Setting off on a road trip with a group of your best friends can be one of the most fun-filled adventures of your life. You might be one of those people who starts planning your next road trip as soon as you return from your last one. Road trips are a lot of fun, but taking a few critical safety measures while setting out on your trip can make all the difference. Here are three important safety tips to keep in mind.
Don’t Drive Sleepy
It cannot be stated clearly enough that the first safety tip you should keep in mind before embarking on a fun-filled road trip is to make sure that you get a good night’s sleep before you begin. According to this sleep clinic, “60% of Americans claim to have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admitted to falling asleep at the wheel in the past year. Drowsy driving in many states is being cited in the same class as intoxicated driving. Both types of drivers exhibit similar impaired cognitive functions whether under the influence of alcohol, or driving after being awake for more than 24 hours.” Every year, there are countless automobile accidents that occur across the nation on its many highways and other roads due to drivers falling asleep at the wheel. It is always a good idea to embark on a long road trip with at least one other available driver so that the two of you can drive in shifts and no one gets too tired to be behind the wheel.
Take Care with Medications and Alcohol
It may be tempting to be a little more reckless on your road trip than you’d normally be, but the dangers present from reckless behavior like using alcohol, drugs, or even certain medications while driving are just too high. According to this DUI lawyer, “just as it is illegal to drive while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs is also a serious crime that can involve jail time, community service, and heavy fines if found guilty.” The simple fact is that driving under the influence of anything is dangerous, and avoiding this is one of the most important safety tips that one can keep in mind in regard to embarking on a successful road trip. You are a danger to yourself, your passengers, and any other vehicle on the road if you are driving under the influence. The penalties for being caught driving under the influence are simply not worth it.
Pack an Emergency Kit
It is essential to have an emergency kit with you before you set off on your trip. This emergency kit should include a high-quality car first aid kit, but it should also include items such as bottles of water, a flashlight, a phone charger for the car, and perhaps a small tool kit. This emergency preparedness writer explains, “you can never be over prepared. Some supplies that people don’t usually think to add, but will enjoy having later are: jumper cables, roadside flares, a small foldable shovel, blankets, extra gloves, socks, and a cap for cold weather, car fire extinguisher, duct tape, food and water for 2 to 3 days.” You never know when these items can come in handy and you do not want to find yourself without. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to being prepared ahead of time.
Keep these three points in mind before you start out on your next road trip with your friends. Planning ahead can make a world of difference, for example, if you want to drink, make sure you are able to get around without a car! You want to have a great time, and being careful and prepared will go a long way to ensuring that you are able to do so. This way, you and your friends will be able to have an adventure that you will remember for years to come.
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