New Drivers on the Loose: 6 Excellent Ideas to Prepare for Road Trips

The freedom of the open road is something every driver looks forward to experiencing. Now that you have your newly obtained driver's license you, too, can get your kicks on route 66, or wherever it is you want your travels to take you. But, as a not yet seasoned road warrior, yet, you should approach your first road trip as an adventure, but also a responsibility.

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Be safe, have fun and you will be bound to make many more road trips to follow. The key is to make your first one a success.

How To Prepare for Road Trips

1. 1

   Plan Everything!

   To have a good and safe time, put lots of organization and planning into your trip. While a last-minute excursion can be fun and exciting, you might want to save that type of spontaneous decision until after you have had a few planned ones, first. So, know where you are going. This should be more than having the destination typed into the GPS app on your phone.

   Go old school and make sure you also have a current map that details the directions, as well. GPS systems still are not perfect, so it is a good idea to use both methods. Also, try to find out if there is any road construction along the route you intend to take.

   
   Some areas of the country don't have a stable internet connection and you phone map will be useless

   Weather is another factor to plan for. If you are driving into the mountains for a ski trip, remember to plan for the weather along the drive accordingly.

   
   Steer clear of absurd advice that might spoil your trip (State Farm)

   First-timers taking a road trip may find conditions much worse than originally anticipated. You may, in fact, want to avoid taking a trip that could be too dangerous for your new driving skills. There is nothing wrong with building up to taking a more risky trip at a later date.

2. 2

   Visit the Mechanic

   Even if you just had an oil change or even invested in new tires for the trip, have your trusted mechanic decide if the car is roadworthy.

   Things can still come up that even a reputable mechanic may not be able to predict. You can, at least, eliminate any obvious problems, though. This does include things such as tires. Anyway, this is what needs to be done either by you or your mechanic:

   While you can get a new tire along the way if one blows, you better make sure you have enough in your budget after that sort of unexpected expense to still cover gas, food and lodging.

3. 3

   Know Your Co-Travelers

   You may be taking along some of your best friends you have had for life, but you do not want to find out while being pulled over for a traffic stop that one of those friends decided to bring along anything illegal.

   Also, if any of these people will be sharing the driving, make sure your insurance or his or hers will cover them as a driver of your car in the event of an accident. Nothing can put a damper on a road trip, not to mention end a friendship, quicker than one of these types of problems arising.

   
   Make sure you have a full coverage policy before letting another driver sit behind your wheel
4. 4

   Have an Emergency Kit

   Even for daily driving you should have at least a basic first aid kit. If you plan to take an actual trip, your emergency items should be more extensive. So, for example, you will want to have your jack and spare tire accounted for and in working order.

   Pick up a can of fix-a-flat and a tire gauge to continue to check tire pressure along the way. Also, a “life hammer” is a good thing to have. This is a small device that you can use to break glass from inside the car should the vehicle be submerged in water.

   Also, you must have jumper cables and a basic set of tools. Even if you haven't learned how to master using these, having them on hand means you may be able to find someone who can help use these if needed. This is how you use them:

   If you are driving in what could potentially be winter weather conditions, have a kit for that. This should include warm clothes, blankets, food, water, a flashlight, an extra cell phone battery, flares, matches, and anything else that could help save your life should you be stranded in cold weather on the side of the road. It is not about being paranoid, but it is about being smart, safe and prepared.

5. 5

   Be Realistic about the Distance

   If you are taking your first road trip, leaving Friday and coming back Sunday, keep the destination within reason. Putting too much pressure on yourself to make a 14-hour drive straight through can ruin the trip.

   Allow yourself the ability to stop along the way. Better to plan to stop for the night and find you can keep driving than to be five hours into a marathon haul and find you really need a good night's rest. At the very least, make sure someone with you can split up the driving, that he or she is a safe driver and that insurance would cover that person as a driver. Here are some safe tips for driving at night if you absolutely have to do it:
6. 6

   The Trip Should Start the Day before

   That means, have your items packed and ready to go in the car. Make sure that your bags, along with the luggage of anyone else joining you, will fit realistically in the car. Especially if there is any chance you may have to take a nap in the automobile and have no space to stretch out.

   
   Don't put in the trunk anything you plan to use on the way

   Get a good night's rest and eat a good meal. It is not a good idea to kick off the road trip the night before with some celebratory drinks. Even if you do not wake up hung over, you still may be more tired than you realize.

   Anything that could slow your reaction time while driving or hinder your ability to make good decisions on the road should be avoided the day before leaving.

Above all else, have fun. Bring music, but remember not to have it so loud it will be a distraction. Do not plan on texting or making calls while behind the wheel. Also, do not allow any of the passengers in your car to make decisions you do not agree with or pressure you into doing something that veers from the plan you had set up.