For many families, traveling by car to reach their vacation destination can be as enjoyable as the vacation itself. There is a special type of fun available to families that spend extended time together on the open road. However, American roads are places where it is necessary to place a top priority on safety. Fortunately, there are a number of actionable steps you can use to keep you and your family safe while driving to enjoy your vacation.
Look at the Route Before You Leave
There are many tools online available to help you chart the best route possible long before you begin your drive to your family vacation. You should definitely take advantage of one or more of these tools. It is also important to look closely at the route you will be using before you and your family take to the road.
Familiarizing yourself with the route beforehand will cause you to become more comfortable with the drive and eliminate the possibility of a surprise that could threaten your family. You will also possess information that will allow you to plan ahead for meals, refueling, and rest stops.
Pay Attention to Road Signs
Road signs are placed for no other reason than to help keep drivers and their passengers safe. These signs will instruct drivers on how fast they can drive in certain areas and when and where it is safe to turn. It may be easy to convince yourself that you do not need to read every sign as you pass it on the open road. This is especially true if you are traveling on a road with which you are familiar. But keep in mind that highways and roads in America are worked on frequently. Road signs are also the only way you will know if upcoming road work is in your path.
Avoid Driving at Night
You should restrict your driving to your vacation spot to the daytime hours whenever possible. One obvious reason for this approach is because you simply cannot see as well at night as you can in the daytime hours. You will also possess less energy at night after you have already spent hours on the road and this can lead to fatigued driving.
The professionals at Bruscato Law explain that fatigued driving occurs when a driver has become so tired that they are not aware of their surroundings. This is risky behavior that can put the safety of you and your family at risk. Fatigued driving can also get you in trouble with the authorities in some states.
Tune-Up Your Car
According to General Auto Repair, making sure your car is in good running condition before you take to the road with your family will help you keep the people most important to you safe and provide you with peace of mind. You should have your tires, belts, fluids, and battery checked. You should also make sure your air conditioner is working well enough to make your ride comfortable. You may want to choose an oil with higher viscosity if you expect it to be hot when you leave for your vacation or are towing a boat, trailer, or other objects.
Pack for Safety
It is always a good idea to maintain a roadside assistance plan, however, you should also be prepared for the possibility you will need to help yourself and your family while on the road.
Some items you should pack before embarking on a long drive with your family include the following:
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Water
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Flashlight
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Jumper cables
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Spare Tire, jack, and lug wrench
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Blankets
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First-aid kit
Beware of the Sun
Each of your family members should possess a pair of sunglasses and have access to sunblock while on the road. You should also place a hat on the heads of any small children in the car. A sunshade for your backseat may also be a smart investment. Finally, when you and your family are not in the car, place blankets over safety seats so that they are not too hot when you return.
Driving your family to your vacation spot can at times seem like a second vacation. But safety must become the main objective when you and your family plan on spending an extended amount of time on the road. The six tips above will provide you and your family with a formula to stay safe while driving to your vacation spot.
Here’s another article you might like: Tips for Keeping Your Belongings Clean and Organized During a Family Vacation
