10 Tips for a Safer and More Comfortable Long-Distance Drive

The United States is the world’s third-largest nation by total area, covering more than 3.8 million square miles. It would take around 45 hours straight to drive from coast to coast. In this article, we look at things we can all do to make our long-distance journeys safer and more pleasant, from ensuring you have a good night’s sleep before you set out to keeping your passengers entertained, particularly children.

1. Allow Plenty of Time

Motorists make mistakes when trying to make up time, which can prove hazardous. You should allow plenty of time for your journey, factoring in refueling and rest stops, and allowing some leeway for unanticipated delays. It is far better to arrive at your destination early than to get flustered behind the wheel, rushing to make it on time.

2. Bring Food and Water

It is important to stay hydrated on a long journey, particularly when traveling in the summer months. Heavy meals are not really appropriate for a long drive, leaving you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Instead, you should eat small portions of healthy food.

Salads and fruit, particularly bananas, can help you to avoid a sudden carb-crash, releasing energy gradually. You should try to avoid sugary snacks and drinks. These may give you a sudden boost of energy, but the resulting spike in insulin actually increases tiredness. It is better to avoid sugary foods and beverages until you are nearing your destination, when they can provide a useful last little boost.

3. Use Navigation

When you have to cover a large distance, the last thing you want to do is waste your time and gasoline getting lost in the middle of nowhere. Many modern cars come with a navigation system. If yours does not, there are many modestly priced navigation systems and apps on the market, which can take the hassle out of planning your journey and guide you to your destination with ease.

4. Take Regular Breaks

On long-distance journeys, regular rest breaks are vital from a safety perspective, helping you to keep your energy up and keeping you alert, not to mention making your journey much more enjoyable. Experts suggest parking and stretching your legs at least every two hours, planning stops to either fall at mealtimes, or enabling you to pause and visit interesting places along the way.

5. Bring Your Owner’s Manual

Although this is an obvious point, it is one that drivers overlook surprisingly often. You should keep your owner’s manual in the vehicle to help you identify any mechanical hiccups that may occur, speeding up the process if it becomes necessary to call for roadside assistance.

6. Bring a Phone and Charger

You should never text and drive, but by the same token, you should not leave home without your phone either, particularly if you will be driving through geographically remote locations. If something goes wrong, your phone could help to save your life.

You need to know that your mobile phone will not die on you just when you need it most, so it is vital to bring a charger cable, particularly if you are using a navigation app, since the GPS will quickly drain your battery.

7. Wear Comfortable Clothing

When you are driving all day, wearing supportive shoes is important to keep your feet comfortable. On a very long journey, compression socks may be prudent, particularly if you are at increased risk of blood clots.

You should wear light, comfortable clothing that fits you well, with stretchy, soft T-shirts and yoga pants an excellent option, particularly those made from cotton, which will allow your skin to breathe.

8. Pack An Emergency Kit

Nobody starts their journey imagining that something will go wrong, but accidents do happen. An emergency kit containing the basics like a flashlight, first-aid supplies, blankets, and roadside safety gear could make all the difference if the worst happens.

9. Keep Passengers Entertained

Long drives with children can create an environment for boredom and bickering, draining the driver’s concentration. Bringing along plenty of distractions like books, puzzles, tablets, and other diversions can help passengers avoid boredom. Road trip games like “find the license plate” are a great way to while away the time, as are audio books, which can help to keep the brain active.

10. Get Enough Sleep

Tiredness can prove hazardous for drivers. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 100,000 police-reported collisions occur annually in the United States as a direct result of driver fatigue, resulting in 1,550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries.

It is crucial to get a good night’s rest before starting out on your journey. The worst thing you can do is leave home already tired, since this can leave you susceptible to “microsleep”: temporary lapses in focus that leave you vulnerable to accidents.