Four tips to a safe and enjoyable summer road trip

Summer is coming. With it comes the plans to enjoy the wide-open country roads. However, necessary planning and preparation are key requirements to make your road trips and adventures safe and enjoyable. If you plan on spending some time driving around in the great outdoors this summer, then make sure to follow these tips to keep yourself and your travel buddies safe.

Make a road trip plan

Always know where you’re going and what you’re planning on doing. And tell someone else as well. If you know where you have to be at certain points of your trip, let someone know what to expect. It could be as simple as a check-in call to let them know you are safe. Regular check-ins save people’s lives when their transport has broken down and they didn’t get in touch with someone at a pre-designated time. Make a pan and let someone know.

Pack the right gear for your road trip

If you plan on a long road trip then you should consider packing a few essentials. First, pack a map and compass so that if you were to lose signal on your GPS or it becomes non-functioning, you can find your way to somewhere safe. Learn how to use and read them correctly before taking them with you.

Second, pack a suitable first aid kit. You don’t want to be in a bad situation when someone requires mild medical aid — and then can’t provide any. This is especially useful if you plan on going off the normal roads. This is especially true where emergency services may not be able to reach you quickly. 

Also, consider packing a power source or portable battery charger. Being in the middle of nowhere and finding your vehicle battery is flat because the lights were on overnight is not a good situation to be in.

Finally, make sure to pack extra water as well. Suffering from dehydration on a road trip a quick way to get into trouble. Increase your water amount if you plan on driving for long stretches without stops.

Educate yourself

Knowledge is your best friend if you are spending any significant time in your vehicle. Educate yourself on the mechanical knowledge of your vehicle as well as some basic first aid under your belt as well. Being able to effect a simple repair on the vehicle when help can’t reach you in a timely manner can be a literal lifesaver. You do not want to be roadside with no mobile service, trying to figure out how to change a tire. Learn before you leave.

Upgrade your vehicle

If you plan on driving through rough terrain then consider upgrading your vehicle. If, for example, you owned a Jeep then you could look into custom Jeep off-road upgrades to make sure it is ready to hit the dirt when you get it off the driveway. Try and think of the upgrades that would help your vehicle specifically on your trip. Upgrades such as a winch or raised suspension for better ground clearance should be considered for heavy offroading. Even if you aren’t offroading, certain upgrades can be useful in specific situations. Just try not to spend too much money on something you aren’t going to need.