Strategies for a Safe and Healthy Road Trip

Before hopping into the car for a road trip, it’s important to consider the safety of your travel plans and your vehicle. Travel isn’t as simple as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s not impossible. With a bit of extra planning, preparation, and know-how, you can enjoy the adventure of a road trip without putting anyone’s health or safety at risk. Use the following strategies as a guide, and you’ll have your bases covered.

Research your route

While spontaneity can be part of the fun in a road trip, it’s not always the safest option. The pandemic has created unique obstacles to traveling, and you’ll need to work with them. For example, many small businesses that you may have relied on when road-tripping (such as diners, mom and pop gas stations, and motels) may have temporarily closed or gone out of business. Your options for services may be more limited than normal, so it can help to double-check the services available to you on your intended route.

Another safety consideration when planning a route is whether you’ll be traveling through any heavily populated areas. If you can, avoid crowds at places such as tourist attractions or busy rest stops. That said, there is no need to take an excessively long or remote route. Just be sure to maintain social distancing and practice good hygiene. If you’ll be traveling between states, read up on that state’s COVID-specific conditions and restrictions. If possible, get tested before you leave, and don’t travel if the test comes back positive. Consider making a plan for what you would do in the event that you or your family start to feel unwell en route. 

Prep your car 

The last thing you want is to break down in the middle of nowhere, so be sure to get your car ready for a road trip before you leave. Take it in for an oil change and a tune-up, and check the quality of your battery. If you’ll be driving in wintry conditions, make sure that you have snow tires or chains (and that you know how to install them). 

Also consider making any upgrades that you may have been putting off, such as replacing dim lights, installing better windshield wipers, or getting new floor mats. Good weatherproof floor mats can protect your car’s carpets from mud, sand, and the salt that is used on snowy roads in winter. Just be sure to check what materials they’re made of, as well as customer reviews to be sure that they’re up to par.

Pack an emergency kit

While none of us expect to break down or run out of gas, it does happen, and preparation is key for your safety. In addition to hand sanitizer and face masks, it’s smart to pack an emergency kit in your car with other safety essentials. This should include things like drinking water, extra food, a flashlight with spare batteries, a basic toolkit, warm clothing, flares, and a medical kit. If you live in or will be driving through an area with temperatures below freezing, winter survival supplies (such as down sleeping bags and a portable heater) could be life-saving in the event of a breakdown. 

Although a road trip during the pandemic carries extra risks and challenges, there are ways to  make it safe for you, your family, and the people around you. Just be sure to research your itinerary, prepare your car the best you can, and pack for the unexpected. With all that taken care of, you can focus on enjoying the adventure and spending time with the people you love.

Image via Pexels