When you are planning a road trip with your family, there are several things to consider, including the time that you will begin traveling. Some individuals recommend starting a road trip at night rather than during the day, and there are pros or cons for doing this. Here are some of the reasons to start a road trip at night along with the reasons to avoid this practice.
Fewer Automobiles on the Highways
If you leave at night to go on a road trip, then there are fewer automobiles on the highways, so you can drive faster without worrying about the traffic. This can help you to leave a city faster before reaching the highways. The stoplights won’t turn to a red light as often when there are fewer vehicles traveling, so you can avoid numerous stops while you are leaving town.
Your Children Can Sleep
When you make sure to sleep later that day or when you take a nap, it will make you feel rested enough to drive safely at night. You can place your children in their car seats with a cuddly blanket so that they will sleep while you travel for many miles without any disruptions. This can make traveling feel less stressful because you don’t need to entertain your children.
Coping with Construction Work
While traveling at night, you must remain alert for any disturbances along the highways, including construction work that may close a lane or heavy machinery that is arriving early in the morning. If you make sure that you are wide-awake, then you won’t have any problems.
More Semi Trucks Traveling on the Highways
One of the cons of driving late at night is that there are more semi trucks on the highways. This means they’ve often been on the road for a very long time. Many trucking companies skirt around the law to push their drivers to drive longer than legally they should be able to. This can lead to distracted and tired truck drivers and an 18-wheeler accident. It is a good idea to learn how to drive defensively around larger trucks, and if you are traveling on a multi lane highway, then you should attempt to drive in a lane that is different from the semi trucks. You can also choose to travel along the back roads that aren’t used by truckers. If this tragedy happens to your family make sure you contact an 18 Wheeler Accident Law Attorney to help you navigate the medical expenses and legal mess surrounding an accident.
Making Your Decision about When to Travel
The decision to travel during the day or the night is a personal one that you must choose based on your own personality and health. Think carefully about the pros and cons of traveling late at night or during the day before making a decision. Don’t be afraid to make the road trip part of the fun. Many people get so fixated in the destination that they don’t have fun along the way. Look at some great cities to stop and rest for a night. Have some local grub along the way and take some of the road trip stress by making it a family adventure while you are on the road.