Roadtrip Safety

I know, we’ve had a million different blogs focused on road safety, travel, and rental vehicles but I’m currently preparing to do face all three at once so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to post about some of my roadtrip prep. 

Even if you don’t have an exact itinerary (which I don’t), you can still be prepared.

• ·        Research the areas you expect to (or hope to) pass through. Get an idea of mileage and driving time between populated areas, aka places you can possibly grab food, fill up your gas tank, and/or crash for the night.  If you’ve got a little extra Type A to your personality, you can even make a list of possible attractions that might be worth seeing.
• ·        Don’t rely solely on GPS.  Glitches happen and reception can be blocked.  Always have an up-to-date map just in case – you can usually grab them at airports, train depots, or even convenience stores along the way.  Before each roadtrip, I usually buy an atlas that covers all U.S. states.
• ·        Check for any current road closures or other natural disasters.  For instance, if there is an on-going forest fire in one area that you had planned to travel to, knowing ahead of time to avoid driving in that direction will save you time and keep you from putting yourself at risk of getting caught in it.  Regularly check conditions throughout your trip for updated status reports.
• ·        Check the weather forecast before packing for your trip.  If you’re unsure, pack layers. 
• ·        Make sure to get a feel for your rental vehicle before you get too far from your starting location.  If there is something wrong, you’ll want to exchange it immediately for a different vehicle.  Similarly, it might be worthwhile to know where another rental location is located within a couple of hours of your pick-up location in case you notice something after driving for a bit.
• ·        We don’t always know how big the gas tank is or what the mpg rating is in a rental vehicle so always err on the side of caution and fill up when you can.  Never let it get below a quarter tank, a half tank if you are entering a deserted area or experiencing harsh winter conditions.
• ·        Invest in AAA or other roadside assistance memberships.  You never know when you will need help on the road.  Plus, you can often get discounts for hotels, car rentals, etc. so your trip costs less.
• ·        Let someone know your travel plans.  Even if all you have are your start and end dates/locations, tell someone.  And make sure to check in with them as soon as you return home so they know you are safe.  I discovered an awesome app/site called PolarSteps that can track your trip using GPS location and/or manual input.  It has a shareable link so others can follow along with you and view any photos you upload along the way.  If the unimaginable happens, it would also assist them in pin-pointing your last known location.
• ·        Avoid the wildlife.  You see so many different videos online these days of people way too close to predatory animals.  The general rule of thumb is to remain at least 50 yards (when possible) from wildlife, especially those that are feeding or have babies with them.  National parks/forests may have additional regulations posted at the entrance so make sure to read them thoroughly.
•       Make sure to re-fill any prescriptions ahead of time.  Always have at least a couple days worth of extra medications in case your return home gets delayed.
• ·        Not so much a safety tip but definitely something to ease your mind: clean or at least de-clutter your house before leaving for your trip so that there is nothing waiting for you to do when you get home.  The last thing you want is to return from a relaxing vacation only to walk into your house with it looking like a bomb went off.