Road Trip Safety Tips

23 Aug Road Trip Safety Tips

With summer winding down and back-to-school right around the corner, you may want to take a few last-minute road trips before the leaves start changing.  Before you head out on the road, be sure you review these road trip safety tips:

• Give your vehicle a tune-up. This includes an oil change, tire rotation, and anything else you think it needs. You want to be sure your vehicle can take you from A to B without any problems.
• Check your coverage. Check your auto insurance policy to see what type of coverage you have for your trip. Please keep in mind that while most policies cover you in other states, you most likely will not have coverage if you cross the borders into Mexico or Canada.  So if your trip takes you to either country, definitely call your insurance carrier first!
• Collect important documents. Put your license, registration, and auto insurance cards in a safe, easily accessible spot so you can find them easily if need be. Don’t forget to double-check that you have an updated insurance card with the right effective dates!
• Safety first. Bring a safety kit including first aid supplies, road flares, an emergency blanket, and anything else you might need in case of emergency. Check out our Car Safety Kit must-haves!
• Get directions. Do not rely solely on your GPS or phone to give the correct directions to your destination. Bring a printed map with you.  If your batteries die or the GPS malfunctions in some way, you will have something to fall back on.  You may also want to call ahead to see if the directions you have are good ones.
• Cue up the tunes! Sure, mixtapes are a thing of the 80s and 90s, but great songs can make any road trip better. Set up the perfect playlist ahead of time with all your favorite driving songs and get ready to ride! It will help you get into the vacation state-of-mind, and it will reduce the distraction of trying to find a new radio station or new CD to play.
• Snacks are important.  Just ask any bored teenager that may be riding in the backseat.  To keep the peace, let every passenger pick one snack to bring and share. Plus, you may need snacks to keep fuel in your own tank during a long drive.
• Consider purchasing roadside assistance. If you do a lot of traveling and don’t want to be left stranded, roadside assistance may be a good investment. Roadside assistance programs can help with small items, including an empty gas tank, flat tire, lockout, dead battery, or towing.
• Pack some essentials. Take time to pack a bag with some important essentials that you can have on hand without having to dig into your luggage or the purse you piled the blankets and pillows on top of. Some essentials you may want to have on hand include hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, ibuprofen, antacids, spare face masks, and anything else you may want on hand at a moment’s notice.
• Have fun! Don’t forget, the purpose of your road trip is to enjoy quality time and make memories with your family & friends!

Have a great trip and be safe on the roads!

Give your SAVA Insurance agent a call if you have any questions about your existing coverage or if you want to add coverages ahead of your trip!

860-437-7282