Safe Travels by Car: A Practical Guide for Your Summer Journey

AI generated Image of a woman driving a car for vacation travel

Thoughtful planning and simple actions to help you stay safe on the road.

Summer is here, and with it comes the urge to travel—to see family, take a much‑needed break, or simply visit places for the fun of it. But when you have experienced abuse, the ordinary act of getting into a car for a long drive may feel unsettling. You may worry about unexpected situations, loss of control, or having to make quick decisions under pressure.

One important key is preparation. Small, deliberate steps you take before and during your trip can enhance safety and help ensure enjoyable travel.

Action Steps for Safe Travel

1. Start with the Car: Maintenance as a Form of Self‑Care

Before you drive anywhere, your vehicle should feel like a reliable partner—not a source of surprise. Schedule a basic maintenance check at least one week before your departure. This gives you time to handle any repairs without last‑minute pressure.

• What to ask for: oil change, tire pressure and tread check, brake inspection, battery test, air conditioning check, and fluid top‑offs (coolant, windshield washer, brake fluid).

• Spare tire and tools: Make sure you have a properly inflated spare, a jack, and a lug wrench. If you are not comfortable changing a tire yourself, know which roadside assistance service you will call (e.g., AAA, your insurance, or a pay‑per‑use app like Honk).

• Phone charger & backup power: A reliable car charger and a portable power bank keep your phone alive for maps, calls, and reassurance.

Why this matters: A breakdown in an unfamiliar or isolated area can trigger hypervigilance or feelings of helplessness. Routine maintenance reduces the chance of being stranded. It also reinforces the message, “I am capable and I do what's needed for self-care."

2. Plan Your Stops Before You Begin Travel

Impulsive driving may work for some, but survivors often benefit from predictability. Book your hotels or motels in advance, for every night you expect to be on the road.

• Choose properties with 24‑hour front desks and interior corridors. Exterior‑access motel rooms (where you park directly outside your door) can feel less secure at night.

• Use booking filters: Look for “well‑lit parking,” “security cameras,” or “staff on site 24/7.”

• Keep confirmation details offline: Screenshot your reservation with the address and phone number. You may enter areas with no cell signal.

• Have a flexible backup plan: Identify a couple of 24‑hour truck stops or all‑night diners along your route. If a hotel feels wrong when you arrive—bad lighting, empty parking lot, uncomfortable vibe—trust your gut and drive to your backup location.

  
  

What to do if you cannot book ahead: If your plans are uncertain, at least decide on a rough corridor (e.g., “I will stay within 30 miles of Springfield”) and research 2‑3 options there before you start driving. Call ahead when you are an hour away.

3. Use Android Auto or CarPlay Maps – But Know Their Limits

CarPlay and Android Auto turn your phone’s map apps into a car‑friendly display. They are excellent tools, but they are not magic.

Set up before moving:

• Connect your phone to the car using a USB cable (most reliable) or Bluetooth/wireless adapter.

• Open Google Maps or Apple Maps. Enter your final destination and add stops (gas, food, overnight hotel) ahead of time.

• Turn on voice guidance. You do not want to look at a screen while driving.

Safety‑enhancing features:

• Share your trip (Google Maps): Tap your profile photo → “Share trip progress.” Send the link to someone you trust. They can watch your live location and estimated arrival time.

• Download offline maps: In Google Maps, search for an area (e.g., “western Montana”), tap the name at the bottom, and select “Download offline map.” Do this on Wi‑Fi before you leave. If you lose cell service, the map still works.

• What if you need to change plans? Pull over at a gas station or rest stop to adjust your route. Never reprogram navigation while driving—that moment of distraction is when errors happen.

For survivors: If you are traveling to leave a difficult situation, clear your recent destinations after each trip. In Google Maps, go to “Settings” → “Maps history” → delete specific entries. In Apple Maps, remove “Recents” individually.

4. Rest Stops: How to Use Them Without Feeling Exposed

Rest areas are necessary but can feel vulnerable, especially at night or when few people are around. You have every right to use them—and to be choosy about which ones you use.

Safer rest stop habits:

• Use well‑lit, busy rest areas. Avoid ones with overgrown landscaping, burned‑out lights, or no visible staff presence.

• Park close to the building and under a light. Back into the parking spot so you can drive away quickly if needed.

• Lock your car even when you are inside it. When you exit, take your keys and phone. Do not leave a running car unattended.

• Use rest stops during daylight hours if possible. If you must stop at night, consider a 24‑hour truck stop or a major gas station chain (Love’s, Flying J, Pilot) instead of a standalone rest area. Those have more traffic, brighter lights, and often surveillance cameras.

• Trust your body. If a rest stop gives you a sense of dread or the hair on your neck stands up, leave. You do not need a reason. Drive to the next exit.

Personal safety items to keep accessible: A small flashlight, a whistle on your keychain, and a phone with emergency call shortcut (5 clicks of the power button on many phones. Check your phone owner's manual or speak with your carrier's support service for details). These are not weapons—they are attention‑getters and escape aids.

5. Fuel and Food Stops – Simple Rules

• Fill your tank when it reaches half empty. This keeps you from being forced to stop in an unfamiliar or poorly lit area.

• Choose busy, well‑lit stations with clear visibility from the street. Avoid stations hidden behind buildings or with dark corners.

• Pay at the pump with a credit card so you do not have to go inside if you feel uneasy. If you must go inside, be aware of exits and other people.

• For food, use drive‑throughs or places with outdoor seating you can see from your car. If you eat inside, sit facing the door and keep your keys in your pocket, not on the table.

6. Emotional & Psychological Safety on the Road

Long drives can bring up memories, flashbacks, or intrusive thoughts—especially if you are driving through areas connected to past trauma. Plan for that, too.

• Create a “grounding kit” for your passenger seat or center console: a small object with a distinct texture (like a smooth stone), a playlist of music that helps you feel present, a scent like peppermint oil, a written note that says “I am safe now. I am in control of this car.”

• Take breaks every 2 hours even if you do not feel tired. Stretch, walk in a busy area, drink water. Fatigue lowers your ability to assess risk accurately.

• Have an “abort” plan. If at any point the trip feels unsafe or overwhelming—weather, a strange person at a stop, your own emotional state—you are allowed to stop driving for the day. Find a hotel, a friend’s house, or even a hospital parking lot (well‑lit and patrolled) and rest.

7. Communication – The Quiet Lifeline

• Share your itinerary with one or two trusted people. Do not post publicly on social media.

• Use a check‑in system: “I will text when I leave, when I stop for lunch, and when I arrive at the hotel. If you don’t hear from me within 2 hours of my expected check‑in, call me. If I don’t answer, call the hotel or local police (non‑emergency number first).”

• Consider a second phone or a prepaid burner if you are concerned that someone from a past abusive situation might be tracking your primary phone. Turn off location sharing on all apps (Snapchat, Find My, Life360, etc.) unless you deliberately want someone to see you.

Each Small Safety Step Matters

No plan can remove every risk. But each small step you take—maintaining your car, booking a hotel ahead, downloading offline maps, listening to your gut at a rest stop—is an act of reclaiming your agency. You are not being “paranoid.” You are being intelligent with the wisdom your own life has given you.

Summer travel should bring a sense of possibility. With these simple steps, you can move through the world more safely, on your own terms.

Important Note: If you are in immediate danger call police for help immediately. In the U.S., the emergency number is often 911. If you're planning to leave an abusive situation, please reach out to a local domestic violence hotline or, in the United States, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800‑799‑7233. Check for the appropriate emergency and domestic abuse hotlines if you're outside of the U.S.

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Stephen Carter is a former Chief of Police and a longtime volunteer for FREA.

Note: Some information and the image for this post were generated from A.I. sources.