Family heading off on a summer road trip Flickr – Photo Sharing!
Are you gearing up for a summer road trip? Perhaps you are going to visit relatives in another state or take your family on a road trip across the country. If you plan on spending any time in your car this summer you need to take a few moments to think about your safety.
Before engaging on any road trip you should pay you mechanic a visit to make sure you car is in tip top shape. Don’t assume your car is OK. Make sure your breaks are in good shape, oil is changed, tires are inflated and all your fluids are checked.
Travel safety is not only about your car but also your home.
Before you leave on your trip make sure you put a temporary hold on your mail and newspaper deliveries. You wouldn’t want would-be burglars to know you are not at home. You might also want to invest in some programmable lighting sources to go on at night and off in the morning. In addition you should let a trusted neighbor know your not at home and have them keep an eye out on your home.
When you are going on a long road trip chances are your trunk space is overflowing with luggage, toys, games and snacks. It’s important that you also make room for a safety kit.
A safety kit should contain everything you might need in the event your vehicle breaks down. Some suggestions would be;
- Jumper cables
- Flashlight
- First Aid kit
- Emergency flat tire repair kit
- Charger for your cellphone
- Tool Kit
- Gloves
- Blankets
- Non-perishable foods such as nuts and crackers
I would also like to add to this list extra change of clothes for each family member, extra diapers (if you have an infant/toddler traveling with you), spare change (to use a pay phone), things to keep your children occupied and emergency contact numbers.
You should also keep water on hand but keep in mind it’s not a good idea for plastic water bottles to sit in a hot car. I would suggest investing in some BPA-Free water bottles and fill them up prior to your trip and make sure to fill them up throughout your trip so that you are never left low on water.
I might also be a good idea to let a family member know what route you are taking in the event you don’t make it to your destination. That way the Police can retrace your steps and hopefully locate you.
These are just some safety tips to consider before heading off on your summer road trip/trips. State Farm has plenty of more great tips and suggestions on what should be in your emergency road kit. You can find them all on their webpage Summer Driving Tips.
State Farm also created this informative infographic.
I especially like the tips for when traveling with children and pets. Parents sometimes forget that children need to get out of the car and stretch their legs a bit from time to time.
For more great tips including teen drivers, safety, finance and more visit LearningCenter.StateFarm.com. For more information about State Farm visit www.StateFarm.com. The links to all of their social media sites can be found on the main State Farm page.
State Farm has generously offered to give a lucky reader a Trunk Safety Makeover Kit to help you get started on your summer traveling. The kit has a retail value of approx. $50.00. Thank you State Farm.
The kit contains;
- State Farm 2014 Midsize Road Atlas
- Roadside Emergency Kit
- First Aid Kit
- Shoulder Tote
- Mini LED Flashlight
- 21 oz. Sportster Mug
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end on July 19, 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in their place.
To enter please comment on this post and share your best summer traveling tip OR why you would like to win this prize package?
For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries wont’ qualify (I do check). Extra entries are optional.
Kimberly
*I have partnered with State Farm to give you this information. I received a free trunk makeover kit in exchange for my participation.
Maralea says
These are all such great tips especially the ones when you are traveling with kids. Great giveaway! I could definitely use a trunk makover.
Margaret Smith says
I’d like to win this prize because I don’t have a emergency kit in my car and really should.
I like the tip of packing a cooler with healthy snacks and drinks.
Ann Fantom says
My family travel tip is to pack plenty of snacks so you don’t need to buy them while on the go to save time and money.
danielle Marie says
i would love to win because i am dumb and dont have an emergency kit in my car. i do have lots of wate though, just in case
debbie says
Make sure to check all fluids, tire levels, etc. before taking off on any trip.
Janet W. says
I would love to win this prize package because I often travel with my two grandsons. I don’t have an emergency kit like this and would like to be prepared in case anything happened.
Kim Henrichs says
My summer safety tip is to check your tire pressure in the heat! I would love to win this because I have a long commute by myself, and i’m always nervous I’ve forgotten something important in case of roadside emergency.
Erika C. says
I’m a huge fan of State Farm, I have my auto insurance with them and also my home’s flood insurance. They are an awesome company .
Amy Pratt says
Always make sure you carry water in the west desert of Utah where we go to rock hound.
Tari Lawson says
I always make sure we have snacks and drinks with us when we travel as you never know when or if you will be able to stop.
Debra Hall says
No phone or text is that important that it cant wait till you pull over
Stephanie Phelps says
My summer travel tip is traveling with kids make sure you have lots for them to do and carry a cell phone in case of an emergency!
Cynthia R says
I would like to win this road kit because we could use an extra safety first aid kit in our other vehicle.
Katie Amanda says
I’d like to win this because I do a lot of driving and don’t have any emergency things in my car.
Maureen says
I would love to win or my sister. She has 5 young children and one is a special need health patient. This little girl is three and my sister has to drive quite a ways to see specialist to care for her daughter. She needs to bring the others with her at times and this would be a great item for them when traveling.
Denise S says
I want to win this package because I could always use help making our trips easier.
Dorothy Teel says
I like when having to go long distances or several days in the car, get each child a small surprise gift to be given after so many miles or if they have been extra good and quiet, make it a surprise package of something they can use on the trip, a lot of fun and children get very excited. Worked well for us.
C.j. says
I make sure to get a tune up before going on a road trip and make sure to have all my emergency help numbers like AAA and to keep a cell phone fully charged. I’d love to win this prize because I think it would come in handy especially while traveling late at night
Jesse S says
The tire pressure tip and the snacks are probably the best for me to put on the check list.
Kari says
I would like to win this for my daughter. She will be going away to college soon and we definitely need to make sure she has a road safety kit.
D Schmidt says
I would love to win because I just started driving again after a long absence (6 years) and I really think the prize pack would come in handy for me
Kelly Tupick says
I would love to win the prize package for my daughter. She is 17 and is going on her first road trip this summer to Florida. Her car is a 2004 and this is something I would love for her to have and would help me a bit knowing that she has this with her. I’m a nervous wreck, but I guess any mother would be.
RICHARD HICKS says
I would like to win this kit to replace our very old one.
darby says
I would like to win this because I live in a rural area and you never know when you might not have cell service!
Ken Ohl says
bring lots of games for the kids to keep entertained
Alona Y says
I would love to win this because we’ve been working on outfitting both cars and the house with emergency kits and this would help out with the essentials!
Kristi C says
I would like to win this because we are in the car a lot and I don’t have a safety kit right now.
Linda Kish says
I would like to win so I am ready for my fall road trip.
melina r says
I would like to win this prize because I drive my daughter about 5 miles out of town and don’t have too many emergency supplies in my car in case of an emergency.
Sarah Hirsch says
i would like to win this to feel safer on the road with my famil
Laura ari says
I would love to win this because I drive all over the county and I don’t have anything in the car for emergencies!
Pat B says
I would love to win this because I don’t have any of the items in my car right now, though I know I should
Carolyn G says
No summer travel plans because we just moved
Leigh Anne Borders says
We try to keep all supplies in the trunk in case of emergencies. Clothes, clothes, shoes, medicine, water, snacks…you just never know.
Leen says
Taking my first solo road trip this summer. I learned I need to get a few things before I hit the road. A complete safety kit would give me peace of mind that I have all the tools needed to handle any emergency.
Robin Wilson says
As a mom I will never, ever stop worrying about my son even though he is grown and on his own. I would worry a lot less with this in his trunk!
Ashley C says
I always make sure I have a gallon of distilled water in my car, it can either be used to drink if we’re ever stranded or can help with certain summer issues with my car
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Brutus Duffy says
I have a phone in my car that ONLY dials 911. If i am ever in an accident or stranded and my cell isn’t working i have a back-up. Also have blankets in the car and bottled water. Would like new First Aid Kit as the one in my car now is very old. Thanks.
leanne says
\i would love to win this because I do not have a emergency kit and I think it would be really good to have one.
Sara Estep says
Great tips! I would like to win this because we actually don’t have an emergency kit even though we have been on the road more lately.
Melissa S says
I would love to win this for the couple of road trips we need to make this summer.
Mihaela Day says
I would love to win this prize package because we travel a lot and I don’t have a good first aid kit
Karen T Gonyea says
I would love this because the kids and I go on a lot of day hikes and this would be great if we got stranded at the end of the day !!
Gayle J says
We always make sure our car is in tip top shape and always have a ton of snacks and drinks. Plus plenty of things to keep kids occupied so they dont get bored on long road trips
Brittney House says
Make sure to have flashlights, blankets ect in the car just incase you get stranded.
Monique Rizzo says
I would like to win this because you can never be to prepared. Emergencies do happen.
Lisa V. says
My daughter just got a new car and she could use one for her car.
Cori Westphal says
I’d like this because I live in MN, where it’s ever so important to be prepared on the road! You never know what the weather will bring here and it would be nice to know I’m prepared!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Laura J says
My tip would be to make sure you check your tire pressure before traveling, and we always get an oil change and have our filters checked! I would love to win, with our cold winters, this would be wonderful to have in the car in case of an emergency!
Ari T. says
For summer trips I suggest having a road atlas handy (if the GPS doesn’t work), an extra tire in case you have flat (and everything required to replace it) and plenty of water bottles.
Daniel M says
wanna win because i really should have these items in my car
Jill Myrick says
Before going away on a trip always pack emergency water, check tire pressure and have fluid levels checked.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
tina reynolds says
My best tip is allow enough time and plan out your trip and stops as much as you can ahead of time.
Erica B. says
Just always be prepared for a detour!
cynthia Painter says
I would like to win this because we travel a lot and I do not have an emergency kit in my car right now.
loni says
This would be great in case of a winter breakdown
Laurie Emerson says
My best summer traveling tip is that if you are traveling by car a long distance, make sure that you plan for extra time to get there. It is always a good idea to make mini stops to stretch the legs and give the kids little outside of the car time.
Carmen N says
Make sure you all stay well-hydrated while traveling
Jennifer Reed says
I would love to win this Road Safety Kit because I am not prepared at this time for any type of emergencies and I need to be.
Jammie says
I would like to win because we’re not to prepared for traveling, and I would love to go on a roadtrip prepared for anything.
Francine Anchondo says
I really need to get a emergency kit in my car so this would be great to have.
christy colln says
I’d love to win because I need something like this for my car and we are going to travel at the end of August for my baby shower 🙂
Janice Crespo says
Always drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. Pinch your skin to check and make sure it’s elastic enough. I would love to win this for my daughter to keep in her trunk.
Patrice says
I would like to win this prize package because it would give me peace of mind and let me be prepared should any emergencies arise.
Rebecca Lock says
My best travel tip is to invest in a good power inverter. You can plug a slow cooker in and cook while you are driving. it is also great for charging electronics.
Bryan E. says
Thanks for the giveaway…bring along an actual map as a back-up to GPS, SatNav, etc.