Divide the duties among your co-drivers

We’ve covered what to check with your car before a long road trip. Now we go through what to prepare with your family or chosen group of friends who are coming along. Yes, they share some responsibility too. So here’s a list of things you or they can prepare.

1. Divide the duties

Get everyone involved in the drive and give them a particular duty. Some people are good at driving, others navigating; others at keeping a schedule. Know who does what well and how they can contribute to the trip. Assign a designated driver and a second person to take over if the lead driver gets tired. Assign a navigator for the trip (not the same person as the driver). Put someone in charge of tunes, one in charge of snacks, and another in charge of keeping the car clean. This puts less strain on the driver and keeps everyone active rather than just sleeping while the poor driver has to stay awake alone.

2. Keep the car clean

Before your trip, take the time to clean your car and purge it of any trash and junk that may have been left behind. It’s easy to forget a receipt or two on your daily drive but junk accumulation practically triples on road trips. Cleaning the car gives you space to handle whatever the road trip may throw at you. Get small containers and put plastics in them to serve as trash bags. This will encourage other passengers to throw them in the proper place. Don’t forget to empty them at stops.

3. Have a loose plan

Peak travel periods like the holidays mean you’ll have a lot of other motorists on the road. Have a loose plan and expect a few delays as you’ll never know what issues or accidents you might encounter. Don’t worry about getting to your destination at a set time. Instead, take it easy and give yourself one or two hours of extra allowance so you don’t rush and risk getting into an accident. It’s also prudent to assign a navigator who can check their phone and plot an alternate route if you encounter heavy traffic or a problem.

4. Make the right playlist

Tunes are an inseparable part of drive but there are some tunes that should be a no-no. If you’re the driver or the assigned DJ, make sure the playlist has lots of happy, upbeat or steady tunes for the drive. Avoid putting in slow songs or sad songs as these can make the driver sleepy. This may sound ridiculous but have a playlist with just classical music. Studies have shown that music can unconsciously affect a driver’s behavior so keep those happy tunes flowing. Switch to the classical music to calm tempers and avoid road rage.

5. Have your paperwork ready

Easily the most important is to ensure your vehicle has the right documents. This means licenses for the drivers, registration and insurance for the vehicle, and toll cards in case the RFID stickers aren’t read. Prepare all of these things before hand and place them somewhere convenient on the car to easily find when needed. If you’re staying at a hotel or resort, you might want to bring the reservation papers. Finally, some areas may still require antigen tests or proof of vaccination. Have these ready as well.

6. Sign up for emergency roadside service

Some car owners might find this frivolous, but this is probably one of the most essential things to have particularly on long road trips at peak holiday season. Emergency roadside services (ERS) will come to you if you have a problem and attempt to repair the vehicle or tow it back. This can save you thousands as opposed to not having it. If your vehicle is still new (less than 3 years old), it might include ERS as part of the package. Find the number and the necessary paperwork needed and keep it handy. If not, become a member of one. You’ll never know when you’ll need it.

These are just a few handy tips to keep in mind when going on road trips. Don’t bear the heavy burden of driving, navigating and keeping everyone safe and entertained on your own. Divide the labor, delegate, and get the whole family or barkada involved. It will also make for a much more memorable trip.