Planning Safe & Successful Summer Road-Trips
The kids are out of school, the days are warmer and longer, and it just feels right to take a little summer trip. It’s time to head to the mountains, the grandparents, or the beach. One of the great things about Middle Tennessee is that we don’t need to fly to do this. It is easier and usually quicker, and certainly more convenient, to pack up the SUV and hit the road. However, there are certainly safety precautions that need to be considered when doing so.
Safely Planning Your Family Road Trip
With all the packing and planning, it is easy to feel rushed and overwhelmed trying to get the family squared away and get to your destination. Despite the best intentions, even the most diligent of us can find ourselves rushed, and thus distracted. That is a formula for danger.
Don’t forget, this time of year is one of the busiest in regards to the highways.
“[T]here are several days in the summer that see a higher volume of traffic than Thanksgiving.”Victoria Day, a spokeswoman for the Air Transport Association
The days are a little longer and people are on vacation so it is safe to assume that the amount of people traveling interstate is higher than the rest of the year Therefore, during this time of year when we are planning our summer get-a-ways we need to take a minute just to slow down and make sure we are planning our travels in the safest and most effective way.
Some Quick & Easy Travel Tips
Let’s take a moment to make note of a few safety tips that will provide you and your family with an all around safe summer road trip to your destination and back home.
- Make a to-do list at least a week ahead of time of all the things you have to get done before you leave town and check them off as you go.
- This will prevent you from being distracted once you hit the road and you won’t have that “Did I forget to do something?” feeling.
- Make sure your vehicle has been serviced and is ready to travel. (oil changed, tires rotated, etc…)
- Nothing is worse than breaking down on the road in the middle of nowhere or ending up with a flat tire with your family in the car, or even worse, having a blow out at 75 miles per hour.
- Making sure your car is in good working order will help ensure that you arrive to and from your destination.
Deal with all of your responsibilities before you get in the car, remember it’s not safe to text and drive!
- Make sure everything is in order at work before you leave town so you aren’t preoccupied while traveling.
- Again, being distracted while driving because of things not taken care of at home will steal your attention away from the road.
- Make sure you, your spouse, and kids have everything packed that you need so you aren’t worried you forgot something after you leave. (Checklist will come in handy here)
These are just a few tips that could help make your travel planning and arrangements a little easier. Most importantly, remember to enjoy yourself and the time you have away to relax with your family