Night driving
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If you're planning for a long road trip, you can expect to travel for days on end. You could either stay at a motel or keep driving with the high beams on to cover more distance. For sure, staying in for the night might seem like the better idea, unless you're the type of person who is used to overnight driving.
Even so, you might have to keep yourself safe and secure, especially when you're traversing unfamiliar roads at midnight. Ghosts and chainsaw-wielding maniacs are the least of your problems because there are other risks that are far too real for you to take seriously.
That being said, it's important to apply the right tips that will surely keep you safe during a night drive.
1. Bring a buddy along
If you're traveling alone, you will have to get a much-needed shuteye. Depriving yourself of sleep puts you at risk of crashing your vehicle, so it's best not to take any chances. But with someone else behind the wheel, the journey could go uninterrupted as one of you will be driving and the other sleeping. Still, it's best that one of you is an experienced night owl who can manage to drive a car without dozing off.
2. Choose the right type of vehicle
The type of vehicle you will be driving for the journey matters a lot. Taking an RV would be the best option, considering that it lets you setup camp anywhere. If you're aiming for comfort and convenience, then you might as well rent out an RV with complete amenities. Paying extra for gas would be all worth it. Otherwise, a family sedan or just about any type of vehicle will do, but you will have to consider staying for the night.
3. Be fully equipped
Before you set out, it’s important to come fully prepared. This would mean preparing first aid kits and other emergency essentials that will come in handy for any kind of scenario at night. Other than these essentials, you might also opt for other accessories such as a shortwave radio, a GPS system, and camping gear. You will never know if you need to set up a tent. You might also want to consider downloading apps on your phone that let you check the condition of your vehicle and locate the nearest emergency services in the area you’re in.
4. Upgrade your lighting
When you're traveling along dark and empty roads, you should be aware of your surroundings. On top of that, you may have to consider making your car visible to other motorists. Lighting has to be the most important thing to consider along these lines, so make sure to test your headlamps and check if they're bright enough to illuminate dark roads. You might also want to install LED lights on your vehicle. You can check out www.xkglow.com for quality lights that will surely make you visible in the dark.
Night driving entails a lot of risk. But with the right amount of preparation, you can prevent situations that will surely leave you in dire straits.