Road trips can be exceptionally enriching and fulfilling, which is why so many vacationers opt for the scenic route as opposed to faster methods of reaching their destination. With that said, road accidents are pretty common, and there’s no doubt you want to avoid a car accident while on route to your well-deserved vacation.
You can find expert legal assistance after a car accident to manage all the legalities of your accident for you, such as managing your compensation claims and ensuring that you are fairly treated. And these practical, safe driving tips to avoid an accident and arrive safely from your enriching road trip.
Check Your Car Before You Leave
Before you start your road trip journey, you should check your car at the nearest gas station; checking the oil, water, tire pressure, and lights can ultimately save your life. What’s more, if your vehicle is due for service anytime soon, you should instead take your car for a maintenance check at the dealer to ensure the brakes and all those other mechanical components are working correctly.
Pack An Emergency Kit
An emergency kit may take up some of your packing space, although it is essential for long-distance trips. Your kit should contain extra fuel, water, jumper cables, a small fire extinguisher, a safety cone or triangle, and a travel-sized first-aid kit. While emergency kits won’t exactly prevent accidents, they will spare you the frustration of finding yourself stranded on the roadside.
Stop For A Break Every Two Hours
It would be best if you stopped at a gas station or resting spot at least every two hours. During your break, you should stretch your legs and freshen up. Even if you aren’t fatigued, you should still stop every couple of hours to ensure you can remain vigilant while driving. Driving fatigue is a common cause of road accidents, so it’s best to stop and rest for roughly fifteen minutes before getting back on the road.
Plan Your Journey
It may seem exciting to simply drive off with no real idea of which road is the right road, although this is more dangerous than freeing. Knowing the roads before you leave is essential, especially when traveling the scenic route, as there may be specific roads that are not well lit or have other obstacles such as sharp turns that you may not be able to predict. Knowing the route can help you avoid an accident. You will also be able to plan your stops at suitable locations if you know the route beforehand.
Check the Weather Conditions
Lousy weather conditions make the roads substantially less safe, as wet roads, hailstorms, and other weather impacts will hinder your ability to be a vigilant driver. If you encounter unpredictable lousy weather while driving, it is best to pull over at a safe, covered place to wait for the storm to pass. Although, you can potentially avoid storms altogether by checking the weather predictions each time you stop for a break along the way to your vacation destination.
