What could be more American than a summer road trip? From the first days of car travel, families were lured by the open highways spanning the nation.
And not much has changed! People from Camp Hill to Hershey are making their plans right now for a vacation road-trip that will be second-to-none. If you’re one of these intrepid explorers who is getting everything geared up for a long excursion to see some sights by car, be sure to keep long road-trip safety hints like these in mind.
Before You Start Your Road-Trip Journey
In the weeks and days before your road trip is about to begin, be sure to:
- Get your car completely checked. We’re talking about everything from soup to nuts. The last thing you need is to have it break down on some unfamiliar roadway. Nothing dampens the excitement of a road trip quite like having to call the tow truck.
- Have all your car insurance cards. At the same time, call your car insurance provider to be certain you understand your coverage. It may make sense to increase your protection for the duration of the trip.
- Clean out your car. Depending on how you keep your car, it may be dirty and/or cluttered. A good summer cleaning is a necessity so it smells and looks fresh when you leave your driveway for the great outdoors.
While You’re on Your Road Trip
As you’re flying through all the great cities and towns of the United States (and perhaps abroad, if you’re driving into other parts of North America), keep these precautions in mind:
- Avoid the dangers of distracted driving. Many road trips are cut short due to accidents related to distracted driving. Never text and drive. Ever. It’s one of the biggest sources of distracted driving. If you aren’t sure where you are and want to program your GPS, pull off the road and wait until you’re in a safe area.
- Listen for warning signs that your car is having trouble or not working properly. It’s better to find somewhere to get it looked at as part of your road-trip than to have it give out in the middle of the night.
- Stop driving when you’re tired. Don’t try to be a hero and do everything in one day! Part of the fun of a road trip is to take things a little slower than you normally would. If every adult and child wants to take a break, do it. The road trip will be much happier.
- Don’t use the road trip as a chance for new drivers to “start out”. Driver training should ideally be done at home, unless it becomes absolutely necessary for the young driver to take the wheel. Young drivers are less attuned to the rules of the road, and may do poorly in unfamiliar surroundings.
By staying alert and making plans, you can be sure that your road trip will be super-fun AND super-safe. If you have any questions about car insurance before setting out, call Strock Insurance and we’ll be happy to help you get the information you need.