A road trip can be a fun and exciting way to have an adventure with friends or family. However, if you are not a road trip expert, then some simple tasks may go amiss. While a road trip might seem simple, there is a lot more to it. Many people think that you just need to pack your stuff in your car, fill up with petrol, and off you go. But there are a few things that are necessary before you head off to ensure your safety. When you start your trip knowing everything is prepared and safe, you can reduce risks and issues, and rest knowing that you will get to have the fun and exciting trip you planned for.
To help you on your journey, here are some important road trip mistakes to avoid for a fun and safe adventure.
Not performing a vehicle safety check
This would arguably be the first and most important step of your road trip and should be done in several stages. You should conduct a check a few weeks before your road trip, with a bigger safety check or even booking your vehicle in for a service. This will provide you with an opportunity to see if there is anything wrong with your car that might pose a safety risk. It also gives you enough time to get anything fixed and retested before your trip. This is vital, especially if you have a long trip planned. The last thing you want to do is leave for your trip and find that the battery in your vehicle is dead. For issues like this, you will need to organise a car battery replacement prior to your trip.
On the day of your road trip, you should go through all of your safety checks again. Check the tyre pressure and tread, all fluid levels, lights and brakes.
Not checking the weather forecast
It is not easy to plan a road trip in advance, as you are not going to know the weather until the date of your trip. However, it is important that you plan for all weather conditions and consider the time of year that you are traveling. In the weeks and days leading up to your trip, you should begin to check the weather forecast regularly. This will give you enough time to make any additional safety preparations you need and ultimately decide whether it is safe enough to continue with your planned trip.
Not packing an emergency kit
If you don’t pack an emergency kit for your road trip, you are making a huge mistake. While you might have already packed your essential belongings, an emergency kit will look slightly different and serve a different purpose. You should create a kit tailored to your needs and your type of trip. It is common for an emergency kit to include:
Jump cables or a portable battery starter
Spare tyre and car jack
Puncture repair kit
Tyre inflator
Fuel can
Basic car tool kit
Duct tape and zip ties
Tyre pressure gauge
Torch
Energy bars
Water
Emergency numbers to call
Paper map and compass
Warning triangle and high-visibility vest
These items will help you in the unfortunate event that something happens.
A road trip can be a great adventure, but only if you are prepared.