Moving to a new home involves several events, and sometimes its hard to predict what can happen as each event unfolds. One of such events is how you’ll travel safely to your new home while the moving company you hire is transporting your household items.
While you’re moving, it’s absolutely easy to focus on the safety of your household goods and forget about the safety of you and your family. But the safety of you and your family should come first more than anything else. Many of your household items can be replaced if damaged, but one bad moving event can ruin an entire moving experience and leave you heart broken.
While going to your new home, you may have to travel on the road, by train or take a flight, while the movers transport your shipment. If you intend to travel by road or by train, consider these safety tips:
Traveling On the Road Safely
Traveling on the road is often one of the most common ways of making the trip to a new home. If you’re having a short distance move, odds are you have to travel for less than one hour or for few hours. But if you’re making a long-distance move, you may have to drive for a few days or more. The more time you spend on the road, the more you’re exposed to possible dange
Here are some of the dangers of road traveling and how to avoid them:
Vehicle Malfunction
Any vehicle malfunction may easily slow down your road trip. Whether it’s a cracked windshield, blown tire, a faulty brake light, or an old wiper blade, any part of your vehicle malfunction will definitely cause hiccups on the road.
Expert tip
Ensure your vehicle is in perfect order before you set out on a long distance trip. Replace old windshield wiper blades, old tires, and any other old vehicle parts if necessary. Also, top all liquid fluids and ensure you have a reliable spare tire (not just any round wheel).
Failure to Map Your Route
It sounds funny, but so many people get lost while traveling on the road. Just one wrong turn can change your entire route. You wouldn’t be happy if your items are already delivered in your new home while you’re lost somewhere on the road after driving for several hours or days.
Expert tip
Consider having a map of your route from start to finish before you set out on your trip. Familiarize yourself with the roads and where you may need to make pit stops and overnight stays.
You may consider using an electronic GPS or a reliable smartphone app. Just before you leave your, ensure you have the latest version of any road app you intend to use or update your app, in case any of your routes have changed or if there are obstructions.
Making A Hasty Trip
While making a road trip, it’s common to be anxious and hasty. There’s always the urge to arrive at your new home before the moving company delivers your shipment. With that in mind, you may make the mistake of compromising safety for speed.
After watching the movers pack and load your items and you’ve probably helped with some work, you may be a bit tired before your trip. When you drive while tired, your reaction time seems longer and you may fall asleep behind the wheel.
Expert tip
Statistics indicates that drowsy drivers are often as dangerous if not more dangerous than drunk drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This causes an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses.
Avoid traveling more than 500 miles per day while driving. Don’t forget to make necessary stops for bathroom use, to fill up your gas tank, for water, food a short nap or for a short rest.
Play safe, keep yourself alive!
Traveling on a Train
If you intend to make a train trip, you’ll have to comply to the rules and regulations concerning the amount of luggage and weight that can travel with you. Due to distance, it’s easy to fall asleep while traveling on a train.
Expert tip
While you’re on the train, keep your bags close to you and ensure your important documents are in a safe place beyond the reach of passersby. Whether you’re awake or not, don’t leave your bags unattended.
Long train rides often provide short breaks to allow passengers to leave the train. If you’re traveling alone and intend to leave the train, take all your items with you. Ensure you return to the train before the break ends, so the train won’t leave without you.
Whether you’re traveling in your car or by train, stay alert always. Don’t be in a hurry to arrive your new home before the moving company. While you’re traveling, consider calling the moving company every few hours to find out where they are and if your items are safe.
But just before you move into your new home, here are 8 things you can do to make it a better place for you and your family. We can connect you to professional movers and give you up to six free moving quotes so you can compare costs before hiring any.
Have a safe trip!
