Road trips are a lot of fun. There’s nothing quite like getting into your car or truck, and just driving for hours on end towards some destination. Maybe you have a spot in mind already, or you’re just going to see where the road takes you. Either way, you’re bound for some adventure as you take to the open roads.
But while road trips are fun, they can also be dangerous. If you don’t take the right precautions, your fun trip could quickly devolve into a nightmare that you just want to end. To keep this from happening, here are 5 ways that you can keep yourself safe during your road trip.
Use a Buddy System
One of the best things you can do is bring someone along with you on your trip. Sure, you might crave the solitude that comes with going out on your own, but having someone to travel with has some great advantages. For starters, you can take turns driving, so that you can relax your eyes every once in a while. But on top of that, having someone with you helps to keep you safe.
Having someone with you means having someone who can help you out if things go wrong with your car, and will help to protect you if you find yourself in a bad area at night. If you can’t physically bring someone with you though, you should at least make it a habit to check in with someone frequently. Let a friend or family member know where you are at all times, so that if something happens, it won’t be long before someone notices you’re missing.
Have the Right Insurance
Next, you’ll want to make sure you have all the right insurance. For instance, it’s not a great idea to take to the open roads if you don’t have health insurance, as you never know when you could end up in an accident. On top of that, you’ll want comprehensive car insurance, preferably with some form of road side assistance. You can also look at getting additional coverage for your vehicle to protect you even further. For example, if you’re driving an RV, you could look at something like the Good Sam RV Extended Warranties. When it comes to insurance before a road trip, it’s better to have too much than not enough.
Protecting Yourself
Once you’re done protecting your car, now is a good time to think about how you can protect yourself. As you’re on the road, you’ll likely find yourself in unfamiliar areas at night, which can be dangerous. During times like this, it’s good to have some form of protection. This doesn’t mean you need to carry a gun around – a whistle or pepper spray are a good start.
Another thing you can do before you go is take some self-defense classes. These skills are good to know no matter where you are, but they can be especially useful on the road. If you’re out traveling alone, you’ll want to feel secure knowing you can protect yourself should someone come along with bad intentions.
Know the Area Before You Go
Part of the fun of a road trip is discovering new places. However, it’s a good idea to be somewhat familiar with a place before you actually get there. By doing some scouting ahead of time, you can learn things like where you can park and which parts of town to avoid at night. If you don’t scout ahead, you could easily find yourself lost or walking several miles through a bad part of a city. Doing some simple research online before you get to your next stop is easy and will help to keep you safe.
Avoid Bad Weather if You Can
When you’re on a road trip, you don’t have any control over what the weather will do around you. One minute everything could be fine, and the next you’re in the middle of a huge storm. However, if you can scout out the weather ahead of time, this will help to keep you safe. Driving in bad weather is dangerous, especially when you don’t know the area or the roads. If you see there’s a bad storm on the way, maybe stay at your hotel an extra night, then get back on the road the following day. When you really can’t avoid bad weather, make sure your car is at least stocked up on emergency supplies.
Make Safety a Priority
Road trips are a time of fun and adventure, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry about keeping yourself safe. The precautions mentioned above are simple, but they can make a large difference. Take some time to plan out how you can keep yourself safe on your trip, and when you finally hit the open road, you’ll be able to enjoy the experience a lot more.
