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August Road Trips Safety Tips

As August begins, the next phase of reopening of businesses across the state of Missouri begins as well. We are just as excited as you are for our favorite places to open and communities are beginning to leave their homes again. Many things will be different in the way we travel, but how will road trips be affected, such as, where will masks be mandatory? Or how many people are allowed to be in that favorite restaurant spot on the road trip? Below, we discuss some of the things you may want to consider before packing up the car and traveling to your favorite family spot or vacation road trip.

Roadtrip Tips

Before you leave your home, check your tire pressure, engine coolant, suitcases, electronics, and road trip essentials.

Check the conditions of your destination, and not only the weather conditions. Ensure you are not headed for a “hot spot.” Traveling to a hot spot can be disaster if you are not prepared. For the community you are traveling to and from, research in which phase of reopening it is, along with any designated orders it may have.

Check whether the state you are heading to still has a traveling self-quarantine in effect. Local authorities can require self-quarantine for as long as 14 days if you travel state-to-state. This can add time to your trip or even surprise you if you are planning a quick road trip and are told you must stay 14 days and quarantine when you reach your destination!

Pack masks and gloves for everyone in case you are headed somewhere that is a “hot spot.” Do not forget the hand sanitizer! Masks and gloves are recommended for use in all public places, even restaurants.

Pack drinks and snacks so you can minimize the number of stops you have to experience and keep the stops for gassing the vehicle and for restroom stops. Quick snacks are perfect during road trips things like; trail mix, M&Ms, candy bars, & chips.

Do not just wing it, especially in the coming months. With business opening up at half capacity or less, many places will be full and at capacity quickly. Make sure to call ahead to places such as hotels, restaurants, museums, and other lodging locations you may be using during your road trip. You do not want to be stranded without a place to stay or eat.

Some Good News!

You will pay less for fuel on your road trip. Small fluctuations in gas prices usually make little difference in your trip costs, but this year is an exception. In locations here in Missouri, gas prices have dipped down to as low as $1.79/Gallon in some areas where this time last year the price per gallon topped $3. It looks like these low gas prices will be here for a while because of the coronavirus; our country has an oversupply because of reduced demand by people around the world as they drive less.

Missouri is reopening, and we are excited for everyone. We look forward to seeing you on the road soon, headed to your favorite road trip destination. Before leaving, remember these tips. Make sure to plan out your trip and know where you are headed at all times. Be careful along the trip, and have fun!

About Spirit West Rapid Refinish

Spirit West Rapid Refinish, established in 2011, was formed to focus on providing quality service for customers who are paying out of pocket for automobile repairs and streamline the workflow volume. We take great pride with teamwork and our commitment to making sure our team receives training on the latest innovative state-of-the-art equipment and collision repair techniques. We are proud to say our team is family and we treat our customers like family too. Whether you need minor collision repair services, bumper repair or vehicle paint, give us a call today to see how we can restore your vehicle to its original factory finish.