Driving Tips For A Safe Road Trip

The holiday season is in full swing, and along with it comes plenty of traveling. Family members scattered all over the nation give precedence to travel and sometimes long road trips. Driving is the most common way to travel during the holidays, and the roads are not always our friend.

It is important to practice safe driving habits every time the rubber hits the road, and some drivers are not entirely certain as to what “safe driving” entails. Check out this brief summary, highlighting a few safe driving tips for an accident free road trip.

Keep up with your eye care

The most important preparation for the travel season is to make sure that your eye care is up to date. When a person’s vision is skewed, driving automatically becomes a little more dangerous. Make sure your vision is checked regularly to maintain competency as a driver.

It is estimated that there are more than a million people on the road each year whose vision is sub par. It is the driver’s responsibility to not become a part of the problem.

Check over your vehicle before traveling

Regular vehicle maintenance is best for the longevity of your vehicle, but it is even more important if you are planning to go on a road trip this holiday season. Here is a short checklist to get you started.

Get an oil change.
Check all the vehicles fluids.
Check the brakes.
Check the tires for tread and nails.
Check your signal lights.
Check your headlights.
Make sure all your mirrors are properly positioned.

Plan your route before you leave

Even though you may have a stellar GPS platform, it is still better to plan your route prior to hitting the road. Your GPS should be a secondary form of navigation. When you are already familiar with the route you are taking, your GPS will not sneak up on you when it is time to change highways.

Suddenly swerving to switch directions or catch an exit is dangerous.

Minimize your distractions on the road

When you are driving down the road, it simply is not safe to have five devices doing five different things all at once. It is unsafe to have a movie playing in the back, music in the front, a GPS screen to mess with, and chatty passenger.

Do your best to minimize the distractions inside of your vehicle while you drive. Children do get loud sometimes, but other nefarious entertainment devices are not necessary.

Keep your distance from other drivers

Almost no one actually obeys distance laws on the interstate, but it is safer to be the minority. Accidents are often caused by other following too closely at too high of a speed. You should put one car length between you and the next vehicle for every ten miles per hour you are traveling.