5 Road Trip Travel Tips

Planning is essential when preparing for a 2-week road trip. While a road trip can be incredibly liberating, it is critical to have a clear understanding of important safety travelling tips.

The road trip travel tips listed below will go a long way in ensuring you have a successful, fun and fruitful road trip during your adventure.

#1 Share Location

Road trips are a great opportunity to wander alone without having to worry about nagging friend’s family or associates. While on the road however, emergencies do happen occasionally. For that reason, it would be important to let at least one person know where you are from time to time.

Sharing your location at any given time is an essential safety-travelling tip. Phone batteries do die, and you may get lost. If this were to happen while you are in the middle of nowhere, the only saviour would be someone with an idea of your last location. In case of an emergency, the confidant would be able to provide valuable information to emergency crews.

#2 Ensure Your Car is In the Right Shape

Nothing ruins a road trip than a car that keeps stalling or breaking down. Before embarking on a road trip, it would be wise to take the car for regular maintenance and inspection. By doing so, you would be able to patch issues that could get out of hand while far away from a mechanic.

Knowing how to patch some things is also important. Having an idea on how to replace a flat tire, how to refill oil coolant or transmission fluid are some of the basic necessities for safe travelling. However, the most important thing is to take care of the car while on the road to minimise the chances of having a breakdown.

#3 Pack of Emergencies

In addition to packing personal belongings, it is essential to prepare for emergencies in advance with suitable tools. Pack in advance items such as a car jack, spanners, a powerful torch as well as special keys for wheel locks in case of a flat tire. Such items would be of great help in case of a breakdown or flat tire.

A first aid kit with all the essentials is necessary. You will also need car chargers for electronic items to ensure all your essential gadgets such as cell phones remain powered throughout the journey.

#4 Rest is Important

A road trip is no easy task. Before embarking on such an undertaking ensure you are full of health. Avoid the temptation of using caffeinated drinks to stay awake. Instead, try to get as much sleep in advance.

You do not have to keep on driving for the whole duration of the trip. Periodic pullovers are important especially at night to rest. During the day, it would be wise to take breaks from the wheel, every couple of hours even if you do not feel sleepy.  Grab some snack and stretch out during the breaks as a way of ensuring smooth blood flow in throughout the body.

#5 Adhere to Road Safety Rules

Even if you are driving in remote areas, adhering to set out road rules is an important safety travel tip. Never park your vehicle on bends or shoulder lanes except if it is an emergency. It is important to take note of the fact that different roads might come with different set of rules.

For instance, the speed limit on urban roads is usually 50kph and 70-80 kph on expressways. In rural roads, a rough speed limit is 70kph for some countries. In other countries, wearing a seat belt is also must for both front and rear passengers. It is also illegal to drive while holding a cell phone on all roads.

*The advice offered in this column is intended for informational purposes only and not intended to replace or substitute for any professional, financial, legal, or other professional advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require professional help, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified adviser.