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Summer is always a time of exciting getaways and holidays – whether abroad or just in your own backyard. Easily one of the most popular summer holiday ideas is to go on a road trip – and what better way than with all your favourite people to your favourite places. Road trips are a great option for those who are trying to remain budget friendly – if you camp along the way rather than staying in hotels, it can vastly reduce the cost of the trip. But how else should you prepare for a road trip? Did you know that distracted driving can reduce your response time? Check out a fun game about that very thing here. You can also check out some information about how GPS use on phones has actually increased phone use while driving. Scary right? Don’t run afoul of these problems while on the road. Here are some of our top tips for preparation and staying safe.
GPS/SAT NAV
It goes without saying that one of the ways you will probably be getting around includes the use of a Sat Nav or GPS. These days though, the traditional Sat Nav has become less and less popular as GPS is available through almost any phone. Sat Navs and GPS use is common when it comes to driving, and it’s increased cell phone use while driving, resulting in more dangerous potential distraction while on the road. One of the best ways to still use GPS but not be distracted? Use a holder of some kind attached to the dashboard. This should help keep your eyes on the road and your hands off the phone, avoiding distracted driving.
Car Prep
Car prep is another important aspect when it comes to making sure you stay safe while having fun. Car prep can involve getting the brakes checked, the tyres balanced or getting an oil change. After all, you don’t want to be stuck somewhere with a bad tyre in the middle of nowhere, right? Always better to be safe than sorry.
Packing
Packing up the car will depend entirely on where you go. Are you heading to the mountains? You will want to be sure to take some warmer clothes as even in the summer it can be cool in the hills. Likewise, if you’re looking for someone to go hiking with, take this into consideration when you plan your packing gear – you will want boots, sticks and maybe a day pack of some kind to carry snacks and water. Planning to camp along the way? Don’t forget that tent and sleeping gear – you will sure miss it if you forget it, and you will have to shell out for potentially expensive hotel rooms instead!
The Route – With Alternatives
Finally, one of our top tips is to plan out your route in advance, with some alternatives in mind in case a road is blocked or closed or you simply find you can’t get to a specific place. It’s always a downer if you get to a turn off and find you can’t go further, so be sure to look in advance. Oftentimes, Google Maps actually have road closures announced, so this could be a good tool to use to plan your route.
So there you have some of the top suggestions for staying safe while planning and embarking on a road trip. Road trips are time honoured traditions with family and friends and allow for a whole lot of autonomy when it comes to getting around, picking your sights and the like. Enjoy!
