Taking a road trip, whether it’s by yourself or with your loved ones, is a great way to see the country you’re traveling in and learn more about yourself and your companions. However, every time you get on the road, you’re also taking the risk that you’ll get in a car accident, which happens more often than you might like to think about. So to ensure that your next road trip doesn’t end with a totaled vehicle or a hospital visit, here are three things you can do to have the safest road trip you’re even journeyed on.

Eliminate Distractions For The Driver

The person who should take priority during your road trip is the driver. Above all else, the driver should have the ability to focus completely on the road and not have to deal with anything going on inside the car, as what’s happening around the car is much more important. Because of this, Yahoo! Travel and Mental Floss, advise that you eliminate all distractions for the driver. This means that anything he or she might need is within arm’s reach, that all electronic devices are used by other passengers or dealt with before you leave, and that those in the car recognize that the driver isn’t going to be able to help or participate too much in their activities while the car’s in motion.

Be Prepared For Emergencies

Regardless of how much you’ve planned out your road trip, there’s always a chance that some type of emergency could erupt. So to be prepared for the worst, it’s important that you have an emergency kit in your car during your trip. According to SafeMotorist.com, your emergency kit should contain things such as a first aid kit, extra water and food, jumper cables, flares, blankets, and other survival gear. While this might take up some space in your car that you could want to use for other purposes, you’ll be glad you have this kit if some type of emergency does take place.

Plan To Take More Breaks

One of the biggest reasons that people get in accidents when on the road is because they’re not paying attention to what’s going around them. This can either be due to distractions in the car, not being as awake or alert as they should be, or something else entirely. So to keep this from happening to you, Independent Traveler shares with Smarter Travel recommends that you plan to take breaks at least every few hours. This will give you the chance to rest, refuel, and recharge a bit before you get back on the road.

If you have to have the safest possible road trip, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.