Safety tips for long road trips
Nothing encapsulates the golden days of summer more than a road trip. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement, but when you're heading out on a long drive—whether it's up to the cottage, across the country or down to Nashville—there's more to think about than what to pack and how to get there.
Before you and your family or friends hit the road, you'll want to start preparing to ensure your road trip is not only a fun one, but a safe one too.
Here are some tips to keep things riding safe and smooth.
1. Pack an emergency kit
No one wants to ever use an emergency kit, but they're sure glad it's there when they need it. Take some time before your trip to prepare and pack an emergency kit to store in your vehicle. A basic kit should include things like:
- A first aid kit
- Jumper cables
- A warm blanket
- Bottles of water
- Energy/granola bars
- Flashlight and batteries
- Flares and/or reflectors
- Candles and matches
- Roadmaps
- Whistle for attracting attention
- Toilet paper
- Garbage bags
- List of emergency contact information (names and phone numbers)
There are more things you can include of course, but this is enough to get you started. Store everything together in a small tote that is easily accessible.
2. Get a tune-up
Take your car into the shop for a check-up and a tune-up to ensure everything is running as it should be. This can help prevent potential vehicle breakdowns and malfunctions from happening.
3. Get some sleep
A proper night's sleep the night before will help keep you alert and focused on the road. Although there is often a lot to do before a big trip, don't sacrifice your sleep. Just as your car needs a tune-up, sleeping helps to ensure you're running smooth too. This is an important step and should not be overlooked. Sleep before to prevent yourself from becoming too sleepy on the road.
4. Dismantle distractions
Distractions are the number one danger on the road, so take the time to ensure there's nothing in your vehicle that will distract you. Review your route and program your GPS prior to departure, and enlist a passenger for navigational assistance if need be. Resist temptation to use your phone while driving. It's not only illegal, but also highly dangerous. Instead have someone else in the vehicle in charge, use a Bluetooth device, or ignore your phone all together.
Our recent article on teens and distracted driving reviews some of Ontario's distracted driving laws and penalties.
5. Take breaks
Exhaustion is a big concern on a long road trip. Even professional truck drivers are legally only allowed to drive a certain number of hours per day.
To prevent yourself from becoming tired, take breaks every couple of hours to stretch your legs, rehydrate and grab a snack. Plan for these breaks and factor them into your trip's schedule. Take them even if you're not feeling sleepy at the time. The movement is good for you!
6. Take turns and delegate
On long road trips, it's optimal to have multiple drivers sharing the driving duties. This isn't always possible, but when it is switch it up every few hours to prevent any one driver from becoming fatigued. A tired driver is a dangerous driver after all. Agree to the terms beforehand so everyone knows what to expect and can time their naps/breaks if need be.
Also on the topic of taking turns, when you're prepping for your trip get everyone involved in ways they're excited about. Perhaps one person loves prepping snacks and another loves following maps. Give each person a responsibility that suits their interests to help keep spirits high when on the road.
7. Familiarize yourself with unfamiliar road rules
If your road trip is bringing you through multiple cities, provinces or states, take time beforehand to familiarize yourself with the different road rules, bylaws and laws of the various places. What's legal in one place may not be in another. For example, in Montreal it is illegal to make a turn at a red light.
Brush up on the local road rules so you can be prepared to adjust your driving accordingly. Understanding road rules keeps the roads safer for everyone.
8. Drive defensively
Practicing defensive driving is important at all times, but especially when driving for long periods of time that can cause drivers to become lax in certain practices. Click here to read our list of defensive driving tips and brush up on these lifesaving techniques.
9. Buckle Up
On long drives it can be tempting to release the buckle, but this is a major no/no. If you're in need of a break from the belt, pull over somewhere safe for a stretch instead. Seatbelts remain one of the easiest ways to ensure you and your passengers are protected.
Speaking of seatbelts, before you leave on your trip check to make sure all seatbelts are in working order and that child seats are installed correctly.
10 Be flexible
While you may be determined to arrive at your destination at a specific time, remember that the road can be a wild, unpredictable place where things don't always go according to plan.
If you become extremely tired one night, rest somewhere until morning. If traffic is extremely bad, consider taking an alternative route. If something else comes up, go with it. Remaining flexible not only allows you the freedom to switch things up as needed, but it can help prevent you from becoming stressed or frustrated, two potential emotions on long hauls.
11. Check to make sure you have your licence, insurance and registration
Have all your documentation handy in case you need it, including your car insurance information. You want to have that nearby if you need to make a claim of any sort. As a reminder, OTIP's 24-hour auto claims number is 1-866-952-2876.
If you have any questions about your car insurance coverage when embarking on a long road trip, give us a call at 1-866-523-4111 or contact your OTIP Insurance Broker for specific questions about your policy. We're happy to help!