I hope you know where you are going …
Road trips, for most people, are a lot of fun. Whether you’re going to a music festival, traveling to see a relative, or just going for the sake of it, the thrill of the open road, a loud stereo, and a few friends can be irresistible.
However, what some people fail to do is properly prepare their vehicle for the trip. This can cause it to get lost, broken, or dropped. Here are some key tips to make sure you are fully prepared for your trip.
Navigation
Before leaving home, you need to make sure you know where you are going. When you’re traveling hundreds of miles, you don’t want to suddenly find out that you’ve been going the wrong way for the past 4 hours. If you can’t get a sat nav, take a look at a map and write down some precise directions or bring the map and someone who can read it with you.
Emergencies
While you may be a good driver, there is no certainty when driving that you will be completely safe. Tell people where and when you are going, make sure you are completely sober, and get a car first aid kit. Also, if someone has a medical condition like diabetes, make sure they carry the medicine with them before they go.
Mechanics
This is a crucial thing to deal with before you leave. Assuming you have your MOT, your car should be safe from falling apart, but a few things are better to check. Check that the oil is full, that there is water in the windshield wipers, that the tires are inflated, and that the brakes are working properly. If something strange happens to your car, even any high-performance car parts you may have installed, you’d better have them checked in a garage as on the open road you can find yourself miles from anywhere when your car suddenly conks towards out of.
Entertainment
One last thing that you need to make sure that you are okay with your car before setting off on a long trip is your entertainment system. Your stereo must be working, as several hours of silence can drive you crazy. Also, if you have a DVD player and screens that you trust to keep your kids entertained, make sure they work and that you have enough DVDs for the entire trip.
