MT. PLEASANT, Mich. -- Summer is finally here in the Mitten State, and that means it's road trip season! There are plenty of adventures to be had on a road trip through Michigan, but there are a couple things you should know in order to ensure your travels are enjoyable as well as safe. Graff Mt. Pleasant is here with 5 helpful road trip tips to make your next excursion the absolute best!
1. GET SLEEP
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about 100,000 vehicular accidents are caused by driver fatigue each year, resulting in about 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and a whopping $12.5 billion in collision repairs.
Before heading out on a long drive, it is essential that you get enough sleep the night before, at least 8 hours according to the National Sleep Foundation. If you're traveling with other people of driving age who have their license, plan to switch out driving duties. If you're going it alone, work a hotel stop into your itinerary.
2. FUEL UP
It might seem like a no-brainer, but about 800,000 drivers run out of gas each year on the road due to overestimating how much fuel they have left in their tank. The good thing about road trips is you'll mostly be cruising highways, which eats up less gas. However, Graff Mt. Pleasant recommends you do some preliminary research such as:
- How many miles will you be traveling? Most GPS services will tell you when you're planning your route. You should also look into how many gas stations are on the way, the more the better.
- How's your vehicle's gas mileage? Gas mileage tells you how many miles you can travel before your car uses a gallon of gas, and you can easily look this up online or in your owner's manual. Additionally, it's good to know how many gallons your gas tank can hold, which can also be found using the aforementioned sources.
Most importantly, if your fuel light comes on, DO NOT be a hero. Otherwise, make sure you have either roadside assistance or a no-spill gas can on board so you can hoof it to the nearest gas station.
3. INSPECT YOUR VEHICLE
Before you head out on your road trip, make sure your car is running at its best. This not only saves you money on the costly repairs that can result but is also essential to your safety. Here's a checklist of things to inspect before a long drive. If you're uncomfortable performing the check yourself, feel free to schedule a service appointment with Graff Mt. Pleasant! Our friendly and knowledgeable service technicians will be happy to answer any questions and make sure your car can handle the trip!
4. CHEW GUM
During a long drive, chewing gum has actually been proven to increase circulation and improve alertness, which are both important things to have since you'll be sitting for long periods of time while piloting two tons of motorized metal.
5. HAVE SOME SOUND
A killer playlist is not only an essential part of the road trip experience, but it's also a good way to keep you alert while driving. Music helps to stimulate the brain and break up the monotony of driving, which in turns cuts down on fatigue and boredom. Audiobooks work too!
Summer is road trip season in Michigan, and we hope you've found these 5 tips helpful! From all of us at Graff Mt. Pleasant, we wish you safe and happy adventures! Need a new ride before you head out? Check out our inventory of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles and schedule a test drive!
At Hank Graff Mt. Pleasant we strive to provide our customers with a car buying experience that is accommodating, stress-free and fun! Visit us at our Chevrolet dealership located at 4580 E Pickard Rd in Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858 or our Buick GMC Cadillac dealership located at 116 N. Mission St in Mount Pleasant, MI 48858.
Websites: Chevrolet: HankGraffMtPleasant.com and Buick GMC Cadillac: GraffBGC.com
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