Tips for Driving Long Distances Alone (Practical Guide For Safe Driving)

As long as you’re able to make use of these handy tips, you’ll never have a hard time getting to your destination. Read on to learn more so that your next long-distance trip will go smoothly.

Set Your Smartphone or GPS Ahead of Time

If you know where you’re going, then it makes sense to set your smartphone or GPS ahead of time. You can take the time to program the destination and get things going before you even pull out of your driveway.

This will keep you from needing to try to program it while you’re already on the road. That would be dangerous and there is no need for it.

Setting your smartphone or GPS isn’t going to take long at all. Take the time to type in the address of your destination and you’ll be ready to get to driving. Just remember to do this every time that you have to drive a long distance by yourself.

There are many useful smartphone apps that will help you stay focused while driving ensuring you arrive at your destination safely.

Use a Car Smartphone Mount to Cradle Your Phone

It’s going to be very smart to go ahead and buy a smartphone mount to cradle your phone. The phone is going to be a valuable resource when you’re driving a long distance alone.

You don’t want to be fumbling with it all the time, though. You won’t have a passenger who can act as a navigator for you so you need to be able to see the phone in order to get the necessary GPS information.

Installing a smartphone mount is very simple. You can mount it on the center of your dashboard or you can place one by the driver’s side window. There are magnetic mounts and mounts that latch onto your air vents. Simply make sure that you have a mount of some sort that will make seeing your phone simple during your trip.

Ensure That You Have Access to a USB Charger

You definitely don’t want your phone to die on you while you’re driving a long distance all by yourself. There’s a good chance that you might be relying on the GPS on your phone to tell you where you need to go.

Luckily, you can prevent problems such as this from popping up by simply bringing a charger with you. Ensuring that you have access to a USB charger is highly recommended.

If you have an older car that doesn’t have any USB charging ports, then you should buy an aftermarket charger. You can buy chargers that will plug into the cigarette lighters on older vehicles. This will also work well to help you keep your phone charged. Just make sure that you have access to some type of charger that will work for the type of vehicle that you’re driving.

Consider Using a Bluetooth Transmitter for Music and Entertainment

Making use of a Bluetooth transmitter is highly recommended. You can hook your smartphone or MP3 player up to the Bluetooth in your car. This will allow you to play music easily and you can listen to podcasts. It’s going to help you to stay awake and engaged in driving.

Also, you won’t be trying to fumble with your radio when you hook things up through Bluetooth. Most cars allow you to change songs or adjust things with buttons on your steering wheel.

It allows you to keep your eyes on the road while still being able to adjust things to your liking. Even your GPS will be able to make use of the Bluetooth so this is an essential tip to keep in mind.

Make Safety Checks Before Starting Your Journey

Finally, you’re going to want to make important safety checks before starting your journey. If you take the time to check your oil levels and tire pressure using a digital gauge, then you’re going to be much safer on the road by yourself.

It’s also a good idea to ensure that your gas tank is full. Do everything that you can to ensure that your car is good to go before you start driving long distances alone.