How to Prepare for the Unexpected Before You Set Off on Your Road Trip
As summertime gets ever closer, you may be dreaming about your annual holiday and how you will take your family on a long road trip to the other side of the country. You'll be visiting some relatives, spending some time on the beach and just relaxing so you can get rid of all the pressures and stresses of everyday life. You will, of course, need to prepare for the journey and make sure that your vehicle is fit for the lengthy trip, and you've got to be prepared for the unexpected as well. You may only drive your car back and forth to work on a regular basis, but this is an entirely different proposition altogether. So how can you best prepare for this adventure?
Being Prepared
You should be in the habit of taking your vehicle in for regular service in any case, so it should be in reasonably good health before you begin. Nevertheless, a breakdown can occur at any time, and you need to know what to do in that event.
Initial Reaction
Imagine if you were driving down a motorway at the maximum allowed speed, and suddenly, the vehicle cut out. In this case, you may be tempted to panic, but this is the last thing that you should do. Instead, look for an opening towards the inside, indicate clearly and move over while keeping a good eye on everybody else. Gradually comes to a halt and make sure that the vehicle is as far over to the side of the road as possible before you stop.
Safety First
Everybody in the car will need to get out through the inside doors and move away from the active carriageway. If there is a crash barrier available, then they should stand behind that for their own safety.
Emergency Kit
While paying attention to other road users, go to the rear of the vehicle and get your emergency kit out. If you don't have one, make sure that you visit your local auto-parts store and get it before you depart. This kit should include an emergency warning triangle and a high visibility jacket at the least. Don the jacket before you post the triangle about 200 m further back on the hard shoulder so that approaching drivers can see it.
Calling for Help
Your smartphone should tell you exactly where you are so that you can give this information to a 24/7 emergency breakdown assistance service. If you're in an area without any coverage, however, look for a roadside telephone and use this to get in touch for help.
Ready to Go
Always be as prepared as possible for any eventuality, and you should have an outstanding summer break.