You may have to take a long-distance trip in your vehicle on any given day for a number of reasons. No matter when you must take on such a journey, for whatever the reason, there are a lot of things you must keep in mind to ensure your safety and that of others and finish your trip in a successful manner. Any vehicular journey that covers a distance of 300km or more and take more than 3 hours to complete can be identified as a long-haul trip and they can be particularly dangerous, especially of you are someone who is not used to them. Continue reading this article to learn about a few very important things that you must keep in mind to ensure your safety during such a journey.
Plan ahead
The entire drive must be planned from A to Z before hitting the road, because while driving, you cannot afford to take your eye or mind off the road to make any spontaneous decisions. If you are traveling to an unfamiliar region that you’ve never visited before, there will be a lot to take care of. Do a proper research on the route and plan your stops along the way. A GPS device is a great tool for a trek of this nature and it must be right in front of you at all times. If you plan on stepping outside the vehicle to spend a couple of hours or even a night outdoors, then it will be a good idea to take with you a 12V inverter that will convert the DC power in your car batteries to AC power. Plan your schedule to avoid driving at night because this involves a lot of risks, especially if you won’t be taking the main roads.
Get your ride in shape
Your car is your partner in this trip and just like you, it must also be in the best possible shape to get through the endeavor successfully. Drive down to the service station at least a week before the journey to conduct a full maintenance check and be sure to check the tires, the brakes, the battery performance and the engine properly. If any problems are detected, get them fixed then and there so you won’t have to get stranded in the middle of nowhere with a broken car halfway through the trip. A right car battery charger is a great equipment to keep in the trunk to be used in a desperate situation. Keep a bottle of window cleaner with you to clean the windshield whenever needed, so that you can see the road ahead clearly. Make sure the vehicle is not over loaded, as it can adversely affect the balance of the vehicle and hinder the level of control you have over it.
Rest is important
The leading cause of accidents among drivers who take long-haul trips is sleepiness and you must do all you can to prevent this from happening. A good, uninterrupted night of sleep is the best way to get your body and mind in shape for the big day and keep yourself attentive and refreshed all the way till the destination. While driving, if you begin to feel tired or drowsy, be sure to stop the vehicle and wait till the feeling passes. If there is a fellow traveler in the vehicle who is capable of driving, let him take control so that you can get some rest. Driving through the fatigue is never a good idea as it can put your life and the lives of those in the road in a whole lot of danger.