Road Trip Safety: Essential Tips, Checklist, and Emergency Kit Guide
Most road trip trouble comes from a tired driver, a car that wasn't checked or a stop that wasn't planned. Here's how to handle all three, and what to do if you break down.
By POM Industries · Updated · 6 min read
Short answer: Check the car before you go, including the spare. Keep an emergency kit in the car. Plan fuel and rest stops, and stop driving when you're tired. At gas stations and rest stops, lock up and keep your keys in your hand. If you carry pepper spray, check the law in every state on your route.
Part of our Travel Safety Guide. Driving is one way to travel. The guide covers planning, hotels and what to do if something happens.
Read the guideCheck the car before you leave.
A breakdown is a nuisance in town and a real problem on a dark rural highway. NHTSA says to check tire pressure at least once a month and before a long trip.
| CHECK | HOW |
|---|---|
| Tire pressure | Use the number on the tire placard (usually on the driver's door jamb) or in the owner's manual, not the number on the tire. Check when the tires are cold. |
| Tread | Put a penny in the tread with Lincoln's head pointing down. If the tread doesn't cover any of his head, it's time for new tires. |
| Spare, jack and tools | Check the spare's pressure, and make sure the jack and lug wrench are in the car. |
| Fluids | Oil, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid. |
| Lights and wipers | Headlights, brake lights, turn signals and wiper blades. |
| Open recalls | Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls. Get any open recall fixed before the trip. |
Keep an emergency kit in the car.
Ready.gov recommends keeping an emergency kit in your car in case you're stranded.
Car help
Jumper cables or a jump starter, a tire gauge, reflective triangles, a flashlight with spare batteries and basic tools.
Health and comfort
Water, snacks, a blanket, a first aid kit and any medications you take.
Staying in touch
A car charger, a power bank, a paper map and emergency contacts written down.
For the season
Winter: ice scraper, small shovel, sand or cat litter for traction, warm layers. Summer: extra water and sunscreen.
Plan your route and stops.
Navigation apps help, but service drops and batteries die.
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Know the route and a backup
Look at the whole route, not just the first turn. Download offline maps.
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Check weather and road conditions
Ready.gov says to check forecasts and road conditions before long trips, and to drive in bad weather only if you have to. Check mountain passes, floods, snow, smoke and closures along the way.
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Fill up early
Our tip: refuel at a quarter tank, especially in rural areas or at night.
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Share your plan
Tell one person your route, your stops and when you expect to arrive.
Don't drive tired.
NHTSA counted 684 people killed in crashes involving a drowsy driver in 2021, and says the real number is likely higher because police reports miss many of these crashes.
Warning signs
Yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting out of your lane, missing exits or not remembering the last few miles.
Watch the clock
NHTSA says drowsy-driving crashes happen most often between midnight and 6 a.m. and in the late afternoon.
What works
Sleep well before the trip, share the driving and stop to rest when you feel tired. Our tip: take a break about every two hours.
What doesn't
Rolling down the window or turning up the music. Caffeine buys a little time, not sleep.
Gas stations and rest stops.
These are the moments your attention drops: you're out of the car with your wallet out, maybe on your phone.
Pick busy, well-lit stops
Stop during daylight when you can, and park near the entrance.
Lock up every time
Lock the car even for a minute, and keep your keys in your hand.
Plan before you get out
Check directions and messages in the locked car, not at the pump.
If it feels wrong, drive on
You don't have to get out. Go to the next stop.
Overnight stops.
After a long day of driving it's easy to relax. A few habits help.
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Bring valuables inside
Laptops, bags and documents go into the room with you. Anything left in the car goes in the trunk or under a cargo cover.
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Park where it's lit
Park close to the entrance in a well-lit spot.
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Use every lock
Check the connecting door and windows, too.
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Check before you open the door
If you didn't expect someone, call the front desk to confirm who it is. Keep your phone, keys and safety tool by the bed.
More on hotels and rentals in the Travel Safety Guide.
Pepper spray on a road trip.
You're responsible for knowing the law everywhere you drive, not just where you start and finish.
Check every state on the route
Rules can change at state lines and sometimes city lines. See pepper spray laws by state.
Keep it within reach
In a door pocket, the console or on your keys, not packed under luggage. Keep the safety closed.
Keep it out of the heat
Don't leave it on the dashboard or in a parked car in the sun. Follow the storage directions on the packaging.
Use it to get away
It's for stopping an attack so you can leave. It doesn't replace locking up, staying alert and leaving early. Store it where kids can't reach it.
POM Key½ oz spray for your key ring
POM Clip½ oz spray that clips to a pocket or strap
Personal Alarm130 dB siren, no spray
Check the law in every state on your route before you pack or order.
If you break down.
Traffic is the biggest danger. These are our tips; follow police and roadside crew instructions where you are.
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Get off the road
Move as far off the road as you can and turn on your hazard lights.
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Near traffic? Stay put
If you're stopped in or next to traffic, stay buckled in and call 911 or roadside assistance.
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Getting out? Use the far door
If you have to leave the car, get out on the side away from traffic and move well away from the road.
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Triangles only if it's safe
Put out reflective triangles only if you can do it without walking into traffic.
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Careful with offers of help
If a stranger stops, crack the window, keep the doors locked and ask them to call for help.
Before you drive off
- Tire pressure and tread checked, spare too
- Open recalls checked
- Emergency kit in the car
- Weather and road conditions checked
- Route shared with someone
- Rested, with a plan to switch drivers or stop
- Pepper spray legal in every state on the route
- Valuables out of sight
Mistakes to avoid.
Forgetting the spare
It's the tire you'll need most. Check its pressure and the jack before you go.
Pushing through tired
If you're nodding off, the only fix is to stop and rest.
Running the tank low
Gas stations can be far apart in rural areas and closed at night.
Leaving bags in view
A packed car is easy to spot. Use the trunk and bring valuables inside overnight.
Questions.
What should I check before a road trip?
Tire pressure and tread, including the spare, plus fluids, lights, wipers and the battery. Look up open recalls for your car at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
What goes in a car emergency kit?
Jumper cables or a jump starter, reflective triangles, a flashlight, a first aid kit, water, snacks, a blanket, a phone charger and a paper map. Add winter or summer gear for the season.
How often should I stop on a long drive?
We suggest a break about every two hours, and right away if you feel drowsy. Share the driving if you can.
Can I keep pepper spray in my car on a road trip?
Where it's legal. Laws vary by state, so check every state on your route. Keep it within reach, out of the heat and away from kids.
What should I do if my car breaks down on the highway?
Get as far off the road as you can and turn on your hazard lights. If you're stopped in or next to traffic, stay buckled in and call 911 or roadside assistance.
Should I share my road trip route with someone?
Yes. Give one person you trust your route, your stops and when you expect to arrive.
Driving is one part of the trip.
The Travel Safety Guide covers planning before you go, getting around, hotels and nights out, and what to do if something happens.