There is so much to love about going on vacation, but a road trip trumps the lot! You get the freedom of being on the road and enjoying yourself the entire way with your family. You can explore, stop when you like, spend quality time with the people you love the most and you get the chance to have experiences and make memories. With all of these things in place, a road trip can be more than enjoyable.

The one thing that you have to consider above everything else is your safety on the road. From ensuring that the kids are in the right car seats, to knowing that you have the right emergency kit in the back of the car, your safety is going to make the difference between a comfortable, happy journey, and a bit of a nightmare! Below, we’ve put together some of the safety precautions that you should consider before you go ahead and get going with this trip!

• Basic Checks. Before you go anywhere, especially if you’re travelling with kids, you need to go and have all of the basic checks done for your car. This is the tires, the battery, fluid levels and the alignment of the car. While you’re there, get the entire car serviced and cleaned out so that it’s tidy and smells good before you start driving. Tires you haven’t spotted means that you could end up with a blowout, and if this happens you’re going to end up with a flipped car – let’s not go there.
  
• Sleep Well. As the driver, you need to ensure that you’re not driving exhausted. Exhausted drivers fall asleep at the wheel and they cause accidents. The night before each leg of your trip, you need the best possible sleep you can have – ideally around 7-8 hours of sleep will do the job! Yes, you will be excited to get going, but that doesn’t mean that you should stay up late. Rest is imperative if you plan to be a safe driver.
  
• Emergency Kit. The boot of your car should be packed with emergency essentials. A cooler of water and snacks, a bag of towels, blankets and a change of clothing and a First Aid kit will help. Add torches, matches and a small fire extinguisher, too. Tarp and rags will be in your kit, as will a spare charger and change of shoes.
  
• Get Prepped. For a successful road trip, you need to ensure that you have planned everything to perfection. This means mapping your route and checking the weather, getting the tires checked a second time and getting your car prepped on the inside. Sick bags and bottled water should be within reach to your passengers, as should raincoats and shoes. Add towels to the carpet wells of your car in case you need to catch any sick and keep a grab bag of diapers and wipes in the front of the car – just in case! Road trips are exciting – are you ready for yours?