Have you got a long distance road trip coming up? Here are some of our top tips…
Does the idea of a road trip fill you with excitement, trepidation and a sense of adventure? Or is spending hours in a car your idea of hell? If you answered yes to the latter, have we got news for you! Road trips are great and, if you are properly prepared, can be illuminating experiences – at the very least they’re a good way to see the country in which you live, to experience new places and to meet new people.
But they can also be a source of endless bickering, whining and discomfort, which is exactly why we have compiled a list of top tips that will ensure you never travel any other way – unless of course there are oceans to cross, in which case a road trip is probably off the cards.
Now, we all know the usual checklist for a road trip, some of which include:
- Get your car checked for roadworthiness
- Familiarise yourself with your route
- Check your tyre pressure
- Start with a full tank
- Stop regularly
- Don’t drive tired
But these are just the basics. There is so much more involved in planning a stress-free and enjoyable journey. Whether you are travelling alone, with kids or just with your partner it is essential to get off to the right start, and here’s how:
1. Time is of the essence:
So you have checked out the route, estimated the time it will take, now all you have to do is get in the car and drive. Not quite. Once you know how long your trip is going to take, break it up into bite sized chunks. Decide your driving limit and then stick to it. There is no point in pushing it to get there sooner, if you are exhausted you might have an accident and not get there at all. If you are travelling with a partner or fellow drivers, then split it up between you.
2. Driving etiquette:
If you are driving with passengers, whoever they may be, you have a responsibility to get to where you are going in one piece. Don’t take unnecessary risks and don’t speed – you aren’t trying to set a new land speed record. Equally, you are not driving Miss Daisy either.
3. Passenger etiquette:
It is unwise to back seat drive. Keep your driving advice and instruction to yourself, and if you know you are going to struggle to do this, then take the opportunity to catch up on some sleep.
4. Pit stops:
You already know that you need to stop regularly, but stopping is about more than just getting out the car and using the restroom facilities. Take the chance to get the blood flowing around your body again. Stretch, jump around, and if you happen to stop somewhere interesting go check it out. Take in the local scenery and culture and break up the drive a bit. If you have children on board, stopping is vital for your sanity and theirs.
5. Charge ahead:
Pack an extra cell phone charger. Somewhere along the way, whether it is on the way there, while there or on the way back you are bound to forget to pack your charger, so a spare one will come in very handy.
6. Padkos:
Any self-respecting South African knows all about padkos. What is a road trip without biltong, chips and sweets? But man cannot live on this alone. Fresh food, like grapes, apples, carrots, all invigorate and refresh so are a great way to perk up if you are feeling a little stale. Drink water over sweet drinks to avoid a huge sugar crash, but not so much that you need to stop every half an hour. If you are travelling with kids, it is essential to pack enough snacks – to paraphrase Bob Marley, a hungry kid is an angry kid.
7. In-flight entertainment:
If you are travelling with kids make sure the iPad is charged. Also, have a few games in mind so that you don’t create a total dependence on electronic devices to keep the peace. I-Spy can be one of the most frustrating car games ever – spying things from a moving car is not that easy, and what happens if you spy it and then you drive past it before everyone in the car has seen it? To avoid world war three, try I-Don’t-Spy. This is a great way to get your kids’ imaginations going, and can make hours disappear as they try to guess each other’s random objects.
8. The sound of music:
Prepare the music beforehand. Select your CDs, make your playlist. Faffing around with music while driving is distracting and means taking your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road. If you are travelling with other people, big or little, make sure you have a little bit of something for everyone. While eight hours listening to Barny the Dinosaur would induce homicidal rage in the best of us, eight hours of heavy rock music might do the same to someone who is not au fait with the genre.
9. Which way home?:
Stick to the mapped route! Don’t take shortcuts, these are very rarely shortcuts. Unless you are very familiar with where you are going don’t take the scenic route. Not only can this be unsafe, you don’t know where the nearest petrol station is, you have no idea what the roads are like, or if they lead to where you are going. If you do happen to get lost, ask for directions. Don’t try guessing your way out of it, because you might end up in Timbuktu with a car full of very unhappy passengers.
10. Be a peacekeeper:
Car trips can often be the source of tension – kids fighting in, back seat driving, disagreeing on music, getting lost, and taking ‘short cuts’. There are all manner of small things that can create tension – spending long hours in confined spaces can bring out the worst in people. But rather than adding fuel to the fire, see yourself as the car version of the United Nations and be a peacekeeper. Negotiate with the little terrorists in the back, placate the dictatorial driver. Do whatever you need to in order to reach a cease fire.
As the Easter weekend approaches, many of us are gearing up to pack up and hit the open road. We’re heading off into the sunset, boot loaded, route mapped, ready to embark on a road trip. With these tips, you are bound to get your trip off to a good start and you can be assured that everyone will reach the end point in good spirits, rearing to go. So, buckle up, drive safely and get road tripping!
