5 reasons you should plan your route in advance
When you have an exciting trip ahead of you, it’s easy to get distracted by all the things you plan on doing when you reach your destination. But have you thought about the journey it will take to get there? There are many invaluable benefits to planning out your journey in advance. These will help you have a stress-free journey and get the most enjoyment out of your time away!
1. You’re more likely to enjoy your trip if you have a stress-free journey.
We’ve all been there- you’ve gotten caught in the rain on the way to school, missed the bus on your way to your friends house or had your train cancelled on your way to a day out. How did the rest of your day go after that? The likelihood is you felt stressed, tired out and anxious from the journey. Carefully planning your trip means you’ll be prepared for any hiccups along your way, and will be ready to take on any challenges you face.
2. You’re more likely to make good time if you know what’s ahead
Road works and route closures can be a nightmare for any driver trying to make their destination the shortest space of time. While some modern sat navs will detect these for you ahead of time, its always worth noting what issues lie ahead of you so you can plan accordingly.
3. Having a back up plan will avoid any nasty surprises
Say you’ve planned an ideal route and checked for any road works ahead of time, but there is a sudden accident on one of the roads you’d planned to take. Having an alternative route planned means you’ll be ahead of the game and ready to reroute without a last-minute panic.
4. Knowing where your rest-stops are will keep you and your passengers happy
Long journeys can be tiring, and will having even the most patient passengers feeling restless. Planning out stops along your journey and knowing which service stations are along the way will ensure you get to have a much-needed rest, and your passengers get a chance to stretch their legs.
5. Planning ahead can save you fuel
Any unexpected changes to your journey can lead to a detour that may take you miles off of your original route, so having a couple of options will ensure you’re making your journey as efficient as possible. If you’ve budgeted for how much petrol you can afford for the journey, it’s important to make sure you are factoring in a ‘buffer’ so you’re covered for any eventuality.
Planning a journey ahead of time may seem unnecessary, but it will save you a lot of time, money and effort in the long run if you know your options should the worst happen. Plus, with tools like the RAC route planner at https://www.rac.co.uk/route-planner/ you’ll have something together in no time!
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