So you've booked your vacation, purchased your travel insurance, and are all packed for your trip!
The only thing left is getting there. Whether you're traveling by car or plane, renting a car or taking your minivan, there will likely be some form of driving on your trip -- even if it's just to the airport! So today, we are talking about driving safety. Here's your safe-driving checklist:
Have your car serviced before a long trip!
This way, you won't run into any car trouble at 1 am when you've been driving for hours and hours and are in the middle of nowhere.
Make sure your insurance, AAA membership, and license/registration are up to date.
Have drinks/snacks in an easy-to-reach place.
Load your directions into GPS before you go.
Configure your GPS settings to alert you so you're not constantly looking at your phone. Which leads me to the next tip:
Never, ever, ever text while driving. Period.
Take bathroom breaks every hour or two --
even if just to stretch and refocus before hitting the road again. Better yet: alternate driving responsibilities with your partner!
Don't be afraid to pull over...
if you're tired, if the kids' fighting is distracting you, if you're hungry, if you get lost, or if you just feel you need a break. Your safety is top priority here, so drive safely!
Photo credits: mmphotography.it, hercampus media, Sarah McCosham.