The family road trip has a long and glorious tradition.
Photo by Life’s Captured Sparks on UnsplashMany adults can probably think back to a time when the family piled into the car and took off for the wild blue yonder. Maybe you visited Disneyland with your siblings when you were a kid, or perhaps your parents targeted a national park so you could see some wildlife instead.
Either way, maybe you would like to follow in that tradition by taking your own kids and spouse on a road trip this year. If so, that’s great. You might convince the kids to put down their phones for long enough to experience some culture.
While traveling, though, you should stay vigilant. Certain dangers do exist, and your family should avoid them to make sure you all have a good time and create some happy memories. Let us talk about a few of the perils that a road trip presents right now.
Car Accidents
Car accidents usually top the list when you’re thinking about dangers that might occur on road trips. First, you should take your car to an autobody shop before you leave so a skilled mechanic can give it a tune up. That will make sure your vehicle can handle a longer trip, especially if it’s on the older side.
When you’re in unfamiliar territory, know where the majority of car accidents occur. Over 50% of severe car wrecks happen at intersections, so keep that in mind. Don’t try to run through yellow lights when they’re about to turn red. Instead, keep the family and yourself safe by waiting for the next green light.
When you’re on the highway, keep a safe distance from large commercial trucks whenever possible. The big 18-wheelers you see rumbling down the highway usually have very capable drivers, but these vehicles have large blind spots. Staying away from them can protect you and make sure you don’t fall victim to a driver who’s not properly caffeinated and reaching the end of a grueling cross-country road trip.
If another car does hit you when you’re on vacation, make sure you know all the laws regarding accidents in that particular state. How you will handle the situation can change depending on whether you’re in a fault or no-fault state when it happens. Also, don’t speed. Maybe you’re eager to get where you’re going, but you don’t want the hassle of dealing with a speeding ticket out of state.
Rest Stops
Rest stops can sometimes look like an inviting oasis if you and the family have been on the road for hours. Some of them have fun attractions, and at the very least, the prospect of a hot cup of coffee and a greasy burger might seem enticing.
You and the family may have a great time at rest stops in unfamiliar territory, but remember to keep a close eye on your kids while you’re there. Child abductions happen sometimes. It’s grim to think about, but if you have youngsters, keep your eyes on them at all times. If they need to go to the bathroom, go with them to supervise.
You should also make doubly sure you’re exercising caution if you’re stopping at a gas station or truck stop late at night. Criminals do their work in darkness. You don’t want someone breaking into your car or mugging you. Try to stay together as a group since you are less tempting targets that way. Stay in well-lit areas whenever possible as well.
The Heat
If you are traveling during a time of the year or in a state that gets very hot, the heat can cause issues as well. Turn up the air conditioning when you’re in the car. That will keep everyone cool, especially if you’re driving for hours under a midday sun with no cloud cover. Also, keeping the vehicle’s interior pleasant will hopefully keep the kids from getting too cranky.
If you stop somewhere to spend the day in a national park or a similar locale, slather the kids up with sunscreen, and make sure you put some on too. If you’re traveling with your spouse or partner, you can apply sunscreen to each other’s backs and other hard-to-reach areas.
You should also travel with cold drinks in the car. Bring a cooler loaded up with bottled water and drinks like Gatorade with plenty of electrolytes. Drinking more probably means making more rest stops, but you should stay hydrated when you’re dealing with the sun’s punishing heat.
Giving Unhoused Individuals Money
If you’re visiting a city you don’t know, keep your wits about you. When you’re walking around, beggars might approach you. Perhaps you might give one of them some spare change if you have some on you and it’s in a convenient pocket. It’s best not to stop and pull out your wallet, though. Someone might grab your billfold and take off with it.
You should also not roll down your window at a traffic light if someone outside the car asks you for money. Maybe you’re trying to be kind, but if the light changes, you’re holding up traffic. You also never know if someone who’s desperate enough will try to grab some of your belongings from inside the car while you’re trying to find some change to give them.
Crime
You should watch out for other crime in cities you’re visiting as well. Before you leave for your trip, study a map of the destination city a little bit and try to identify the dangerous neighborhoods. Virtually all cities have high crime areas and ones that the police and tourism experts consider safer for visitors.
Try to get a hotel or motel in a safer part of the city. If you go out, stay in well-lit areas and don’t take any shortcuts through dark alleys. You can also have a conversation with the front desk staff at your hotel about what areas you should probably avoid.
