Jul 02 2019 July 2, 2019 July 2, 2019 1Comment by Scott Marshall

4 essentials of a safe road trip

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**A guest post as written for The Safe Driver.

 

Everyone has a bucket list of the things they wish to accomplish in their lifetime, and one of the most common items on this list will always be vacations and road trips. Everyone needs to take time to relax from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, so the next time you get an opportunity, take a road trip. Plan, get the equipment and find your perfect destination. With this in mind, here are four essentials for an ideal road trip:

  1. Plan

This is the most important phase of any road trip. Find out as much information as possible about your choice of destination. It is also prudent to consider several destinations to find the one that’s right for you. Make sure you cover each facet of your travel plan. Check out hotels and accommodation, social amenities available, infrastructure, road-routes, and the local area’s standard of living. If your destination is abroad, consider details such as the local currency and border crossing requirements. It might also be a good idea to get familiarised with local driving laws. For instance, did you know it is illegal to drink anything, including non-alcoholic drinks, while driving in Cyprus?

  1. Insurance

Prevention is always better than cure. According to the latest injury statistics, up to two-thirds of holidaymakers worry about getting sick or injuries during vacation. Be ready to go the extra mile for any eventuality.

Accidents do occur during road trips. For this reason, it is crucial to have insurance to cover for any unseen eventualities. The real cost of injuries and accidents are not the actual injury, but the aftermath. The cost of repatriation and medical costs down to aftercare and special transportation arrangements that may be needed later will add up to extra expenses that are mostly not planned for initially. Save yourself all the worry by having insurance cover.

  1. Equipment

This will depend on your preferred destination and activities during the road trip. No matter your preference, you need to have the right equipment for the event. First and foremost, choose an appropriate vehicle for the terrain you intend to drive in. Get all the protective gear and appropriate clothing for the specific venture. Focus on having pieces of equipment that are portable and can perform an array of functions. To avoid forgetting anything, have a list during the planning phase and get everything you will need during the trip.

  1. Emergency plan

No one wishes to have their road trip ruined, but you should have an emergency plan just to be on the safe side. Yes, you already have an insurance policy, but can you cover getting lost, or running out of gas in the middle of nowhere? Would you be able to get the maintenance or spare parts if your car broke down? We cannot foretell what will happen in the future, so it’s always a good idea to have some kind of back-up plan for when things go wrong.