5 Tips for Staying Safe on Your Next Road Trip

Though it may not seem as fancy as a trip to Disney World, road trips are one of the most cost-effective and memorable trips you can go on with your family. Playing ‘I Spy’ in the car, listening to music, and sleeping in a new place every night are memories that your children will look back on fondly as adults. 

While road trips may seem like a fairly simple trip to plan, they do require taking a few extra safety precautions. These five tips for staying safe on your next road trip will ensure that you and your family return home with nothing but positive memories. 

Take your vehicle in for maintenance

Although your car seems to be in solid shape now, you don’t want to risk anything going on while you’re on the road. Even if you have a roadside assistance plan, you may find yourself traveling roads that are more rural and outside of your cell phone provider’s service coverage area. 

To minimize the chances of anything going wrong, take your vehicle in for maintenance and an inspection to make sure everything is in working order. You’ll be able to start your trip with the confidence that your mode of transportation is going to get you where you need to be. 

Put together an emergency car kit

Despite your vehicle clearing an inspection, things can still go wrong. Pick up an emergency car kit and keep it in the trunk at all times. An emergency car kit should contain basic tools for changing a tire and boosting the battery, a blanket and poncho for cold weather, duct tape, a flashlight, and first aid supplies. 

Chances are you won’t need it, but you’ll be so grateful you do if something does happen.  

Take breaks whenever you (and your kids) need them

Driving on highways when you’re alert can feel high risk – especially if you’re traveling on one of the most dangerous roads. When you start to feel tired and struggle to maintain the same concentration as you did when you first got behind the wheel, that level of risk increases significantly. 

Even if you’re not at your destination yet like you had planned, take a break whenever you begin to feel tired. Grab a coffee or something to eat and walk around. Even if it’s only for 15 minutes, you’ll feel so much better. 

Organize and plan the trip in advance

One of the keys to having a great road trip (and traveling comfortably with kids in the first place!) is making sure you’ve established a comprehensive plan before leaving. Make sure you know exactly where you’re staying each night, and give yourself more time than you think you need to get to each destination. 

Be prepared for plans to change

No matter how much you prepare, things can change at the drop of a hat. While you can’t plan for every eventuality, having a backup plan for each accommodation and destination will avoid panic and extremely long stretches of driving when something goes wrong. 

Sometimes, it’s the unexpected things that make a trip the most memorable. That is why getting travel medical insurance is essential in order to have peace of mind while on a trip. As long as you’ve ensured you and your family’s safety, these little blips in the trip will become something you laugh about together in the future.

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