Tips to help you survive a long car journey
Whether you’re alone, with friends or with family, long car trips can both be exhilarating and a logistical nightmare. As the pilot of your ship, you also have to look after your flock a well as make sure that you arrive at the destination in one piece. In this article, we’re going to give you a few essential tips to make sure you survive your next long car journey.
Make that you Limit your Driving Time
If you’re travelling alone, then you will be the only one driving. This means that you have to monitor your driving time and don’t go overboard. Overworking yourself is a recipe for disaster and exhaustion is one of the most common reasons accidents happen every year.
If you can, you should limit your driving time to 10 to 12 hrs in the winter. You can stretch that time a little longer in the summer but drive for no more than 14 hrs at a stretch. The reason for this is simple; you’ll enjoy more daytime hours in the summer since days are much shorter in the winter. I would advise against driving at night as much as possible since it augments the chances of you falling asleep.
Make your Tracklist Before You Leave
This is also another important tip for those travelling alone. Make sure that you assemble your music playlist before you leave. Not only will music make your trip more enjoyable and boost your morale, constantly playing with the radio while you drive is not safe. You’d be surprised to know how many accidents occur because someone was doodling with the radio and wasn’t paying attention to the road.
Try to Pick Service Stations over Rest Areas
If you’re going to make stops along the road, you should go for service stations as much as you can. For one, service stations have more amenities, such as bathrooms, medicine, food and drink, and auto supplies in some cases. These can be crucial, especially if you’re dealing with an emergency. Rest areas often have nothing but restrooms. Furthermore, service stations tend to be more frequented while rest areas have a tendency to be very isolated. If you’re travelling alone, that wouldn’t be the safest option.
Have Plenty of Entertainment
If you’re travelling with your kids, then you know why it’s essential to keep them occupied during your trip. Tablets can be a great distraction, but you also have to have a plan B in place in case something happens. You could opt for some pencils and colouring books. These are always a winner and can be a literal lifesaver in a pinch. Colouring books also require a bit of concentration. The more the little ones are working on their masterpiece, the more quiet time you get to enjoy.
You should also think of a few travel games you could play with the whole family. These can make a trip much livelier and they are a great way to bond without having everyone just doing their own thing.
Make Sure that the Vehicle is Up to Par
You should be sure that your car is not only in working condition but in a good enough condition to sustain a long trip. Neglecting to do a check-up before you leave could leave you open to potentially disastrous consequences. One of the most important components to check is your battery, especially in the winter. If you have any doubts about the state of your battery, you can always opt for a high-performance battery like THE Yuasa batteries from Hardwarexpress.
Two other components that you should check are your radiator and your brakes. An overheating radiator could put a wrench in your plans and will require immediate reparation if something happens. Overheating radiators occur often when traveling with old vehicles over long distances. Breaks also have to be in tip-top shape before you leave. You should also make sure that all your tail lights are working. If some of your lights are out of service, you may get stopped on the road. New bulbs are pretty cheap, so there is really no reason for you not to replace them before you leave.
Conclusion
There’s a lot of preparation that goes into embarking on a long car journey. Safety is absolutely paramount. This is why you should limit the amount of time you ride to prevent chances of fatigue. You should also make sure that you limit distractions by having your tracklist prepared before you leave. Make sure to skip rest areas for service stations and make sure you have plenty of distractions for the kids. And, last but not least, make sure you go through a summary check-up before you leave if you don’t have the chance to have your car thoroughly inspected before you leave.
