Travel Emergency Kit

Traveling by car might not be as quick fast as taking a plane, but it is still the most widespread method of getting from one place to another, even when long distances are involved. It’s not always very relaxing comfortable or enjoyable to ride in a vehicle for long period of time, no matter what your schedule is. Whether one is on a business trip or is heading for a favorite vacation spot, here are some tips to make the trip a little comfortable and easy.

Be prepared.

While everyone expects to have a safe trip, this is not always the case. One might want to have a membership with AAA and make sure that one’s car insurance covers everything that might take place on the trip, including another driver if one plans on switching off. This will not prevent problems with the vehicle, but it will certainly make things less worrying if one knows that everything is covered. Under the same category, one should make sure that one has a car emergency kit on hand, as well as a spare tyre.

Take breaks.

 It is very good to take halts in the journey. Take the time to stop and straighten your legs at least once every few hours. This will avoid cramping later on and will get the blood flowing, which will help one keep awake on those long tiresome stretches

Invest in a nicer seat.

 If one travels regularly in his car, he’ll really like a nice cushy seat. There are many alternatives available in the market, from the ordinary wooden bead seat covers to padded ones that your bones will thank you for after quite a few hours of driving. While the driver generally needs the best seat since it’s not actually possible to shift around while driving.

Bring entertainment.

 Just because you are driving doesn’t mean you can’t have fun

 Music gets unexciting after a while, so think about bringing along some audio books of an interview or seminar you’ve wanted to listen to. Some people even learn new languages while on long road trips. And if you have children kids, a DVD is a must to keep wrangling to a minimum.

Plan your stops.

 There’s nothing worse than hitting the point of fatigue only to understand realize that there are no hotels for miles. By planning beforehand and deciding where to stop for the night on each leg of your journey, one will have a much more enjoyable trip and can schedule stops at points before one gets too tired to continue driving.

Originally published here.

Wondering how to make this year’s car trip to Grandma’s a safe and happy experience?  A little extra time and planning can save you hassle, money, even your life.

Rest up.  Before you even get in your car, try to get a good night’s sleep, don’t stay up all night packing or baking those extra cookies.  Driver fatigue is a major cause of car wrecks, and filling up on coffee or energy drinks won’t take the place of being well rested.  In fact, once the caffeine wears off, you’re at risk for a bigger crash, in more ways than one!  Try not to leave right after a heavy meal, when most of us get sleepy, especially if you’ve been drinking alcoholic beverages.

Plan well.  There are many resources out there that will provide you with information on the best routes to take, the best times to avoid commuter traffic, and weather related road conditions.  Check out the Federal Highway Administration’s web site for links to information on weather and road conditions and the availability of travel web sites and 511 telephone services.  If at all possible, try to drive during daylight hours when visibility is at its best.

Check up.  Make sure your vehicle is safe.  Check the oil, tire pressure, coolant, etc. a day or two before you travel.  Don’t leave it until the last minute when you might forget something important.  Make sure you have a good spare tire, jumper cables and an emergency kit.  If you’re traveling in cold weather, a blanket or two in the trunk could be a lifesaver.

Bring activities.  If traveling with kids (or adults who act like them) bring along plenty of activities to occupy their time.  You might want to stick with quieter games and books; do you really want to listen to that Gameboy chirping at you for 8 hours?  But remember, this is a great time for family interaction, don’t just set them up with a movie and ignore them the whole trip.

Wear your seat belt.  (Do we really have to go over this?)

Take breaks!!  It’s recommended you take a break every 2 hours or 100 miles.  This is particularly essential when traveling with kids or pets.  It’s also a good time to switch off drivers to further avoid fatigue.  Stop for food instead of grabbing drive-through and eating on the go.  Eating while driving is just as big a distraction as phoning, texting, or arguing with the back seat.

Don’t text.  Let a passenger answer your cell phone or wait to return calls and texts when you are at a rest stop.  Many states have outlawed phoning and texting while driving, so it isn’t just unsafe, it’s illegal.  Drivers who use cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.

It doesn’t take much to prepare for a holiday driving trip.  If you follow these easy steps you’ll find your drive will go much smoother.  Imagine arriving at Grandma’s with a smile on your face because of a smooth, safe, fun experience instead of a frown of frustration, or worse, not arriving at all.

Originally published here.

Wondering how to make this year’s car trip to Grandma’s a safe and happy experience?  A little extra time and planning can save you hassle, money, even your life.

Rest up.  Before you even get in your car, try to get a good night’s sleep, don’t stay up all night packing or baking those extra cookies.  Driver fatigue is a major cause of car wrecks, and filling up on coffee or energy drinks won’t take the place of being well rested.  In fact, once the caffeine wears off, you’re at risk for a bigger crash, in more ways than one!  Try not to leave right after a heavy meal, when most of us get sleepy, especially if you’ve been drinking alcoholic beverages.

Plan well.  There are many resources out there that will provide you with information on the best routes to take, the best times to avoid commuter traffic, and weather related road conditions.  Check out the Federal Highway Administration’s web site for links to information on weather and road conditions and the availability of travel web sites and 511 telephone services.  If at all possible, try to drive during daylight hours when visibility is at its best.

Check up.  Make sure your vehicle is safe.  Check the oil, tire pressure, coolant, etc. a day or two before you travel.  Don’t leave it until the last minute when you might forget something important.  Make sure you have a good spare tire, jumper cables and an emergency kit.  If you’re traveling in cold weather, a blanket or two in the trunk could be a lifesaver.

Bring activities.  If traveling with kids (or adults who act like them) bring along plenty of activities to occupy their time.  You might want to stick with quieter games and books; do you really want to listen to that Gameboy chirping at you for 8 hours?  But remember, this is a great time for family interaction, don’t just set them up with a movie and ignore them the whole trip.

Wear your seat belt.  (Do we really have to go over this?)

Take breaks!!  It’s recommended you take a break every 2 hours or 100 miles.  This is particularly essential when traveling with kids or pets.  It’s also a good time to switch off drivers to further avoid fatigue.  Stop for food instead of grabbing drive-through and eating on the go.  Eating while driving is just as big a distraction as phoning, texting, or arguing with the back seat.

Don’t text.  Let a passenger answer your cell phone or wait to return calls and texts when you are at a rest stop.  Many states have outlawed phoning and texting while driving, so it isn’t just unsafe, it’s illegal.  Drivers who use cell phones are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.

It doesn’t take much to prepare for a holiday driving trip.  If you follow these easy steps you’ll find your drive will go much smoother.  Imagine arriving at Grandma’s with a smile on your face because of a smooth, safe, fun experience instead of a frown of frustration, or worse, not arriving at all.

Originally published here.