Road Tripping
It’s November—the busiest travel month of the year. We all know how important it is to keep everyone safe on those long road trips, but not all of us know how. I want to make sure as many people make it home safely as possible. So whether you’re traveling near or far, remember these tips and you’re much more likely to have a happy, safe holiday.
- Before you go anywhere, you’ve gotta make sure you get enough sleep! It’s not the best idea to try and stay awake solely on caffeine and B Vitamins.
- It’s okay to take breaks every once in a while. Although you might not be tired, walking around and stretching your legs will help take your mind off the road. That way, when you jump back on the highway you’ll be more alert and focused.
- If it’s a viable option, share the driving responsibilities with someone. You’ll both be able to nap periodically without having to lose any time. If having a co-pilot isn’t possible, turn on the radio or plug in your smartphone so you can listen to Pandora.
- Try not to use cruise control if you’re driving by yourself at night. Monitoring your speed frequently will help keep you from experiencing road hypnosis by keeping you awake.
- If you do have to pull over, make sure to get your vehicle all the way off the road. Not on the shoulder, not in the breakdown lane, off the road. Drivers occasionally drift off the side of the road and this helps to prevent collisions.
- Monitor the weather you’ll be driving into and consider planning another route. If the weather ahead is bad enough, taking a detour could save you tons of time.
- GPS is great, but be prepared to improvise if you have to. Last minute accidents or construction could send you down a few back roads. That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep a map for the area you’ll be driving through.
- If you’re renting a car for the holidays, make sure to familiarize yourself with the vehicle before you get on the road. Take it around the block a few times to get the feel of it.
- Familiarize yourself with the basic traffic laws of the state you’re going to be in. In some states U-Turns are legal and in others they aren’t, so be conscious of the law. You’ll be much less likely to get a traffic citation or cause an accident.
- Absolutely NO Texting behind the wheel. Seriously. Just don’t.
- This last one should go without saying… but please, make sure everyone in the car is buckled up. Not only will it keep you safe, but it’s also the law.
Hopefully by remembering some of these tips you’ll be able to avoid a good amount of grief while traveling to see your loved ones during the holiday season. Until next month—Happy Thanksgiving everybody!