Tips to Help You Arrive Safely After a Long Trip
For those planning to take a long trip, it is important to prepare ahead of time. This means more than just making sure everything is packed and road snacks are handy – this also means making sure that the mind and body are prepared for the trip as well. What many people may not know is that taking a long car trip requires a good bit of endurance, and if they are not prepared it could mean trouble. Here are some tips to help drivers prepare for their trip and arrive at their destination safely.
Stock Up on Fuel
While making sure the car has enough fuel to make it to a destination is important, it is also important to make sure the body is fueled and ready to make the journey. Make sure the car is stocked with healthy, vitamin rich foods that will help keep mind and body awake and alert during the trip. Also, consider skipping fast food stops as greasy, heavy foods can often slow the body down. Carrots and almonds are a great choice as long road trip snacks for helping keep the mind alert and the stomach full.
Get Enough Sleep
It is important to prepare for exhaustion before the trip begins instead of dealing with it after. Make sure to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep the two nights before setting off in order to build up energy reserves. Experts also suggest avoiding travel between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3p.m. – this is when the body’s temperature is lowest and many people feel naturally drowsy. Drowsy driving is much more dangerous than many think, and often drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.
Plan Your Stops
It is important to make sure there is time during the trip to get out of the car and stretch. Experts recommend doing this every two hours to keep the body alert for the entire ride. Make sure to plan out these stops ahead of time and build in time for them into the overall travel plan. Consider scheduling these stops around mealtimes to help give the body a longer time to relax while also fueling it back up with healthy foods. Arriving a little late because of these stops is better than getting into trouble on the road.
Does your new teen driver need Behind the Wheel Training before any long trips? Training Wheels is a Linwood driving school specializing in teaching new teen drivers how to stay safe on the road. For more information on our lessons, please click here.
Copyright: dasha11 / 123RF Stock Photo