Going on a long road trip can be fun and exhausting at the same time. Unforgettably fun if you are prepared but totally exhausting if you only have you and your car on the road. Below are five simple steps on how to enjoy and survive a long road trip.
When Travelling Alone:
- Prepare. Well, this first rule applies to almost anything we want to do. While there is nothing wrong with being spontaneous – in fact, it is exciting – planning and preparing always come in handy if ever something unexpected will come up while on the road.
In addition to preparing yourself being the driver, of course prepare the vehicle:
√ First, check the tires. Do you know that tires are the most common component of a vehicle prone to failure?
√ Next, carefully inspect the brakes. Determine how much life is left in the brake pads. Also, determine the need to add brake fluid.
√ Other things to check are the belts, suspension system, cooling system, exhaust system, power steering and transmission service. It is better to have these components checked by a seasoned auto technician to be safe.
- Make a comprehensive plan. First, ask yourself where you want to go. Next, discover the actual distance between where you currently at and your desired destination. Then, set a limit as to how many hours you will drive in a day. If reaching your destination would take you two or more days of driving, then you can drive at least 12 hours a day. Do not force yourself if you think you are already too exhausted to drive.
- Pack the essentials. Some of the things you need to bring if you want to survive a long road trip are: clothes, three days worth of food (depending on your destination), spare keys, first aid kit, paper towels, toilet paper, wet wipes, car chargers, two or three flashlights and new batteries. And oh, do you already have some bills and change in your wallet? How about your driver’s license and the car’s insurance policy?
- Prefer wearing hard-soled shoes. Wearing hard-soled shoes is synonymous to adding protection to your feet in case of accidents. Furthermore, in case your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and you have to walk to the nearest shop, then hard-soled shoes will help you walk conveniently.
- Pause. If you want to survive a long road trip, then take time to pause. This kind of pause does not mean to stop doing anything for 3-5 seconds. Rather, it means to take a break and have some sleep for a couple of hours. Because driving for long hours is not comfortable, make it a point to rest and do some arm/leg stretching.
Lastly, remember that sleep-related road accidents are common. 100,000 police-reported crashes each year are a result of driver fatigue. This only implies one thing: get enough sleep and make sure you have enough energy before hitting the road. As what others say, “If you drive alert, then you’ll arrive alive.”
