by Luanne Kadlub
Whether it’s a two-hour drive to visit the grand-kids or a week-long trip to view fall colors, nothing beats a road trip, provided all goes well.
To ensure your next road trip, even one planned at the spur of the moment, goes off without a hitch, Better Business Bureau® Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming offers the following tips:
• Plan your route. If there’s more than one route to your destination, decide which one makes more sense (or is most fun). Familiarize yourself with the landscape, potential for cone zones and weather conditions.
• Routine maintenance. Take your car in to make sure it is safe to drive for long stretches. At the very least, check the car’s fluid levels, air conditioner, wipers and tire pressure.
• Reservations. If planning for a long road trip, plot out your stops and make hotel reservations ahead of time.
• Don’t advertise. When stopping, be it for a short rest stop or while at a store or restaurant, park where you can keep an eye on your car. Also, don’t leave road maps in plain sight and don’t post or check-in on social media unless you want the bad guys to know you’re not home. At night, take everything in plain view with you into your hotel room.
• Emergencies. Write down important numbers you might need during your trip, including those of family members, friends, towing companies and hotels. To check out businesses while on the road, use the BBB iPhone app or bbb.org.
• Safety kit. Be ready for the unexpected. A vehicle safety kit should include blankets, a flashlight with extra batteries, a radio, a first aid kit, jumper cables, nonperishable foods like granola bars and nuts and bottled water.
Start With Trust. For more consumer tips and information, visit bbb.org.
Luanne Kadlub, Communications Editor, BBB Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming. 970-488- 2044, Toll Free: 800-564-0370 Ext. 135, wynco.bbb.org Start With Trust®. 8020 S. County Road 5, Ste. 100, Fort Collins, CO 80528.