ALT-4 Family Road Trip Preparation and Safety
"Get yer motor runnin'. Head on out the highway. Lookin' for adventure. And whatever comes our way." (Steppenwolf, "Born to Be Wild", 1968). The iconic American dream of packing the cars, motorcycles or Winnebagos up and heading out on a family adventure has lived on in infancy since the steam-powered cars had luggage racks placed on the backs of their carriages. Even when we travelled by horse, really not all that long ago, the adventure into the unknown, as it relates to what we know and are aware of, is engrained in our id. Mankind was designed to travel, to seek out new horizons and to boldly go where no man has gone before (sorry, Star Trek!).
The one most important thing to remember about family road trips is that everything that matters to you in your life will most likely be in your hands while you drive to your destination. Family road-trip preparation and safety begins with regular vehicle maintenance. If that family in the vehicle is the average family, a mother and father with two and half kids, one-and-a-half dogs and two cats, then the trip becomes an act of supreme due diligence. There just is no excuse for being frugal with car repairs and maintenance when your family's lives could be saved with an oil change. Your vacation could be salvaged by getting an oil and filter change before leaving, since when you take your vehicle in for that oil change, they will inspect your vehicle's brakes and other safety components. And that could be the difference between life and death on your trip.
If you are mechanically inclined, then check your brake pads for wear and damage, and inspect the rotors for any grooves or uneven wear. Replace your brake pads if they give off an intermittent, high-pitched squelching noise while you drive, or if they show uneven wear or damage. Check all fluids and the drive belt for any wear or damage. Check the tires for any uneven wear on the sides of the tires, and make sure that there is sufficient tread for proper traction in inclement weather.
If there are problems with any of these parts, or others, of your vehicle, make sure that you either do the repairs, or have them performed at a reputable garage. Make sure that you have an emergency roadside assistance kit, a first-aid kit and a car-sized fire extinguisher handy in the vehicle at all times, as well as a fully charged cell phone for emergencies. A fully-charged camcorder can be quite handy too (you just never now what you might see!).
Taking the vehicle in to a trusty dealership or neighbourhood garage for a check up before leaving with your family on a road-trip would be one of the smartest things that you could do before starting to pack. But once the packing has started, place the things that will not be needed until after you get to where you are going in the trunk first. Fill up the smaller areas of the trunk with small, malleable objects like blankets and towels. If you plan on stopping for a cooked lunch or supper along the way, then make sure that all needed supplies are packed last, so that they are easily and readily available.
If you are going for an extended period, say for two weeks or longer, then you may want to consider purchasing a vehicle roof rack, either soft or hard, for the roof of your vehicle. That will take the equivalent of your trunk's capacity, and leaves the trunk available for tools, fishing and cooking equipment. Make enough fresh sandwiches for everyone to have two while in the car for each day of travel.
Try buying fresh fruit drinks and water as opposed to sugar-filled pops and coffees. Some cut-up vegetables and dip, or whatever low-sugar foods you like for travelling should also be in the cooler that sits behind the front passengers' seat. The reasoning for this is to minimize the amount of rest-room stops required, and to avoid the cost of fast-food outlets at the onset of your road-trip. That is money that could be better used when you are at your destination.
Drive safe, and be patient with other drivers on the road.
