The US is a great country for road trips; almost all its states are connected by the Interstate Highway System, making visiting different destinations convenient.
Route 66 is one of the best known, and it’s a popular road for tourists from around the world to travel, but it can take two to three weeks to complete. Even shorter road trips, like one spanning from Atlanta to New Orleans, already offer many things to do. You could go to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and listen to jazz music on Frenchman Street in New Orleans.
Yet once you embark on this iconic cross-country road trip, you must ensure that you drive safely to arrive at your destinations in one piece. Driving in America is different from in the UK; after all, we use different sides of the road, for example, and our traffic signs are very different to those in America.
5 Safety Tips for Pulling off Your First Great American Road Trip Without a Hitch
To avoid any incidents, try these tips to pull off your first Great American road trip without a hitch:
Keep a copy of emergency contact numbers
In case of emergencies like collisions and car problems, you’ll need to know who to call—so before travelling, take note of any emergency contact numbers you might need. That includes hospitals, police departments, fire stations, and towing services.
Note that these numbers can vary depending on where you are, so try to keep a comprehensive list in your car after researching the areas your route passes through. If you can, have them on speed dial for immediate assistance.
Prepare navigation details and directions
Figuring out roads and highways in an unfamiliar place can be stressful, especially if you don’t want to get lost. Fortunately, you can prevent this by installing some of the best map apps on your phone or car system.
For this, Google Maps is one of the most popular options. It’s reliable, user-friendly, and best for long rides like road trips. Apple Maps is another contender, but it can only be run on iOS devices. Still, it provides hands-free interactions, so you won’t have to take your hands off the wheel.
Always have a clear view of the road
If you can’t see everything ahead of you, you might get into an accident. Even if you maintain a clear dashboard and windscreen, the sun’s glare could block your view; indeed, 37% of drivers in the UK have admitted the brightness of the sun impacts their vision whilst driving. Remember, much of America gets more sun than the UK, which heightens the risk even further.
To prevent this, wear sunglasses with polarised lenses. They block the sun’s glare, so you’ll be able to see road signs better and see vehicles more clearly without squinting. One reliable brand you can try is Ray-Ban. Most of its sunglasses are equipped with polarised lenses and are durable enough to last your entire road trip.
You can go for the classic Aviators or the Corrigan, which have lenses big enough to protect your eye area.
Stay alert when driving
Even if you can see the road clearly, you’ll still be prone to accidents if you drive while sleepy and close your eyes—even for a few moments. After all, a cross-country road trip in the US can take days, even weeks. If you’re on a time crunch and need to drive for long hours, you must stay alert to avoid collisions. The best ways to do so are to drive during hours when you’re normally awake and to stop and take naps when you need them.
When that isn’t enough, though, choosing a car with a driver monitoring system (DMS) will help keep you attentive. Seeing Machines’ DMS tracks your eyes and movements and makes loud sounds when detecting inattentiveness. This will wake you up and require you to turn it off manually. Select cars—like Ford and BMW—have DMS installed, so do your research before renting a car for your cross-country road trip.
Bring a first-aid kit
No one is immune to car mishaps. You could get into a minor accident when driving through a pothole, for example. This could lead to you getting a bump on your head or acquiring a small scratch.
That’s why it’s essential to pack a first aid kit for accidents in your car. Make sure it contains plasters of various sizes, sterile gauze dressings, painkillers, and cleansing wipes for scrapes and wounds. You could also include medicine in case you get ill. By doing so, you can perform first aid on you or your companions before going to a hospital, if needed.
The Great American Road Trip is a journey countless travellers want to experience. Make that experience a good one with these safety tips.