Whether you’re preparing for your first cross country road trip or your most recent in a long line, the one thing you must always do is keep your safety in mind. Road trips are the perfect opportunity to spend time with your friends and family, try new things, and make amazing memories, but, unfortunately, accidents can and do happen. To steer clear of the danger and keep yourself and your loved ones safe, here are six essential safety tips you must remember.

1. Always Plan Your Route

There’s something quite thrilling about choosing a random direction and letting the road take you somewhere new. However, as fun as this can be, it isn’t always safe. You could get lost, run out of gas, or get into an accident in a remote area. Because of this, it’s often best to plan a detailed route and share this with someone back home. This makes it easier to find you if necessary.

2. Look After Your Car

Before you head off, you must make sure that your car is prepared for the journey. It doesn’t matter whether you have a classic Land Rover or new Audi R8 Spyder, there is always the chance that it could break down. To prevent this, you should have your vehicle checked over by a professional. Also, give your car a once over before you set off on the morning of your trip.

3. Gear Up For Emergencies

Breaking down is never fun, but it’s made so much worse when you’re completely unprepared for it. To avoid this, you should stock your car with an emergency kit full of essentials you might need to stay full, warm, and safe. This should include water and snacks, warm blankets, a first-aid kit, and any medications you need. It also helps to have flashlights and a working phone.

4. Get Plenty Of Sleep

Driving when you’re tired is incredibly dangerous. In fact, every year, it causes thousands of accidents. For this reason, you must make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before your big trip. This, unfortunately, can be tough when you’re excited, but you can make it a little easier by avoiding caffeine, exercising during the day, and heading to bed at a reasonable hour.

5. Steer Clear Of Distractions

Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers. With that in mind, you should do your best to keep distractions in your car to a minimum. If you’re traveling with children, make sure that you pack something to keep them entertained. After all, there’s nothing more distracting than a grumpy child. You should also stay off your phone and keep music to a reasonable volume.

6. Break Up Your Journey

When you’ve been driving for hours on end, it becomes difficult to stay alert, putting you at greater risk of having an accident. For this reason, you should break up your journey and switch drivers every couple of hours. If you’re the only one in the car that drives, then ensure you have a pit stop instead. Drinking water will force you to do this, while also helping you to stay alert.

The open road is a wonderous and dangerous place. To keep yourself and your family safe on your next road trip, remember the advice above.