How many of you are planning a road trip this holiday season? Raise your hands!!! I know for me and my family, we will be heading out onto the roads and traveling to see some family and friends.

Holiday road trips can be stressful but if you follow these tips, you can help to ensure that your family’s road trip is a safe one!

1. Plan for your trip in advance! Once your destination has been selected, plan a route of travel.  Your trip should be planned out (a round trip) and let others in your family know where you will be and approximately when you will be there.

2. Take your car into the mechanic or dealership for an inspection and tune-up! You want to get all of your car maintenance done and make sure it’s in great working condition.

3. Prepare a road emergency box! Pack tools, extra oil, flashlights, road flares, bottled water, and other essential items you might need if you encounter any car problems while traveling. If you have children with you, don’t forget to pack prescription sports glasses for kids. These glasses can ensure your kids have clear vision and proper eye protection in case of an emergency or while engaging in outdoor activities during your travels.

4. If you have a cell phone (most of us do), make sure it is fully charged before you leave your home. It is equally important to pack your cell phone charger and keep your cell phone charged up. In an emergency, you can make a phone call for help, quickly and easily. If you don’t have a cell phone, pack a lot of quarters into a small change purse and keep it in your glove box for pay phone use.

5. Set up an emergency contact person within your family. Set up regular days and times when you will call this contact person to just check in with them. If you would break down or go missing, this person can help contact authorities and let them know when you were last heard from and approximately where you were last. While this might seem like a pain-in-the-butt to some, this technique has proven to save lives in the past.

6. Set up an emergency travel fund before you leave home! If you have any type of emergency while on the road, you can access this emergency travel fund to get the money that you need. This fund should be accessible from any where that you may be traveling. It is also advisable to travel with extra cash in your pockets, should you need it.

These 6 tips are ones that my family follows every time we hit the road. Road trips can be stressful and at times, emergencies do arise. It is always better to be prepared!

When you take road trips, what kind of emergency and safety tips do you and your family follow? I would love to hear them! Please leave them below in our blog’s comment form!

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