A Car Accident Attorney Offers 10 Tips for Safer Long Distance Car Travel
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on February 28, 2022
While car-based vacation travel has always been a popular American past time, the Covid-19 pandemic has served to magnify this trend. Fewer people are choosing air travel for destinations they can drive to, even if it means a more extended road trip. Many people are concerned about the safety of air travel and Covid-19, opting instead to just get in the car and drive. Researchers at Arizona State University and the University of Illinois Chicago are conducting research to better understand the impact Covid-19 has had on air travel, car travel, telecommuting and many other factors.
As car accident attorneys, we know the very real risk being in a car presents. Even with all the planning in the world, accidents are commonplace. In fact car accidents are something most people will experience at some point in their lives, ranging from minor fender benders to much more serious situations.
For those planning on longer road trips, there are some helpful things you can do in advance to make the experience more comfortable and safer, too. Follow along for some helpful tips for driving longer distances.
10 Driving Tips For Safer Road Trip Travel
1. Get your car ready.
For longer road trips, you want to make sure you are traveling in a vehicle that is ready for the road. Having a qualified mechanic check your tires and brakes, change your oil, and provide a general inspection, can save you from many headaches on the road. It is much easier to go to a repair shop you know and trust, than to try to find one when you are traveling in an unknown region and are having car problems.
2. Have the right current and updated IDs and documents.
Make sure your driver’s license, insurance information, vehicle registration, and any other important documentation is current, and easily accessible. Nothing is more stressful than realizing your license has expired when you are far away from home.
3. Make a travel plan in advance.
Even though cell phones make navigating road trips so much easier, it is always smart to have a plan if you are heading out on a longer road trip. Timing your travel strategically through major cities, for example, can help save you hours of time. Similarly watching weather forecasts and planning accordingly can also make your travel plans much more enjoyable.
4. Bring enough money.
If you are traveling on a budget, or splitting road travel expenses with friends, you may want to calculate the cost of gasoline in advance, especially given recent upward trends in pricing. There are several online tools you can use to make this easy including AAA Gas Cost Calculator. https://gasprices.aaa.com/aaa-gas-cost-calculator/
5. Plan for the unexpected.
Having some type of emergency kit in your vehicle is never a bad idea, especially when you are heading out on a longer road trip. While you may never need to get into your supplies, if you do, you will be glad to have them. The types of things you may want to pack include basic first aid supplies, a flashlight, and roadside safety supplies like jumper cables and some type of safety reflector.
6. Get enough rest before you head out.
While this may seem obvious, many people start out a road trip in an effort to get as many miles clocked as possible in a day. This can involve waking up at an unusually early hour, or heading out after work to beat mid day traffic. It is always smart to make sure you get plenty of quality rest before you get behind the wheel of your car for an extended period of time.
7. Take a tip from a trucker and pack some cold drinks on ice.
If you are traveling a long distance by car, chances are you are going to get tired. One thing some long distance truck drivers recommend is drinking ice cold bottles of water. The cold beverage tends to keep you more alert, just like cooler air in your vehicle.
8. Don’t underestimate the value of stretch breaks and make sure to get the rest you need to drive safely to your destination.
While it may be tempting to pull the all-night driving marathon to your destination, it is generally not a good idea. Taking regular breaks to stretch and increase your circulation will be good for your body and mind, and stopping for adequate rest, especially on longer road trips, is an essential key to road trip safety.
9. Bring some food to snack on.
This tip might be especially important if you are traveling with children or teens. Rather than having to stop frequently it is always easier to have pack some tasty treats for the ride. Not only is food a good distraction when the drive gets boring, but it can also save you a lot of time and money.
10. Be realistic in the distance you plan to cover in a day.
While everyone has different tolerances for driving long distances in a car, 8 hours is generally a good stopping point, if not sooner, for many people. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 100,000 crashes every year are caused in some way by the fatigue of a driver, and this results in billions in property damage, thousands of injuries and even deaths.
If you or someone you love is ever the victim of a car accident, get the legal help you deserve. If you are injured in the state of Kentucky, the experienced team at Cooper & Friedman PLLC is here for you. Our attorneys have decades of combined legal experience recovering millions of dollars to benefit seriously injured accident victims. Additionally, every lawyer at Cooper & Friedman has achieved Super Lawyer & Rising Star Status (which less than 5% of attorneys in Kentucky qualify for). Get additional information or schedule your free case consultation by calling our office at 502-459-7555.