We are love a road trip holiday and while going on a long car trip can be a relaxing experience for some, others find long journeys to be quite stressful. Driving along unknown roads in countries with unfamiliar rules, signs and accepted road etiquette can be scary! There are a few ways to make the road trip more relaxing and Lookers, retailers of used cars, explore ways to make this possible.
Prepare well for your trip
It’s all in the preparation! In the run up to your holiday, plan ahead by researching road signs and making sure you have a general idea on the major roads you will be taking. As exciting as the prospect of a road trip can be, it is crucial to make sure you are well rested the night before to help avoid fatigue, which will only exacerbate any stressful situations!
It is also a good idea to try and make an early start to the trip, as this can often help avoid the pressure of rushing to get to the destination by a specific time.
Another way for drivers to prepare well in advance of a continental road trip is to acquaint themselves with the rules of the roads they will be travelling. Plotting out the routes they intend to travel and enquiring about local traffic laws will help avoid potential problems when on the road.
However old or new your car is, it should be given a thorough inspection before the trip in order to ensure they are ready for the journey. Learning about and rectifying possible mechanical issues ahead of time will help prevent possible breakdowns on the way – something you don’t want to happen on a French motorway!
Show courtesy to other road users
Common courtesy goes a long way and people generally respond well to those are nice to them! If you find yourself in a sticky situation at a junction and rude hand signals bridge the language barrier, a moment of calm and not reacting is your best chance of a short-lived issue.
Keeping alert to the movements of other vehicles, staying out of their blind spots and avoiding making gestures of frustration can do much to ease the possible irritation of a long road trip. Showing friendly manners to other drivers who are merging or turning is another way of reducing stress and avoids situations that can contribute to road rage.
Create a relaxing atmosphere in your vehicle
Ideally, a car ride should be a relaxing way of travelling on holiday. To ensure that this is so, select relaxing music that suits the resting heart rate and circulate air throughout the vehicle. It is also helpful for drivers to talk with fellow passengers, ahead of time, to discuss possible causes of stress and how to avoid them on the trip. Enlisting the help of passengers to watch for road signs and rest areas can take much of the stress off of the driver, who is then free to focus on the road.
