Trouble free road trip

7 Ways to Keep Your Road Trips Trouble Free

Road trips can start of with a great sense of excitement, but a few simple checks before you set out can mean that they don’t turn to disaster. Breaking down or having to sort out a car fault are major hassles whenever they come up, but seem that much worse on a road trip, far from home. Before you set out, remember to take the following seven simple measures to keep you on the road without any trouble.

1. Inspect your lights before taking to the road.

This means all of your car’s light including the fog light and reversing light. Never forget to also check the courtesy light in the boot, either. Always keep a spare bulb or two in the boot in case one does happen to blow.

2. Replace any part worn tyres close to the end of their lives.

According to Point-S, a visual inspection should include the full rim of the tyre, not just the section that it is easiest to see at the outer edge of the wheel.

3. Keep Your Valuables Safe.

When travelling in a car, it can be easy to forget that your belongings are on view when you come to a halt. AA advise that valuables are covered or stored in the boot so that they are simply not on view.

4. Top up with screen wash.

The last thing that you want to do is have to stop on a motorway journey just to add screen wash. Make sure there is an adequate supply in case you drive into a greasy stretch of road.

5. Take enough entertainment to keep young children happy for extended periods.

Sometimes, road journeys are not so much fun for little ones as they are for adults. Books, games and even a portable DVD player can be a real life saver if the children get bored in the back and need to be entertained. Remember that children do need comfort breaks more often than grown ups, but you can probably drive further between them if the kids don’t become too fed up.

6. Plan your journey.

As per the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, safe road trips mean planned road trips. This not just about picking out the best route, in advance, from a map – although this is an important factor. It includes planning the best time to make the next stage of the road trip. This might mean that you are able to avoid rush hours or peak road usage, but it could also be so that you drive when you are freshest and most rested.

7. Take out breakdown cover.

In the event of a full mechanical breakdown, cover that will help you get to your destination is invaluable. However, road side assistance can be even more useful if you have minor problems, too. Overall, it is the peace of mind you get by obtaining cover that makes your road trip that much more pleasant to undertake.

I hope these trouble free road trip tips help.