While most people are completely fine with driving around town, going on a road trip can be a little scarier. If something were to go wrong, either with your car or for you personally, when you’re just driving around town, there are people there that you know and can help you. But if you’re halfway across the country on a road trip, thinking about something going wrong could cause you a lot of stress and anxiety. And if you drive while you’re stressed or anxious, those emotions could distract you from giving your full attention to the road and cause you to get in an accident. So to help you with both of these issues, here are three driving tips to help you feel more confident on road trips.
Always Stay Alert
Being on a road trip, especially one that drives through areas that aren’t particularly exciting or if you happen to be on your own, it can be easier than you might like to think to lose your focus. If and when this happens, you’ll quickly start being a dangerous driver. So in the event that you start to feel tired, jittery, or otherwise compromised behind the wheel, Melanie Pinola, a contributor to LifeHacker.com, shares that you should get yourself off the road as quickly as possible. If you need to take a quick nap on the side of the road, that’s a much better alternative to driving drowsy. By committing to stopping if you can’t stay alert, you’ll feel much more confident when you are driving.
Familiarize Yourself With Your Car
One reason you might not feel very confident behind the wheel during a road trip could be your relationship with the vehicle you’re driving. If it’s a new car or a car that belongs to someone else, WiseDriving.com recommends that you spend some time getting to know the car and figuring out where everything is or how to work it. For when you’re driving your own car, make sure you give it a good once-over before you leave so you can ensure that there isn’t anything wrong with the car that could cause you to break down or get in an accident. This peace of mind can help you build your confidence.
Beware Of Feeling Over-Confident
To be as safe as possible when going on a road trip, Tim Gibson, a contributor to The Telegraph, warns about feeling too confident when you’re behind the wheel. While it’s good to feel comfortable with what you’re doing, being over-confident could result in you taking unnecessary risks or not giving your driving the attention it needs.
If you’re nervous about a road trip you have coming up, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you build your confidence in the car.
