Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, there might come a time in your life when you find yourself stuck on the road for hours and hours on end. In some instances, road trips can take days or even weeks, depending on where you’re going and how long it will take you to get there. And while this experience can be fun, the safety of your time spent on the road can be in jeopardy from time to time. So to help ensure that you’re able to get to wherever you’re going without getting into a car accident with a big truck or falling asleep at the wheel, here are three safety tips to follow if you’ll be traveling on the road for extended periods of time.
Never Drive If You’re Feeling Tired
When you’re going to be on the road for a while, your driving can easily start to feel like you’re on autopilot. But while this might mean you’re feeling comfortable behind the wheel, it could also put you in danger of falling asleep or becoming easily distracted by other things. To fight against this, Driving-Tests.org shares that you should never drive if you’re feeling tired. Try to ensure that you always hit the road after getting a good night’s rest the night before. And if you get tired during the day, either switch driving with another passenger or pull over so you can take a nap and recharge your batteries.
Keep Your Body Comfortable
Being sedentary, like you are forced to be when in a car, can be very hard on your body. Because of this, you might find yourself feeling very stiff, sore, or tired after being on the road for a long day or many days in a row. To minimize these feelings and allow your attention to stay firmly on the road, Nationwide.com suggests that you change your positions every once in awhile so you can stay comfortable and relive any tension that might be building up in certain areas. As a part of this, make sure you’re always focused on having good posture and keeping your back properly supported.
Be Smart With Your Use Of Cruise Control
When you’re driving on highways or freeways for your trip, you might be tempted to just set the cruise control of your car so you can sit back and relax a bit. However, while cruise control can be helpful for a while, AA.co.za recommends that you only use cruise control for short periods of time before you take back complete control on your own. By doing this, you’ll be able to better keep yourself engaged in your driving, which can keep you from getting lazy and becoming distracted through a lack of concentration.
If you’ve got a long road trip coming up, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay safe and alert during your journey.