A Great Road Trip Is A Safe Road Trip

A Great Road Trip Is A Safe Road Trip

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Dear world, we’re about to enter our favourite season of them all: road trip season. There really is nothing like it. The smell of freedom, the sound of the wind rushing through your open windows, your ‘guilty pleasures’ soundtrack blaring from the stereos giving each car you pass a moment’s insight into your music taste, the sight of nothing but straight road ahead and behind as you career into some who cares destination because, come on people, it’s all about the journey. Like we said, it’s the greatest season of them all.

The problem is, most road-trippers get so excited that they rush to their cars without giving a second thought to some simple safety precautions that could totally ruin your trip before it’s really got underway (having been stuck on the edge of a highway, staring at a steaming bonnet for hours on end, we should know).

That’s why we’ve done the real ‘mom’ thing of compiling a list of safety essentials to keep you safe and your kickass story alive. Sure, they may save your life, but they could also save your next road trip, which is just that teeny-tiny bit more important:

1. An Emergency Kit Is Essential

It’s the number one safety mistake that people make. In fact, it’s number one by a mile. At least, that’s if you believe the Liberty Mutual Insurance New Beginnings Report which states half of all road-trippers don’t check they have everything they need for a road trip before they leap into the car, pop their favourite cheesy CD in and head off to who knows where. The good news is: you can easily solve this issue and save yourself one massive headache but just making sure you have one. It will make any car emergency moment you do have solvable, which is kind of the hope, right?

2. The Essentials Every Emergency Kit Needs

Given that we’ve established just how important an emergency kit is, we should probably discuss what needs to go into yours, starting with some basic household items. We’re talking about a little flashlight, plenty of water bottles, alcohol swabs, a phone charger, band aids and anything else you think falls within this bell curve. Another thing we would suggest from experience is an old towel. We know what you’re muttering to yourself, “she’s finally lost the plot!” But here us out. If something goes wrong with your beloved stallion (read: car), chances are you’re going to have to get underneath it to check for any visible problems. Ergo, an old towel gives you that little something to lay on. Genius. On to the more car specific stuff, the three items we would say are absolutely essential are long-lead jumper cables, a tire pump and a multi-purpose tool. Then make sure you pop all this in a tote bag together or, better yet, a milk crate and you’ll be able to locate everything you need the moment you need it.

3. The New Risk On The Block Is Distraction

Not wanting to get too bleak or anything, but distracted driving is now the number one danger for road users. Trying to get that pen you dropped into the footwell, slurping on coffee that’s so good you close your eyes for a minute, trying to change the radio station, applying your lipstick as you arrive into a new town – there a thousand reasons why you might take your eyes off the road. But it only takes a split second for disaster to strike. That’s why it is so important you limit the chances of this happening by preparing yourself for them a bit better. That means popping everything you might need to reach within reach, and all together. It means having your GPS loaded and ready to go before the wheels on your motor start moving. If your car has Bluetooth then a) go you and b) connect your phone before you take off. Anything that you can do to prevent a distraction from wrecking your trip – and possibly all future trips – needs to be done.

4. Get to Know The Other Dangers

We know we’re putting one foot into the realm of morbid right now, but the best way to avoid an accident is to know what the main causes are so that you can spot them better. Things like speeding are unwise because your reaction time worsens, driving late at night increases your chances of meeting a drink-driver and hitting the highway in bad weather is going to make that surface a whole lot less grippy. But that’s not all. If you’re following a truck at twilight, then you may as well call a personal injury trial attorney now because you can almost guarantee the driver’s done a long stretch behind the wheel and feeling a little tired, while lane changes and tailgating are two of the leading causes of accidents. Basically, if you want to enjoy hitting the road, you need to spot the risks well ahead of time.

5. Become A Skilled Roadtripper, Not A Hobbyist

Let’s imagine you and your friends are driving along some forgotten stretch of west coast highway surrounded by mind-blowing vistas on all sides, when suddenly your tire blows out in the middle of nowhere. How amazing would it be if you stepped out of the car, fixed the issue without breaking a sweat, got back behind the wheel and got everyone the heck out of Dodge once more? That’s what you get from learning a few DIY maintenance skills. Oil changes, wiper blade replacing, tire repairing – nothing too tough, just the basic stuff that will get you back on the road in a jiffy and heading toward that glorious destination you picked out. That’s how to be a badass road-tripping chick, and it’s what will make you a first choice pick among all of your friends from this day forward.

Anyway, if you take anything away from this, remember this: a great road trip is a safe road trip. It really is as simple as that.

DISCLAIMER: This post is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.

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