Tips to Stay Safe on Your Next Road Trip

Get your car tuned up. Check the windshield wipers, the tires, change the oil, etc. Everything we should be doing when we give our car a checkup. Pack things you'd typicallyl need if you have car trouble, like a couple gallons of water, an empty gas can, spare tire and jack, and flares or traffic triangles. Take your car charger to your cell phone. If you don't have a car charger, they're not expensive considering how much peace of mind you'll have with a full battery.

Plan your route and estimate when you'll need to stop. I have two thoughts on this. First, I enjoy going without a strict plan and making time to mosey down little (and sometimes long!) roads. Secondly, I don't enjoy being on twisting farm roads as the sun is going down and being within site of the highway but unable to reach it. Avoiding things like going too far before stopping for gas will make it much easier for you. If you're reluctant to stop in small, unknown towns, try to time your gas station stops to the major cities you'll be hitting. Monitor your speed so you don't waste gas going faster than necessary as well.

Check online for hotel rates or campgrounds. Smaller hotels can sometimes be booked online too. Look for those travelers coupons book in restaurants. Denny's, IHOP, and Shoney's are three that usually have them. The coupons usually have some valuable maps, since many state maps lack good detail. You can also find many motels and hotels to stop off at without needing a reservation.

Consider taking along someone needing a lift. Not a hitchhiker, but someone you find ahead of time who's going the same direction. You'll have help with gas money and someone to talk to when the highway gets monotonous.

If you're crossing many states (here in Texas you could drive a couple of nights before getting to another state) look for their visitors center as soon as you cross the border. You'll often find maps and other information on sites of interest.

Staying Fed

Pack your favorite snacks and drinks to keep you going, say enough for a day or two, but don't go overboard stocking up. If you have a long trip you'll probably be sick of certain things before long. Besides, when was the last time you went more than a few hundred miles without seeing a Wal-Mart? It's also nice to stop at grocery stores along the way and pick up something you might not have tried at home. I advise against stopping at hol in the wall convenience stores on the highway. They're usually priced very high.

Staying Awake

Driver fatigue is not something to be taken lightly. People die unnecasarily because they think they can make just one more hour. That being said, sometimes you just have to make it to the next gas station, rest stop, or town before you can stop. There are a few things things that will help you get there alert and in one piece.

If there's one thing you should stock up on, its caffeine and sugar. Mountain Dew fulfills both of those for me. Road trips are extra special for me because they're the only time I drink this mystical stuff. It has more caffeine than any other soda. There's also what's called the caffeine nap to help with fatigue when driving long distances. Drink a cup or two of coffee then immediately take a nap for 20 minutes, no more, no less. That's enough time for the caffeine to take effect and enough time to recharge yourself.

Eating some kind of chewy candy, like jelly beans, can help too. Alternate the air and heat in your vehicle and find which makes you the most uncomfortable without being unbearable. I find that being cold makes me want to pull over and take a nap, and being warm makes me drowsy, too. The only thing that has helped has been having hot air blowing on my face or having the windows down so the occasionally grit slap me. Talking on your cell phone can help you stay awake, but do so cautiously. Use a hands free kit and drop the call if you're near any kind of traffic.

Finally, if you're feeling fatigued, pull over and sleep! Sleep as long as you can. Twenty-four hour Walmarts are good places to stop, but rest stops and truck stops will work as well. Always park in a well lit, high traffic area, and try to lay down out of site. You don't want to advertise yourself even if you're in a good spot. Some truck stops have sleeping rooms you can use (for a fee) if you prefer being out of your car. Staying Sane

What begins as peaceful, pastoral scenerey can quickly turn into boring monotony. Bring along plenty of CDs or an mp3 player full of music and/or audiobooks. I prefer audiobooks because if you're paying attention and thinking about the topic you mind is actively engaged in something, and less likely to start shutting down into "highway hypnosis".