Now that the summer is well and truly upon us, it’s highly likely that you might be planning a road trip with family and friends. Road trips are the ultimate summer fun activity for exploring, laughter and bonding sessions with your loved ones. Before you take to the road, you’ll want to have a look at these top tips about how to stay healthy and safe along the way.
Take enough breaks
When you are driving for long periods, it’s easy for fatigue to set in. Sometimes it’s tempting to keep on driving to get to your destination quicker, but you should never do so if you are too tired. It only takes a split second to lose your concentration and cause an accident. Make sure that you’ve had plenty of sleep before you drive and that you take enough breaks to rest and revitalise. It’s far better if two or more of your party can take it in turns to drive as opposed to just one driver.
Take a first aid kit
Particularly when you are driving through rural terrain, it’s essential to have your health and safety essentials with you should you need them. Never embark on a road trip without having your first aid kit, suncream, plenty of water and enough food. You can invest in a small car refrigerator to make it easier to keep things cool. In the summer it’s so important that we stay hydrated and cool so not to get sick. Investing in air-con, if you don’t have it, is always an excellent pre-road trip idea!
Check your car
Before you begin your road trip, you should take your car to a mechanic for a service. You won’t want to break down or be driving around with any car faults which could contribute to an accident. Once you know that your car is in tip-top condition, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your trip. Ensure that you have all the emergency contact details that you need with you. Take contact details for car breakdown services and also contact details of loved ones should there be an emergency.
Plan your journey
Make sure that you have thoroughly planned your journey before you go. You will want to know the route, stop-overs, weather conditions and traffic. If you don’t plan properly, you may become distracted while driving because you are lost or confused. Distracted driving causes so many accidents each year, so you must be mindful of your driving at all times. Keep your phone out of reach and use a car heads up display to keep your eyes on the road. Sometimes, though we are cautious, accidents can still occur. If you end up in a crash due to the negligence of another, you can look to ‘Recovery Law Center’ Your Rights After an Accident. This kind of info should help you to plan your next move.
Lastly, don’t forget to plan an awesome car playlist to get the endorphins pumping and keep your mind healthy too!