For many travelers, road trips are the most fulfilling and economical ways to experience the world. Whether the trip is a cross country drive or a local photo safari, it is always best to set up a good plan, to prepare well and to take extra precautions.
We know how disastrous it can be even to have a breakdown at the local mall, where we can call on family or our favorite mechanic to help us out. When driving for distance, the dangers of not being prepared are magnified a thousand times.
For a good set of road trip essentials, emergencies and safety should get attention first.
SAFETY AND CAR ESSENTIALS:
For a lengthy road trip, begin by making sure that your car is in good condition. This is not a time to ignore that little squeal when you hit the brakes. If you haven’t seen your mechanic for a while, a “road safety check” will be worth the cost. You might want to buy extra belts in case one breaks. These can be hard to get and can delay your return to the road. The mechanic can also give advice about other “band aid” items that might be useful.
Letting folks know your itinerary, calling at regular times to let them know that you’re fine, and giving your latest position on the map can be a life saver if trouble happens on the road. This means keeping the cell phone charged and checking for large blackout areas before you leave.
Having a road service plan with nationwide coverage is essential and will ensure that a reliable and trustworthy firm is in charge of your towing and other needs.
A little practice with the road flares, locating the tire jack and doughnut tire and testing the fire extinguisher will insure that these things can be accessed and that they’re in good condition. For snowy areas, it’s best to buy chains and have them in your car. You should also have a list of places that will install the chains for you. Otherwise: practice, practice, practice!
A “stranded kit” should include a flashlight, a fire extinguisher, a battery operated radio, a first aid kit, some extra large, individually sealed sanitary napkins and tape, a couple of gallons of drinking water, a couple of gallons of tap water, blankets, batteries and nonperishable food for three days. (The sanitary napkins are an old trick for having sterile bandages at the ready.)
For about 60 dollars, you can get a car battery jump starter that will let you get to a safe place or to a battery supplier.
If the “check engine” light comes on, a code reader, which ranges from $80 to $180, can save you the $90 dollars it costs to have a mechanic read the “check engine” code. There are also smartphone applications and attachments that will read “check engine” codes.
TRAFFIC LAWS
If you are crossing state or national boundaries, have a readily accessible summary of the major traffic and road rules for situations like “left turning at a red light”. Also pay attention to the drinking and driving limits for each jurisdiction.
THE GOOD STUFF
Tupperware containers with dry, easily manageable finger foods will help to keep the cravings in check while preventing you from getting distracted while driving.
Spill-proof drinking and coffee cups are a must. Transferring that soda from the burger shack into a more sturdy vessel will save you a lot of detailed grief later. If neglected, those paper and Styrofoam cups will leak.
A CD organizer, a well thought out driving CD mix, and setting the radio presets at every stop will allow quick access to news and music. It’s a distraction and hazard to fight with complicated stereo systems and CD boxes.
If the trip will involve driving an unfamiliar, new or rental car, take time to learn all of the systems! Driving while fiddling with complicated stereo, navigation, air conditioning and other setups is not the thing to do.
Bottled water and a collection of window cleaning wipes, hand wipes, anti bacterial wipes, and flushable personal hygiene towels will help with the inevitable road grime as well as the infamous “public restroom” trauma. Check around for water purifying bottles like the Brita bottle in case tap water is the only water available.
MAPS
Even if you have a fancy GPS system, a printed map book is a must. You can use Google Maps to create your own customized map book. Google maps are incredibly adjustable and they can be printed out in a variety of forms, from the street-by-street level, to a single page that can cover a day’s worth of interstate freeway driving. Google maps can also be saved and viewed on the smartphone or shared with others. It’s worth it to print out the maps and directions and to make notes on your specialized pages.
It is even more helpful to do the advance work of marking important times and distances, overnight destinations, the towns and cities that are between planned stops and the best stops for a safe break or some sightseeing.
SMARTPHONES AND APPS
A long road trip or a trip into uncharted territory will call for an extra smartphone battery or two, along with the proper car and room charging equipment.
Check the smart phone applications markets for travel goodies that will provide safety, route, weather, hotel reservation, emergency call and other services as needed. These applications are an ever changing feast, so go for at least four rating stars, check the user reviews, and try the applications out before having to depend on them. Car finder, phone finder and other good phone security applications are also essential for getting around and protecting the phone in strange places.
SUMMARY
Good planning, good preparation and good safety senses will either help to prevent a road trip disaster from happening, or they will provide a plan in case trouble finds a way.