more.
A pre-trip check up may cost you a little, but it will give you the peace of mind that your car is in great shape, and ensure your safety on the road. There are few things that can derail a fun road trip as much as car trouble, especially when it leads to injury. Frequent maintenance overall is a good idea to keep your car in good shape as well, and can prevent small problems from becoming big problems over time from being left untreated.
Keep an Emergency Kit in the Car
No matter how much you prepare ahead of time and stay vigilant during the trip, accidents or emergencies can still occur. For this reason, it is smart to have an emergency kit in the car at all times. This kit should include a variety of items to deal with some of the potential emergencies you might encounter on the road.
Kits are available for purchase, or you can assemble one yourself. The kit should include first aid items, a blanket, jumper cables, tissues, some tools and a flashlight. Include anything else that may be pertinent to your personal situation, and be sure to replace anything from the kit if it gets used. This kit should be stored somewhere that is easily accessible in case of an emergency, and not buried under suitcases and boxes in the trunk.
We hope the information in this article helps to make sure your next road trip is not only a fun one, but a safe one as well.
