For most families, going on a road trip is a time for fun, sing-a-longs, and adventure. It’s a great opportunity to hop on the open road and truly see the world around you… that’s the bright side of road trips. For those who have been on road trips before and had not-so-pleasant experiences, they know that road trips, if you’re not careful, can be the ultimate road map to on-road disasters.

Typically, when planning a road trip, safety is, of course, one of your top priorities but at the forefront of your mind is all the fun aspects of it. The reality of going on trips is that no one wants to think about going on a road trip and getting into a bad accident or getting on a plane and worry about whether or not the plane will crash… it’s too harsh a reality for people to want to deal with or face right before going on a trip that’s supposed to be worry-free.

Well, you might not want to have to think about those instances but for the safety of you and your family, it’s detrimental that you think about these things and properly prepare for worst-case scenarios, especially before road trips. Just imagine the damage that can be done if an accident were to occur and you didn’t have the proper insurance or a personal injury lawyer to call to handle your case.

That thought alone is why before any road trip, you need to make sure your vehicle is covered with proper insurance and that you have the contact information of a personal injury lawyer that will fight to get you the best outcome possible in the event that an accident occurs… It’s tough to think about but you have to remember that on road trips, you’re carrying precious cargo and you need to be prepared for anything. So before loading everyone in the car, be sure to check this road trip safety checklist before you go.

Get Plenty of Rest the Night Before 

It’s been said that drowsy driving is just as bad as drunk driving, so with that being said, make sure you get plenty of sleep before your road trip, especially if you’re the driver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that drowsy driving is a major contributing factor in nearly 100,000 car accidents per year. The goal is to only drive when you’ve had plenty of rest but if you feel yourself getting sleepy, either pull over or switch drivers.