The Top 9 Necessities for A Road Trip Checklist

Creating a checklist before departing on a road trip can help you avoid several different types of worst-case scenarios. A lot can go wrong during your journey, even if your road trip is covering a short distance. Vehicles may break down, or they can be unsafe for driving. Creating a checklist helps you prepare for the worst-case scenarios. We have created a list of nine necessities for a road trip checklist.

1. Check vehicle’s fluid levels: It’s best to know if your car has unsafe fluid levels before departing on your trip. Check windshield wiper, transmission and coolant fluid levels before leaving. You can also check the date you are required to perform an oil change.
2. Inspect your tires: Never drive vehicle with unsafe tires. For example, tires with poor tread may cause the car to hydroplane during rainy weather. Check your tread level by using the “quarter trick”. Take a quarter and stick it in the tread of all your vehicle’s tires. If the top of Washington’s head is showing, consider installing new tires. In addition, check for wear and tear. Holes and tears in your tire may cause a blowout accident.
3. Examine and service your battery: You can wind up stranded if your car battery fails. Imagine being stuck at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere. Not fun. To prevent this from happening, check your battery with a voltmeter or probe and make sure the terminals are clean. WikiHow has an interactive guide that can show you how to safely check a battery. Servicing a battery can be dangerous. In some cases, this is best left to a professional.
4. Stock up on emergency supplies: Stock your vehicle with emergency supplies. These supplies may include first aid kits, flashlights, flares, blankets, repair tools, water and food. Bring a GPS navigation system in case you get lost.
5. Check your brakes: Unless you know how to already, have a repair shop examine your brake pads and rotors. Check the thickness of the pads.
6. Install traffic and weather apps: Some smartphone apps will alert you to hazardous traffic or weather conditions. Install these on your phone before leaving. Google Maps can provide you with real-time traffic information. The NOAA’s app provides users with weather alerts. Be sure not to glance at the apps while driving.
7. Inspect your car seats: Make sure your car or booster seats are installed correctly if you are traveling with children. An estimated 80 percent of child car seats are installed incorrectly. In the event of an accident, and incorrectly installed seat can raise the risk of fatal or catastrophic injuries. Check to see if you have the right type of car seat by reading our recent blog on this subject.
8. Bring basic necessities: Bring sunglasses, a spare set of car keys and cash for toll roads. Cell phone signal boosters can help you stay in contact with loved ones during your trip. These are available for purchase on Amazon.
9. Check for recalls: Use safercar.gov to make sure your vehicle is not under recall. Do not use your vehicle for a road trip if your manufacturer has issued a recall. Enter your VIN (vehicle identification number) into the website’s search engine to pull current recall information.

What to Do If You Are Injured on Your Journey

If you or loved ones are injured in a car accident during your journey, seek immediate medical attention. Depending on the circumstances, try to write down as much as possible about what happened and take photos of the wreck if you are able. If an adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company calls you, tell them you cannot talk at this time and hang up the phone. Your next step should be to contact a Texas car accident attorney.Attorneys can defend you from insurance companies that do not have your needs in mind. In addition, they may also discover additional ways you can recover damages from an accident. These damages may help pay for medical bills, lost income and rehabilitation costs.