Hope you know where you’re going…

Road trips, for most people, are a lot of fun. Whether you are going to a music festival, traveling to see relatives or just going for the sake of it, the thrill of the open road, a loud stereo and some friends can be irresistible.

What some people fail to do though, is prepare their vehicle properly for the trip. This can result in you getting lost, breaking down or falling out. Here are some key tips to make sure you are fully prepared for your journey.

Navigation

Before you leave the house you need to be sure you know where you are going. When you are going to be traveling for 100s of miles you don’t want to suddenly find out that you have been going the wrong way for the last 4 hours. If you can’t get hold of a sat nav, take a long look at a map and write down some accurate directions or take the map and someone that can read it with you.

Emergencies

While you may be a very good driver, there is no certainty when driving that you will be completely safe. Tell people where and when you are going, make sure you are completely sober and get a first aid kit for the car. Also, if anyone has a medical condition like diabetes, be sure they have their medication with them before you go.

Mechanics

This is a crucial thing to deal with before you leave. Assuming you have your MOT, your car should be safe from falling to bits, but it is best to check a few things. Check your oil is topped up, that you have water in your windscreen washers, that your tyres are pumped up and that your brakes work properly. If there is anything funny going on with your car at all, even any performance car parts you might have installed, it is best to get them checked by a garage, as on the open road you may find yourself miles from anywhere when your car suddenly conks out.

Entertainment

One final thing you need to make sure is just right with your car before you leave on a long trip, is your entertainment system. Your stereo needs to be working as several hours of silence can drive you bananas. Also, if you have a DVD player and screens which you are relying on to keep your kids amused, make sure that they work and that you have enough DVDs for the whole trip.

Sam Qam loves road trips. He always makes sure all his performance car parts are working perfectly to make sure they don’t break down on a long drive.