It’s the season for road trips! From the beach to the lake to an exciting new city, there’s no limit to the places that you and your loved ones could be heading this summer, but before you start exploring and enjoying yourselves, you have to get there first.
A fun summer road trip puts some pretty high demands on your car, so you need to be sure that your vehicle is up to the task and that you prepare yourself properly to ensure the drive will be safe and go smoothly for everyone.
Keep Up on Your Regular Maintenance
One of the most important things you need to do in order to take care of your car is to take care of it all the time, not just when you’re about to be driving it a really long way! Getting your car serviced on the recommended servicing schedule is crucial to making sure everything runs properly and that no components of your vehicle get worn-out or damaged.
If your road trip is coming up within the next few weeks and you’re overdue for some maintenance, see if you can schedule an appointment to get your car in before you leave. It’ll be a comfort to know that everything is as it should be under the hood before you set off!
Give the Car a Once-Over
In the few days leading up to your summer road trip, take the opportunity to check the car over yourself and look for any issues that might need to be addressed before you go. Check your tire pressure, your tire tread levels, your oil levels, your wiper blades, and your fluid levels.
If these things are out of sorts, they could cause some serious problems for you on your trip, so you’ll need to work on getting them fixed before you set out. Refilling your tires, for example, is something that you could easily do on your own, but other problems will need to be addressed by a professional, so be sure that you plan ahead and give yourself some time to get in for an appointment before you have to leave on the trip.
Pack For Emergencies
One thing that’s invaluable to have on the road is the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re prepared for any situation, so it’s a good idea to throw a small emergency kit into your trunk to help you prepare for any car-related troubles.
This kit should include things like jumper cables, a flashlight, a rain poncho, tools to change a tire (make sure your spare is in good shape!), reflective triangles signs, road flares, or a first aid kit. Since it’s summertime and the threat of dehydration is constant, throw a few bottles of water in there as well. Now if you run into any kind of issue that leaves you stuck on the side of the road, you’ll be prepared to safely get yourself up and moving again or to wait for help to arrive!
Get Some Rest
We’ve all had that night where excitement or worry keeps you up for hours when you really should be sleeping, but if you’re going to be spending hours behind the wheel tomorrow, prioritizing rest is absolutely essential to ensuring that your trip is safe.
The CDC reports that being awake for at least 18 hours is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%, and being awake for at least 24 hours is the equivalent of having a blood alcohol content of 0.10%, higher than the legal limit (0.08% BAC) in all states. Drowsy driving is a serious hazard on the road and poses a risk to all of your passengers as well as all of your fellow drivers, so ensure that you’ve gotten a good night’s sleep before you head out. If you’re going to be driving for a significant amount of time, work out taking turns with another driver in your car so that you both get a chance to rest.
Have Good Auto Insurance
The most important thing you need to do to ensure that you have a safe and fun road trip this summer is to have good auto insurance in place just in case of an emergency! If you need auto insurance, YMI Insurance in Stroudsburg and Bethlehem, PA is ready to help you. You can contact us here for more information.
