Taking a road trip can be a great way to see the world around you and spend some time with the people you care about while cruising down the road. However, if the weather on the road turns bad, your road trip can quickly turn from the vacation of your dreams to the stuff of nightmares. So to help ensure that you’re able to keep everyone safe on the road and arrive at your destination in one piece, here are three tips for road tripping during inclement weather conditions.
Related Read: How to Plan a Family Road Trip With Kids
In Inclement Weather You Should Do This
Always Keep An Eye On The Weather
Regardless of what month or season it is, it’s always a good idea to check the weather along your route before you hit the road. While you might think that the only bad weather you’ll need to concern yourself with is rain or snow, many other types of weather can affect your ability to travel safely on the road as well. Things like extreme heat or cold, wind, or fog can also have big impact on your trip. So prior to starting your road trip each day, Alex Temblador, a contributor to Oyster.com, recommends that you download a weather or road condition app and check the forecasted weather that you’re likely to run into. If you see something that looks dangerous, you can adjust your route or schedule to avoid it and keep yourself safe.
Drive For The Conditions
Different people have very different ideas about speed limits while road tripping. For some people, the speed limit means just what it says: the maximum speed you should be driving. For others, a speed limit is a number that you can exceed within reason, like maybe by five additional miles per hour. And still for others, the speed limit might as well not even exist with how much respect they give it. But apart from needing to worry about getting a speeding ticket, you also need to make sure you’re not driving too fast for the conditions. According to Alex Deborgorski, a contributor to Real Simple, you should always slow down if the roads are wet or icy at all. As a good rule of thumb, if the weather isn’t ideal for driving, try to stay at or below the speed limit for maximum safety.
Bring Along An Emergency Kit
While it’s always a good idea to have certain emergency items in your car while driving, being on a road trip in bad weather is a time when you should be sure you have things you’ll need in the event of an emergency. According to Michael Hodson, a contributor to TripSavvy.com, your car emergency kit should include things like a first aid kit, food and water, blankets, basic car tools, and more.
If you’re planning a road trip, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you be prepared in the event that inclement weather strikes.
