|
|
|
What should I do if
I'm taking a road trip?
How can I find information on road conditions,
construction and rest areas?
How can I make our time together in the
car more enjoyable for everyone?
What snacks should I bring for the road
trip?
Where is a good place to take a break on
a road trip?
|
|
What should I do if I'm
taking
a road trip?
|
-
Look at maps and plan your route.
-
Research the roads you'll take. You'll especially
want to know if you'll be traveling through areas of major road
construction.
-
Make estimates of travel times along the
route, so you'll have an idea when you'll be at certain points
on your trip. This will help you to plan rest and meal stops.
It will also help you plan to avoid traveling through a major
city or area of road construction during rush hour.
-
Get the car checked, especially the filters,
belts, fluid levels and have the oil changed. Don't wait until
the last minute, it may take time to get an appointment and
parts may need to be ordered. You also want some time to drive
around town and make sure that whatever they fixed stays fixed.
- Check the condition of your wiper blades.
- Check the operation of your turn signals,
brake lights as well as the high and low beams.
- Examine the tread on your tires.
-
Make sure your car is prepared for the weather
it will encounter on your trip. You might need more antifreeze,
snow tires or recharged air-conditioning.
- Today, many cars have
fancy wheels instead of hubcaps. These wheels usually have a lock
to prevent them from being stolen. If you have a car with wheel
locks, make sure you know where the key is stored (often with
the jack). Otherwise, a flat tire will become a major problem
since you won't be able to get the wheel off the car.
-
Get your car cleaned. You'll feel better
in a clean car.
-
Pack an emergency kit in your car. Include
motion sickness medication if anyone in your group suffers from
it. Remove any items from the car that you won't need on your
trip.
-
Prepare some on road entertainment for your
trip. Include games and CDs of music and/or audio books.
-
Check your plates, registration and insurance
information to make sure they are all valid. Be sure to place
your insurance company's emergency contact number in your car.
-
Check with all the drivers in your party
to make sure their driver's licenses haven't
expired.
-
Check your insurance for expiration dates
and coverage for your automobile.
-
Arrange for someone to start your other
car, if you leave one home, during very cold or very hot weather.
-
Fill the car with gas before you pack the
car so all the fumes won't bother your passengers. Check the
fluid levels and tire pressure, your tire pressure will effect
the ride and gas mileage you get on your trip.
-
Pack the car inside the garage, with the
door down, so people driving by won't find out you’re leaving.
|
| Question
Index |
Back to Top
|
|
How can I find information on
road conditions, construction and rest areas?
|
|
Go to: Department
of Transportation Links
|
Check out the roads before you go. This page
contains links to the Departments of Transportation for all 50
States. Each state's site is different, but most sites contain
detailed information on highway construction, road closings, rest
areas and maps. Many of the sites also contain links to major
cities within their own state.
|
| Question
Index |
Back to Top
|
|
How can I make our time together
in the car more enjoyable for everyone?
|
-
Buy some new music or interesting audio
books to listen to while on the trip.
-
If your music interests are vastly different
than your children's, you might consider getting them a portable
CD or tape player and bring lots of batteries. But, agree in
advance about its usage times.
-
Take advantage of this time together and
talk.
-
Play games in the car to help shorten the
trip. Hunt for different license plate numbers, see who can
add up license plate numbers of the cars that pass you the quickest.
Kids get a head start since they are in the backseat. Play "I
spy". See who can find the most out of state license plates.
See who can find the most models of cars.
- Play "once upon
a time". One person starts a story with the setting and a
character. Then they pass to the next person in the car who embellishes
the story and passes it on. See how long you can keep the story
going before someone finishes with "the end".
-
Bring along games or toys to help shorten
the ride. Avoid items with lots of small pieces. You might also
consider small prizes or presents at regular intervals along
the trip. New toys often receive the most interest and will
help keep your child occupied.
-
If your children are old enough, give them
a map of their own. Have them keep track of your progress by
making them the navigator.
-
Schedule a quiet time for everyone in the
car to enjoy. But, enforce the rules so adults are included
and must also obey this rule.
-
Wake up sleepers a few minutes before you
arrive at stops. This will give them time to adjust and be ready
to get out as soon as the car stops.
|
| Question
Index |
Back to Top
|
|
What snacks should I bring for
the road trip?
|
-
Bring along plenty of water and munchies
in the car. It will be much cheaper to buy these at the grocery
store than pay the convenience store prices. It might also save
you some extra stops.
-
Sticking to water will be much easier on
your body than drinking lots of cola. Remember to avoid large
amounts of caffeine. Caffeine can wear on your nerves. If the
driver needs large amounts of caffeine to stay awake then it's
time to pull over for the night.
-
Have the adults keep control of the munchies
so mealtimes aren't ruined.
-
You don't want to get yourself sick with
all the junk food along the roadside, so you might want to consider
eating a healthy meal or at least bring some healthy snacks.
-
If it has ever made them sick at home, there
seems to be a guarantee that it will make them sick on the road.
|
| Question
Index |
Back to Top
|
|
Where is a good place to take
a break on a road trip?
|
-
Now, after talking about eating healthy,
remember that some of the fast-food restaurants now have play
areas. McDonald's and Burger King both are offering free play
areas at many of their restaurants. These can be a good place
to stretch those legs and burn off some energy along the road.
The adults can take their time eating without the little ones
getting fidgety at the table.
-
Be careful when using rest stops along the
road. Pass them up if they aren't well-lit or seem unsafe. Remember
to lock your car doors when you go inside. Since many rest stops
suffer from criminal activity, you should always accompany your
children into the restroom at a rest stop.
-
Well-lit, busy gas stations can provide
a safe place to take a quick break.
-
Truck stops are designed to provide a safe
place to take a break. Just be warned that you can run into
some inappropriate adult items in their gift shops.
|
| Question
Index |
Back to Top
|
|
Go To Next
Section: ROAD SAFETY
|
