Planning a Summer Road Trip? Follow These Summer Travel Safety Tips to Make Sure Your Vehicle is Ready for the Road.
You may be looking forward to your family’s summer road trip as a break from the usual duties and routines of daily life, but there are still a few things you should be doing to get prepared. Taking just a little bit of time out to make sure you have everything you need to travel safely can mean that your trip is more enjoyable and less likely to put your family at risk.
Tips for Safer Summer Road Trips
While you may be focused on your destination, you should also be taking the time to focus on what you can do to make sure you “get there in one piece.” Road trip safety doesn’t have to be complicated or take a long time—it really just takes a little planning and common-sense precaution. If you need some help getting started on a safety check before you hit the road, here’s a breakdown of some summer driving tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Make Sure Your Vehicle Is Ready for the Trip
Even if you’ve stayed on top of your vehicle maintenance routine, walk through a basic safety inspection before you pack up for your vacation. You or your mechanic should carefully check your battery, tires, brakes, windshield wipers, fluid levels, and service your air conditioning.
Check for any recalls you may have missed by using the NHTSA’s VIN Lookup Tool.
Have an Emergency Kit Ready
Breakdowns and accidents happen—are you prepared? Don’t forget to pack up some emergency supplies, just in case. You should think about taking:
- A phone and charger for the car
- A battery jumping cable for the car
- A first-aid kit
- A flashlight
- Emergency flares
- A tire pressure gauge
- A jack
- Heavy gloves and change of clothes
- Water and extra food
- Extra washer fluid
- Paper maps as a backup for your GPS device
- Blankets and towels
Be Prepared If You’re Traveling With Kids–Common Sense Rules!
If you plan to travel with young family members, you should be planning to keep them safe and happy for a long drive. Plan enough time to take frequent breaks outside the car, and bring favorite books or car-safe toys to keep them occupied. Remember that kids are more vulnerable to heatstroke, so they should never be left unattended in a vehicle. You may also want to get sunshades for the back seat and make sure everyone has sunglasses and sunblock. It’s also not a bad idea to talk to your kids about safety in and around the vehicle and develop a plan for sticking together at crowded destinations.
Traffic Laws Don’t Take Summer Vacations
The rules of the road always apply, whether you’re driving around town on a typical day or heading out for vacation. Summer driving also means sharing the road with more motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians. Even if you’re making a long drive, remember to stay alert and be aware of traffic laws in the areas you are traveling through. Avoid common driving risks while on vacation like distracted driving, drinking or using drugs, speeding, or slipping out of your seatbelt.
Do you have your own tried-and-true tips for making road trips safer and more fun? Share them in the comments below or connect with Lane Brown on Facebook!
