The Road Trip Safety Check

Driving to a faraway destination is the only form of travel with its very own rallying cry. Who hasn’t gotten excited when of one their friends shouts “road trip!” Jumping into the car with your friends and family, and cruising the scenic roads can be a great experience. Our Road Trip Tips can fill you in on popular detours, proper driving, packing for the long haul, and more.

Road trips using your own vehicle are a unique form of travel in that you are responsible for the quality of transportation. When you board a plane or embark on a cruise, you trust that the plane or ship is in perfect working condition. For a road trip, the working condition of your vehicle is dependent upon you. A cruise line or airline can accommodate you if there are equipment problems, but you’ll be on your own if you end up with car trouble during your trip. So before embarking on your road trip, you should give your vehicle a full safety inspection.

Check those fluid levels

Cars need many different types of fluids to stay in working order. Make sure your car has enough fresh fluids for your long drive. Be sure to check:

• Gas tank
• Automatic transmission fluid (ATF)
• Brake fluid
• Coolant and antifreeze
• Motor oil
• Power steering fluid
• Windshield wiper fluid

Make sure your car parts are of good, working quality

Belts and hoses generally degrade quicker than other car parts. If they are getting old, the demands of the road trip may finally cause them to fail – which means a breakdown for you. Have an experienced mechanic take a look and identify parts that need to be replaced.

Check your tires 

Tires are the only things between your car and the road, so they need special attention before a road trip. First, make sure your tires don’t need to be replaced. Next, check the tread depth and tire pressure and make sure they meet the recommended level in your car’s owner’s manual. After that, confirm with a mechanic whether you’re due for a tire rotation or balancing. Have the mechanic confirm that the brake pads are up to par as well. By making sure your tires are in tip-top shape, you’ll not only increase your safety on the road, but you can also increase your miles per gallon – a great road trip benefit.

If you’ve purchased a RoamRight travel insurance plan and you run into problems on the road (in spite of your best preparation efforts), you can contact us to help!

What do you do before a road trip?

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.