5 Tips for Driving Long Distance
August 4th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
You’re ready to hit the open road and drive a long distance. Yet, driving a long distance can be physically and mentally exhausting, particularly for those who plan to complete an extended road trip for the first time.
How to Drive Long Distance: Here’s What You Need to Know
Car owners, young and old can drive a long distance — and doing so can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For instance, if you plan a road trip that will last several days, you may explore a wide range of attractions and landmarks along the way. You can even use the road trip to visit distant relatives, make new friends, and see all that the country has to offer.
When you drive a long distance, it often helps to plan as much as possible. In doing so, you can limit the risk of physical and mental exhaustion throughout your trip — issues that can otherwise make it difficult to reach your final destination safely.
Spending many hours behind the wheel can also cause back and neck pain as you remain seated for a long period of time. The longer you drive, you may become exceedingly tired as well. This can make it tough to concentrate and increase your risk of falling asleep while driving, which is dangerous to you, your passengers, and other motorists.
Planning a Road Trip? Here Are Tips for Long Drives
To drive a long distance, you must prioritize safety. In fact, there are several road trip tips you can use to drive a long distance without putting yourself or others in danger, such as
1. Get Plenty of Rest Before Your Road Trip
A good night’s sleep can go a long way toward a safe, successful road trip. Try to get at least seven to nine hours of sleep before you depart for your trip. You should also enjoy a healthy breakfast and avoid alcohol or medication that can otherwise impair your ability to drive.
2. Schedule Breaks
It is generally a good idea to take a break every two hours on a road trip. Each break gives you a chance to get out of your car, stretch your arms and legs, and rejuvenate your body and mind. Then, when you feel ready to return to the road, you can resume your road trip feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
3. Share Driving Duties
You may want to handle all driving duties throughout your road trip, but remember, safety is key. Therefore, to ensure that you and your passengers can safely reach your final destination, you should share driving responsibilities. Or, if you are driving alone, you should limit your driving to 10 hours a day. If you are approaching the 10-hour limit, find a hotel, motel, or rest area where you can spend the night and resume your road trip in the morning.
4. Dress Comfortably
Since you will be spending many hours in the car, you should dress comfortably. Wear clothing and shoes you’ll feel comfortable wearing for a prolonged period. You may also want to bring multiple outfits, so you can change from one outfit to another if your apparel becomes uncomfortable at any point during your trip.
5. Give Yourself Ample Time to Travel to Your Final Destination
Plan a road trip that gives you sufficient time to take breaks, refuel your car, enjoy meals, and stay hydrated. There is no need to rush during your road trip; instead, drive safely, and you can enjoy the experience.
These long-distance driving tips can help you minimize risk, regardless of whether your road trip lasts a few hours or several days. Along with these tips, you should get your car checked out by a certified mechanic before you depart for your trip. This enables you to correct any car issues and ensure your vehicle is road trip ready.
Schedule Dent Repairs at Fix Auto
If you discover dents or other car exterior damage as you get ready for your road trip, Fix Auto can help. Our certified technicians perform in-depth dent repairs and other auto body services to improve your safety. To learn more or to book an appointment, please contact us online or call us today at 800.INFO.FIX.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Phoenix, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the City of Phoenix.
