Safety tips for couples to remember when driving home for the weekend

Taking a road trip as a couple is always a big event – whether you’ve been together for just a few months or many years. Choosing the right snacks, creating a playlist and packing up the car all make driving home for the weekend feel different to just an ordinary journey, especially if you don’t get to see your home friends and family very often.

But as well as creating the perfect car setup for your enjoyment and comfort, you’ll also need to think about the safety aspect of taking a longer trip. In this post, we share four of our top tips to make sure you reach home safely.

Make sure you’re well rested

Many of us will choose to travel home on a Friday evening, after a long week at work. This has the benefit of giving you the longest amount of time in your hometown, but it also means you’ll likely be driving after a busy day, and into the evening. As a result, you can quickly get tired behind the wheel, especially if you’re used to getting an early night.

Try and make sure you’re well rested in the days leading up to your trip, prioritising sleep where you can. Research shows that tiredness can come on suddenly, with one study showing 36% of respondents felt fine when they first started their drives, and then suddenly became sleepy. To tackle this, you should also make sure you schedule in several stops to take brief breaks in your journey, even if you feel like you can push through.

Pack an emergency safety kit

When you’re driving a hire car, you’ll need to take responsibility for your safety, rather than assuming the vehicle comes with everything you need. Packing a small emergency kit can give you peace of mind that if something unexpected happens, you’ll be ready – rather than relying on there being a safety kit in the boot, only to find out there isn’t one once you’re pulled up on the hard shoulder.

Items to include are a small first aid kit (think plasters, antiseptic wipes and bandages), hi-vis jackets, cones or reflective triangles, a torch, gloves and a road atlas. In the winter, you’ll also want to include a foldable shovel and a blanket. You could also pack some long-life cereal bars in case you get stuck for a while.

Leave plenty of time

Rushing to get to your destination can cause you to abandon the sensible driving practices that you usually stick to. When the clock is ticking, you may be tempted to quickly cut across someone or take an exit at the last minute in an attempt to get home faster, but this puts both yourselves and other road users at risk.

Chances are, your family would much rather you got to them safely rather than in time for dinner. Try to remove time pressure where you can by not booking in any social gatherings on the evening that you’re due to arrive, or share your location with your family via your phone as you go, so they know roughly when to expect you. H2:Pack healthy snacks Part of the fun of a road trip is choosing all your favourite snacks to keep you fuelled up on the drive – but have you ever considered that what you eat will affect your concentration? Just like the sleepy feeling after a big meal, the wrong food in the lead up to your trip can leave you feeling sluggish and slow to react.

Whilst it’s fine to have a few sweet treats thrown in, sustenance such as bananas, dark chocolate and trail mix are all good options when it comes to car snacks. You should also try to eat a substantial lunch with slow-release carbs in it, such as sweet potatoes or wholewheat pasta. Whilst it’s important not to overload, feeling pleasantly full can also stop you getting ‘hangry’, and reduce the risk of frustration and road rage.

Familiarise yourself with the car

When you hire a car, you might not know how to activate the headlights or that there is a lane assist sensor. Please familiarise yourself with the car before driving on the motorway, especially before it gets dark. Ensure you adjust the mirrors for clear visibility, check the location and function of essential controls like wipers and hazard lights, set up the GPS to avoid distractions, verify the fuel type, test the brakes and lights, understand the dashboard indicators, and adjust your seat and steering wheel for comfort. By taking these steps, you can ensure a safer and more comfortable driving experience.

Drive home safely

With a bit of careful planning, you can give yourself the best chance of a smooth, safe journey home. Whether you’re going for just the weekend, or are tempted to stay a bit longer, make sure to prioritise your safety and that of other drivers around you.

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