There’s something unique about heading out in the open. All you need is your vehicle, a killer playlist, and good company. You can pull off anytime, anywhere, to gaze at nature’s scenic beauty or enjoy evening snacks while witnessing the most splendid sunset of your life.
While everything is amazing about road trips, even the go-with-the-flow road trippers know that road trips can be the most tiresome experience without proper planning. You need to take care of certain things to avoid a blunder.
In this article, we will be discussing top rookie road mistakes that you should avoid when going out exploring the world wide open. Read on:
#1 Not Checking Your Vehicle for a Full Tune-up
The most common mistake travelers make on a road trip is not checking their vehicle. On a long road trip, your car/bicycle can be your best buddy or your worst enemy. Hence, it’s of utmost importance to get your vehicle checked for oil and tire pressure, battery, brakes, engine, and other things.
If not maintained properly, this could put you in trouble. For instance, if you are traveling by bicycle and get into an accident due to loose brakes ( or due to someone else’s negligence, for that matter), the trip can turn into a hectic experience. Instead of panicking, you should immediately contact a bicycle accident lawyer and apply for a personal injury claim if you sustained severe injuries. The lawyer will analyze your case and see whether you’re eligible for a claim and how to get it.
#2 Ignoring the Road Ahead
Oftentimes, some routes are blocked due to construction or severe weather conditions. Getting prior information about such alerts will allow you to figure out other routes for taking over your journey. After all, road trips are all about enjoying the surroundings and not sitting in traffic for hours!
To make things easier, you can consult the Department of Transportation website for each state which keeps you on alert about current traffic conditions.
#3 Not Pulling Over to Relax and Enjoy the Journey
If you don’t stop in between your road trip to enjoy the weather or treasure the cultural diversity, you can’t call yourself a true road tripper! What’s the point of exploring if you don’t enjoy the journey?
Next time you go on a trip with your buddies or even a solo trip, make sure to budget your time to plan frequent stays during the journey. This would allow you to relax and get the energy boost to carry on driving.
#4 Forgetting Road Trip Essentials
If you’re traveling to an urban destination, you can expect frequent stops where you can easily get food, drinks, and other essentials. However, if you’re headed out to a rural area, it is wise to pack all the traveling essentials.
And if you’re on a long trip, you don’t want any last-minute trouble or run out of food and water. You can carry a single big backpack to put all your items as it has enough space and is easy to handle.
#5 Planning Too Much Driving
Although it’s practically possible to drive for eight hours and hundreds of miles a day, it’s not a realistic expectation when you’re on a multi-day road trip. It can be super exhausting and irritable for the person who’s riding or driving.
If you plan too much driving with the thought of using that time to enjoy the remaining trip, you’re wrong, buddy! That will drain your energy way too much, making you feel tired and frustrated. This also affects the safety factor as continuous driving could dull your senses and weaken your concentration which could result in an accident.
#6 Not Carrying an Emergency Kit
Regardless of your mode of transportation, it’s a no-brainer that you must have an emergency kit with you all the time. Especially if you’re out with your family. Yet, many of the trippers don’t understand this factor and regret it later.
An emergency kit could include a flashlight with extra batteries, jumper cables, a tire pressure gauge, a car battery charger, energy bars, and other important items. Other than that, you must have a medical kit h with some first-aid essentials, such as bandages, painkillers, antiseptic creams, antibacterial creams, scissors, etc.
Ending Thoughts
The most amazing way to treat yourself is to go on frequent road trips and explore the world as much as you can. Just make sure that nothing distracts you from your destination or disrupts your fun.
Consider the above-mentioned tips to avoid the road trip rookie phase and proudly call yourself a road tripping pro. And hey, do not forget to capture loads of memories and treasure them forever.
