Whether you’re going on a family holiday or visiting relatives, taking the family for a long drive requires preparation. Besides ensuring your car is up to the journey, you have to keep your family happy and entertained for the entire drive – something which is easier said than done! Here are some tips if you’re planning a family road trip.
Checking your insurance policy
Checking your current car insurance covers you and your family for a long journey is crucial, particularly if you have a policy tailored to your driving habits but you rarely make long journeys as a family.
If you need to update or switch your policy, your insurer can help with your car insurance quote, leaving you with one less worry before you set off on your trip! This leaves you free to concentrate on preparing your car and your family for the journey.
Getting your car checked
Before leaving, it’s important to get your car checked, by a professional if possible, to avoid breakdowns and accidents. They will be able to check for problems you might miss or are unsure of what to look for. This includes an oil check, ensuring your windscreen wipers are working, checking that the tire depth is correct, and checking for other potential faults which could pose a risk on your trip. If driving in winter, it’s even more important to have a fully functioning car, as breaking down on the way can upset your family since you will have to wait for help to arrive during bad weather conditions.
Keeping the children entertained
Entertaining the children on a long drive can seem more challenging than going through all the vehicle safety checks! If you’re going on holiday, they will at least have a destination to look forward to, but for visiting relatives, they may not be excited to see, they could be more restless and prone to misbehaving.
Additionally, siblings tend to argue more when stuck in a confined space together, which can distract you from driving and leave you wishing you’d stayed at home!
Books or handheld computer games are great options for keeping kids entertained on long car journeys. You could also offer them a reward if they behave on the way. This could be anything from extra pocket money to a small item they’ve been asking you for.
Packing food and drink
Long journeys usually mean being on the road during mealtimes. This can make everyone irritable if they’re hungry, or you’ll end up stopping for an overpriced meal and making the journey even longer. By packing sandwiches, snacks and drinks, you will ensure that nobody gets hungry or thirsty and you don’t have to overpay for food.
It can also feel like more of an adventure for younger children when they get to eat some of their favourite foods, especially if this is something they rarely get to eat. Why not get them involved in the food preparation process?
A lot of planning can go into a long family drive, but it’s worth it to keep your family safe and to arrive at your destination with minimal stress.
Photo: Gabriel Hohol, Pexels