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It is spring and everybody knows that means before you know it, you will be packing up for a trip to the parent’s place in Florida over Memorial Day weekend, a trip to Washington DC in early July to check out the fireworks on Independence Day and a trip to Colorado over Labor Day weekend for some awesome camping. 

 

Of course, you may drive to completely different places. Our point is that summer kicks off pretty soon, which means you probably have at least one road trip planned. The problem is that you aren't the only person in Texas who will be doing some traveling this summer, which means those roads and highways will be busy.  

 

Before you head out of your road trip or road trips this year, bring your vehicle to Groovy Automotive, your auto repair shop in Austin, and we will make sure it is thoroughly inspected and ready of the road. And if you want your trip to go as smoothly as possible, we offer the following tips to stay safe on the road. 

 

The sooner you can sit down and plan your summer trip, the easier you will make things for yourself. Do some research and find out when the optimal times are for leaving and arriving at your destination. For example, you don't want to start your trip during rush hour, it only slows you down. 

 

Plan your meal stops to occur when traffic is at its worst. And plan your route ahead of time. You will also want to check to see any construction that might be scheduled on the roads you will be taking. Leave yourself plenty of time to change your route if something comes up, like a road closure.

 

 

While having a GPS and having someone tell you when to turn is really nice, don’t rely too heavily on your TomTom or Garmin or whatever you use. Take the time to get yourself familiar with the route you are going to take. You will want to memorize street names and places where you will exit or turn. It is also a good idea to write this information down. You just never know what might happen on a road trip, your GPS could suffer a malfunction and you would be left with a map. So it is best to be well prepared. 

 

 

Check the weather ahead of your scheduled road trip and plan accordingly. In fact, you should be prepared for just about anything that might come up. There are also any numbers of apps that you can get to check the weather while you are on the road. There are even apps that offer real-time radar, which could be a big help on your road trip.

 

 

If the highways become packed and dangerous, it is a good idea to have a backup plan that includes roads less traveled. Sure, taking the scenic route might take a little longer, but it is key to reach your destination safely. Besides, the nice views will keep the family occupied. 

 

 

As savvy as you think you are with your iPhone, in all likelihood your 12-year-old is a master at technology. So it makes sense to put him or her in charge of navigation. Divvy up tasks among your clan and everyone will have a job to do and get great satisfaction from it.

 

 

You want to go ahead and drive late into the night to reach your destination sooner, but that probably isn't a good idea. In no way do you want to risk anyone's safety by driving while you are too tired. So go ahead, pull over at the next hotel.  

 

 

It is a good idea to enlist the service of a roadside rescue agency, like AAA for example. The last thing you want to have happen is to break down in an unfamiliar place with no idea what to do next.  

 

 

Breakdowns and accidents are a huge cause of traffic jams. The smartest thing you can do before heading off on a road trip is to have your vehicle serviced and inspected by a professional.

 

Give Groovy Automotive a call to have your vehicle serviced.