Helpful Tips for a Long Road Trip
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on April 4, 2017
A road trip is often an appealing form of long distance transportation. For one, it allows for freedom and independence in your travel choices. You can decide the route to take, when to leave, how frequently you want to make pit stops, and more. While there are many advantages to taking control of your travel plans, there are also a certain amount of risks. As car accident attorneys throughout Kentucky in Southern, Indiana, we’re aware of what can go wrong during a road trip. Regardless of where you are driving, you are exposing yourself to the possibility of an accident. Below we have outlined a few helpful tips in our long road trip checklist to help you plan ahead.
Stay Safe On Your Travels with 10 Long Road Trip Checklist Tips
- Have your driver’s license, insurance, and registration information in an easy to reach spot. It may seem like a no brainer to have proper identification when driving anytime, but it is especially important when taking a road trip.
- Schedule a checkup for your vehicle. You will want to ensure that every aspect of your vehicle is up to date and in working order before you head out on the road. Make sure you’ve accounted for an oil change, tire rotations, brake pads, and headlights.
- Check your car battery. It is essential that the battery in your vehicle is fully functional before embarking on a trip. Just in case, make sure you also have jumper cables on hand.
- Be prepared. Even if you’ve followed every step to ensure a safe trip, accidents happen and you should be ready. Stock a first aid kit in your car and any other emergency necessities. A flashlight, blankets, basic tools, water, spare tire, can all be helpful when faced with an emergency.
- Keep your phone charged. Having a working cell phone while traveling will help you not only with navigation, and locating pit stops, but it can be an essential tool in any kind of emergency. If you get lost, or get into an accident on the road, you will need to be able to call the police and your insurance company.
- Pack a map. If your phone dies, or is otherwise unusable, you should have back up method for navigation. While cell phones are beneficial for traveling, you shouldn’t be too reliant on them. You may not always have access to service or your battery may die.
- Communicate with friends and family. Before departing, you should alert friends and family of your road trip plans. They should have a detailed idea of where you are heading, and when you plan to arrive there. You should keep them informed throughout the trip as plans change. If there is an accident, and your family doesn’t hear from you, then they will know that something has happened and will reach out.
- Take frequent stops. It is important that you never let your gas tank drop too low. On a road trip you never know exactly how far away the next gas station will be. Stop frequently to fill up on gas, check oil, and also check the air pressure in your tires. These stops will add a little extra time to the trip, but in the long run you will be grateful that you took the time to maintain the safety of your vehicle.
- If you need to pull over at any point, move your car entirely off the road. Avoid stopping in the shoulder or breakdown lane unless there is an actual emergency.
- Drive carefully. Ultimately you cannot determine whether or not an accident will happen. That is the risk that everyone takes whenever they get into a vehicle. However, if you are careful, alert, and well-prepared, then you are much more likely to have a safe trip.
Cooper & Friedman attorneys are experienced in dealing with all kinds of motor vehicle accidents. If you, or someone you know has recently been in an accident, the attorneys at Cooper & Friedman are on your side. Your deserve compensation for your pain, medical bills and any lost wages. Call (502) 459-7555 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.