"Nine Tips for a (Relatively) Safe Summer Road Trip" by Michael Haynes

For many people, "summer" is nearly synonymous with "road trip." You may be thinking with the events of the recent weeks that getting away is impossible or, at the very least, impossibly risky. The good news is that there are some things you can do to make your road trip relatively safe. We here at Local Family News hope this collection of tips will help you plan your best possible summer road trip.
​
Some of these tips are the same ones we'd have given out in years past, but they're still as important today as they've always been.
 
Tip #1: Make Sure Your Car is in Good Working Order
Check your tire pressure and your fluids, topping off anything that's low. Being able to keep on the move is essential, so you'll also want to make sure you have a fully fueled vehicle before you hit the road.
 
Tip #2: Make a Playlist
This has always been more fun than cycling through various staticky channels which fade in just as the advertisements are starting and fade out when the song you want to hear is about to play. With many radio stations currently out of service due to either loss of key staff or damage to necessary infrastructure, your over-the-air options will be even slimmer. Fortunately, cellular service is still widely available, and there’s always offline mode!
 
Tip #3: Bring a Paper Map
The oldest among us working for Local Family News remember their parents wrestling with giant paper maps or flipping through the pages of a book of maps during the road trips of our youth. It may not be something you’ve ever had to consider, and you’ll want to bear in mind that some towns are no longer populated and keep an eye out for detour signs. But even with these caveats, if your phone dies or there’s another GPS interruption like the one in April, having paper maps could be a lifesaver!
 
Tip #4: Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
This tip is an oldie but a goodie. We know some folks may ask what the point is, suggesting that they likely won’t be around long enough for skin cancer to be a problem. Regardless of your degree of pessimism about our possible future, sunscreen is still worthwhile! Many a family road trip has been ruined by sunburns leaving people ouchy and grouchy. So slather it on! SPF 50 or better is still your best bet. 
 
Tip #5: Get a Good Night of Sleep Before Driving
We're not at our best when we're not well-rested. Out on the road, away from the safety of your house, you definitely want to be fresh and alert. If, like many of us, you've been having trouble sleeping at night, make sure to avoid caffeine and other stimulants late in the day. Setting your phone out of reach before you lie down is a good way to avoid scrolling through the news or your socials "one more time." 
 
Tip #6: Get an Early Start
Fortunately, summer means long days and short nights, and you’ll want to take advantage of that and hit the road as close to sunup as you can get yourself and your family out the door. Those extra hours of daylight will, if nothing else, give you an opportunity to take a few more minutes to carefully enjoy a scenic overlook. And if something goes wrong, you’ll be grateful for every spare second you have before nightfall. 
 
Tip #7: Grab Some Snacks
We’ve stressed the importance of being thoughtful about the stops you make to help ensure your safe arrival at your evening’s destination. Still, just like you don’t want your car to run out of fuel, you need to keep yourself and your family fueled. You could buy your snacks in advance, and if you’re going to be tight for time, do that! But it’s undeniable that there’s something extra-special about a candy bar or bag of chips purchased at a fueling station. If you can afford the minutes, get everyone out of the car for a stretch break and do a little snack shopping. Your tastebuds will thank you for it!
 
Tip #8: Know What You'll Do if Your Car Breaks Down
If you followed the advice in Tip #1, hopefully this won't happen to you, but even a well-maintained car can run over a sharp piece of metal and blow a tire. Some problems you can fix (you do have a spare, right?). Unfortunately, other problems may require a mechanic. If that’s the case, you’ll first want to try towing services since staying in your vehicle is your best bet. Because of the importance of not being on the road after nightfall, towing services still operate in many parts of the country, though the fees may be astronomical. Ultimately, it’s possible you’ll find yourself unable to find (or afford) a tow. That leads us to our final tip.
 
Tip #9: Know Who Will Go
Whether it’s because of car trouble or for some other reason, you’ve come to the difficult decision that someone has to set out on foot. To avoid a painful conversation in the moment, decide in advance who will be the one to leave the car and walk for help if you determine that's necessary. Understand, too, what the rest of your family should do if that person doesn't return when expected.
 
With these tips in mind, you’ll have a better chance of getting to your destination safely if you hit the road this summer. And as always, don’t forget the most important thing — have fun!

---

Michael Haynes (he/him/his) is an avid short fiction reader and writer with over 100 published stories, most in the speculative fiction genres. His 2025 short story collection, THREE THINGS CAMERON COULDN'T TELL YOU: STORIES OF (MIS)COMMUNICATION includes more than two dozen of his stories. Michael lives in Colorado and has more hobbies than he really has time for, enjoying travel, going to concerts, photography, cooking, geocaching, hiking, board games, and so on. Learn more at his website michaelhaynes.info or say hello on Bluesky @michaelhaynes.bsky.social.

---