Summer Road Trip Tips

Summer Road Trip Tips

Posted on June 9, 2021

5  Summer Road Trip Safety Tips for Your Family

After being cooped up in the house all winter long, you and your family are probably excited to get out and go on a summer road trip. While these trips can be a fun way to spend time with your family or friends, there is a  chance that your trip may not be the fun-filled getaway you had imagined. That is why it is always a good idea to prepare for various scenarios and take certain precautions to ensure that your trip goes on without a hitch. To help ensure you have a happy vacation, here is a list of the top five safety tips for your summer road trip.

1. Get a Check-Up on Your Vehicle

Just because you are ready for a road trip, that does not mean that your car is ready to travel a long distance. Before you get ready to take your car on a road trip, you need to have it checked out by a trusted mechanic or service department. The technician should check things like fluid levels, the battery, and tires. If you plan on taking your car on a trip across the country, you may want to ask the technician if your car would benefit from an oil change first.

2. Pack All of Your Gear

In addition to the camping equipment, or any other gear and luggage that you may need for your trip, you should also pack a few items that can help you in case you get stranded on the roadside. Even if your car has just had a tune-up, there is always a chance that an unforeseeable event can happen which could cause your car to not travel as well. In case this happens, you should pack an emergency roadside safety kit. Some of the items that you should pack could include: 

• Water 
• Non-Perishable Snacks 
• Flashlight 
• Change of Clothes 
• Extra Pair of Shoes 
• Road Flares 
• First Aid Kit 
• Blanket 
• Road Map

3. Don't Pack Too Much

While it is important to pack everything you need, you will want to make sure that you are not packing too many items. If you look at your vehicle's owner manual, it should list the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This will tell you how much total weight that your vehicle can safely carry. Be sure to factor in the passenger weight when trying to figure out how much cargo your car can safely carry. If you overload your vehicle, it can be hard on the tires and also cause poor fuel economy ratings.

4. Be Prepared to Drive

Driving on a roadway, especially if it is a high-traffic time, takes a  lot of concentration. If you are going to be driving for long distances, you need to make sure that you are fully prepared. This means that you should make sure that you are well-rested before the trip. If you are going on a trip that will take several hours, be sure to plan to stop and rest, eat, and stretch your legs during the trip. This will help ensure that you do not become too fatigued during the trip and that you are not distracted.

5. Get a Safe Seat Position

Before you begin your journey, you need to make sure that your driver's seat is in a perfect position. To help eliminate stiffness and sore legs on long trips, you should position your seat that allows your hips to sit slightly above your knees.

To help keep you safer in case of an accident, you will also want to position your seat a good distance away from the steering wheel. Your seat should be close enough to the steering wheel that you can grip the wheel while still keeping your elbows slightly bent.