Many people like to travel by car, because this way you can drive at your own pace, stop in beautiful places and change the route at any time. But going on vacation by car is still a rather dangerous event, so you should be careful and remember a few important rules.
Follow the traffic rules
This is relevant in any country, but you need to be especially careful about the rules of the road if you are traveling to another country – there may be prohibitions that do not exist in your country, and quite unexpected ones. For example, in Brazil it is forbidden to drive in flip-flops, in the USA (in some places) it is forbidden to carry alcohol in the cabin (just carry!), in Germany you can be fined for making an indecent gesture to another driver. But in all countries, you need to buckle up, keep your distance, and transport animals only in carriers.
Remove unnecessary items
Do not leave phones and lighters on the dashboard – they can easily overheat and explode in the sun. Put small items in the glove compartment, and large items in the trunk. Before driving, look around the cabin so that there are no unnecessary objects lying under the driver's seat that can roll under the pedals. If you stop and want to leave for a couple of minutes, be sure to take all valuables with you or put them in the trunk to avoid theft.
Plan your route
Do not rely on an electronic navigator, because it has repeatedly made mistakes when determining the road. It is better to buy an up-to-date paper map (at least download maps offline) and think over the route: there should be cafes, gas stations, motels and other establishments along the road.
If you are stuck in a traffic jam, do not take a detour on an unknown road: what if you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, from where there is no exit and where nothing catches?
If you are planning a trip to a mountainous area, be sure to find out the weather forecast in advance, clarify if there are landslides, fogs, river floods in that area. Locals will write on the forums when it is definitely not worth driving.
Check the machine
The most reliable way is to undergo maintenance. If this is not possible, check the main components of the car yourself: oil level, tire pressure, brake fluid and headlights.
Buy the devices you need
An anti-theft system, DVR, navigator, GPS tracker will help you record all the details in case of an accident. With the help of these devices, you can quickly find your car, as you can get lost in some parking lots.
Write to your family about where you are
Share with your family the details of the trip, the route, regularly report your location. If you go to another country, be sure to buy a local SIM card and write your phone number to your family for communication.
Be a calm driver
There are a lot of aggressive fools on the roads who like to race with other motorists. Do not be fooled by their provocations and continue your path in a measured and calm way in order to save your nerves.
Don't stop at the voters
Especially in a deserted area, you should not stop next to a person who stops cars! If you see that people are in trouble, then call an ambulance, tow truck or traffic police.
Do not drive at night
Many people like to drive at night, especially in the summer when it's cool. But at night, our body is set up for sleep, and you can easily get stuck driving without even realizing it. In addition, it is more difficult to notice a hole or hummock at night.
Stop at paid parking lots
Usually, paid parking lots are equipped with video surveillance cameras, so they are safer. In addition, this way you will not run into a fine for leaving the car in the wrong place.
Eat in cafes and sleep in hotels
If you want to sleep a little, then you should not stop in a conditional forest belt - there you can run into criminals. Instead, stay in roadside hotels or guesthouses where you can relax in safety. As for food, a little trick: watch and stop in those places that are popular with truckers - there are lower prices and larger portions.
Traveling by car is great. But sometimes it's worth thinking twice whether you need it: in India and Thailand, traffic is very chaotic, in the Czech Republic a car can easily be stolen, and in France it can be robbed. Therefore, weigh the pros and cons before going on vacation by car!
