November 8-14 is Geography Awareness Week! What better way to celebrate than to learn a little about trip planning? Whether you’re heading off on a vacation, going on a trip to visit family, or just going to the grocery store, it’s important that you plan ahead before hitting the road. What route will you take? What roads should you avoid due to traffic or construction? Where will you stop and stay along the way? And what are your emergency plans for those things you don’t expect to happen, like losing your keys or breaking down in the middle of nowhere?
Trip planning is the preparation you do to make sure you arrive at your destination safely, including choosing the best route, looking at a map and GPS, getting your vehicle serviced, and packing your vehicle. There are three things to keep in mind while trip planning:
1. Determine the best route.
Whether you’re going on a short trip across town or taking off on a long-distance road trip, you still need to determine the best route to get to your destination. Before hitting the road, consider the following
- Construction and road conditions. The shortest, most direct route won’t always get you where you’re going the quickest. Sometimes road conditions and construction can slow you down or even block your intended route. In this case, going a little out of your way to avoid these conditions might be your best bet.
- Time of day and traffic. Traffic is usually at its worst during rush hour (6 AM to 9 AM in the morning and 4 PM to 7 PM at night) when people are commuting to and from work and school. Of course, it’s not always possible to avoid driving during these times, but if you have the option, traveling at a different time of day will be much less of a hassle. If you’re on a long road trip, try to time your trip so you’re not going through major cities during these hours.
- Surface roads or freeways. Consider using highways, freeways, or interstates. These roads have higher speed limits and no intersections or traffic signals to slow you down. If you’re on a long-distance trip, you’ll probably spend most of your time on the freeway.
2. Use your GPS safely.
While using your phone or a GPS system for a road trip is convenient, it can also be distracting. Follow these tips for safely using a GPS system or GPS app on the road:
- Keep your field of vision clear. Some vehicles have a GPS device already installed in a convenient location. If you are using a GPS device or your smart phone, make sure it is mounted securely at eye-level and is not blocking your view of the roadway. You should never hold your GPS device or your phone in your hand, on your lap, or on the passenger seat. If you’re using your phone as a GPS, be sure to silence notifications or enable "Do Not Disturb," so you do not become distracted by the phone while driving.
- Keep your maps updated. Roads and conditions are always changing. It’s important to be sure that the GPS you’re using is up-to-date and accurate. Keep in mind that there may be discrepancies, or differences, between technology and the actual road, and always stay alert to your surroundings.
- Activate voice directions. You may need to reroute or change your destination once you’re already on the road. Maybe you’re three hours into a road trip and want to find the nearest fast food restaurant. You should never manually adjust your GPS while driving. In fact, many GPS devices prohibit it when the vehicle is in motion. A safer alternative is to activate voice directions so your eyes never leave the road.
3. Calculate the cost of your trip ahead of time.
There are a number of considerations that go into calculating the cost of a trip. It’s best to plan ahead so you can be ready for anything. The basic costs for any trip include:
Prices for lodging usually run higher during peak vacation periods, but family-oriented chain hotels and motels often offer rooms at around $90 to $150 per night. If you plan on staying with friends or family, be sure to check with them well ahead of time. Don’t leave your plans to the last minute unless you have no choice. Estimates for food vary, depending on how much and what kind of food you like to eat and where you are traveling. It can be helpful to pre-plan all of your meal stops.
You will find wide variations in the cost of fuel. Check the prices in your area for an estimate. Prices per location are often available online. Fuel costs can be estimated by figuring the number of miles you will be driving and adding 50 to 100 miles to cover local travel and side trips. The miles to and from your destination can be determined using your map or an online source.
Once you know how many miles you plan to travel, divide the number by the average miles per gallon (MPG) that you get with the vehicle you will be driving. Then, multiply the cost of gas per gallon by the number of gallons you’ll use.
Planning a trip is a great way to celebrate Geography Awareness Week! We hope these tips help you on your next trip. If you’d like to learn more about traffic safety, and see which online courses we offer in your state, visit our website!
November 8-14 is Geography Awareness Week! What better way to celebrate than to learn a little about trip planning? Whether you’re heading off on a vacation, going on a trip to visit family, or just going to the grocery store, it’s important that you plan ahead before hitting the road. What route will you take? What roads should you avoid due to traffic or construction? Where will you stop and stay along the way? And what are your emergency plans for those things you don’t expect to happen, like losing your keys or breaking down in the middle of nowhere?