Whether you’re making a long drive for fun or for business, road trips can go in two directions: they can be great fun or they can be your worst nightmare. With a few helpful tips for making a road trip easier, you can make your long car rides pleasant and safe.
Play it safe
Before you start, make sure your car is in good working order. The oil can be changed and all the fluids checked including windshield wiper fluid. Make sure the tires have the right amount of air pressure and that your spare is also in good shape. Bring jumper cables along. Also, check your documents to be sure you have your insurance documents, registration, and driver’s license in the car. While driving, wear your seat belt and don’t speed. It is not fun to get a ticket and have to spend hundreds of dollars on a fine when you are in the middle of traveling.
While you’re driving, pay close attention to your body. If you start to feel sleepy, find a place to pull over. Get out and walk a bit or do some simple exercises to get your blood moving. Coffee or tea can help you stay awake, and water will help keep you hydrated. A thermos or water bottle can usually be filled at roadside restaurants. If you really do need to sleep, either get a room in a motel or sleep in your car. If you sleep in your car, you should park in a busy truck stop and set the alarm on your phone so you don’t oversleep.
It is a good idea to plan regular stops. Even if you don’t feel tired, it is good to get out of the car and walk around or get something to eat or drink. For long road trips, stopping every two hours is recommended even if it is just for a short time.
Make the ride enjoyable
One important point to making a car trip fun is to keep yourself entertained. Take music, audio books, or podcasts you enjoy to help you pass the time and maybe even learn something new as you go. Always remember, though, to make sure any electronic equipment is locked in the glove compartment or someplace else safe when you are not in your car.
If you’re driving with children in the car, it’s important to have games ready to keep them occupied. There are many games children can play on a road trip, but only a few that the drivers can also play. Finding specific numbers on license plates is one. Guessing games are another.
Take a GPS. Getting lost could be the end of a pleasant road trip and the beginning of a nightmare. The same is true of running out of gas; stop for gas before your gauge shows it to be too empty. Adding stress to a road trip will make it a much worse experience, so take small measures to make it pleasant.
It will save time and money, and will probably be more nutritious and delicious if you bring your own snacks and drinks for the drive. At the very least, bring lots of water. It’s fun to stop for meals, but junk food is not going to keep you alert for long and might make you feel ill while driving. You will also want to have a designated trash bag handy for any wrappers or other trash you’ll accumulate. It will keep your car cleaner and will be easy to empty at a stop, making your car a more enjoyable (and less smelly) place to be. You should also remember when you stop for gas or to eat to use the restroom, which will save having to stop at unscheduled times.
Try to be flexible and stay safe. Road trips rarely go as planned, and there may be times when things go wrong. A flat tire, getting lost, no motel when you are exhausted are a few of the things that can be problems, but if you expect ups and downs, you will remain more cheerful and most likely be able to solve any problems quicker and better than if you are angry and upset.
Photo credit: Road trip by Breahn Foster/flickr
Author: Robert Wilkes is an on the road freelance blogger for TruckersReport as well as a regular poster on their Truckers Forum.
