I’ve had my fair share of road tripping over the years. My family owned a maroon 1999 VW Microbus for many years when I was younger, and we travelled all our long trips in it; although 9 times out of 10 it would break down along the way. I also travel a lot for work, so I’m relatively well versed at driving alone. Let’s chat about the different responsibilities that need to be honoured in order to make a trip successful.

First off, the person that is the best Tetris player is the designated packer. They say which bag fits where and their decision is final. Don’t like it? Get better at Tetris. Please, packer, consider the important things like easily accessing charging cables out of bags and cooldrinks out the cooler box. Secondly, he who first calls shotgun when the car is in sight gets the front passenger seat. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. The co-pilot’s responsibilities are almost tied in importance with those of the driver; as much as the driver is responsible for keeping us alive, the co-pilot is responsible for keeping the vibe alive. The co-pilot is required to attend to all of the driver’s needs; yes, that means dipping the chickie nuggies in the sauce for them between each bite and hand-feeding it to them; open their drinks, reply to their important text messages, and play bomb music. There will be no sleeping on duty tolerated. When driving a long trip in the past, I’ve bought my co-pilot an energy drink so that they could stay awake, which inevitably would help me stay awake. Being a driver in a car full of sleeping zombies is serene but definitely doesn’t help you stay energized. A co-pilot is also great to have as an extra set of eyes looking out for speeding traps; not that I ever sped, but just in case you have some speed demon tendencies. Back seat passengers are responsible for hunting cooldrinks out of the cooler box. They’re also required to do a fair amount of back seat driving; a scream or two after a tight turn is also acceptable. I’ve found that it helps if the back seat driver is a 22-year-old without their own license, they’re always chirpier. If, like my family, you were blessed with a second back seat (see VW microbus above), the passengers in the furthest back seat (we called it the back back seat) are allowed to sleep for 90% of the journey, waking only for bathroom breaks and Wimpy.

Why Wimpy? Wimpy breakfasts always remind me of road trips and get me into the holiday mood; it’s not so much a fun family tradition as it is the nature in which Wimpys are spread across this country like butter over a warm slice of toast.

It’s extremely important to make sure that you’re safe on the roads. Please check oil, water, tyre pressure, and all the other adult things before setting off (remember your spare tyre). Breaking down isn’t fun and waiting 5 hours for a tow truck on the side of the highway with a hangover because you hit up Madison’s the night before is even less fun than it sounds. It’s also useful to know how to use your car jack, especially if you’re a woman driving alone (hit me up for instructions). I carry jumper cables too because I am infamously known for forgetting to turn off my lights when I park only to return with a full tummy to find a dead battery. Also, remember your mask and hand sanitizer. Going on holiday means I hop straight back into my pre-COVID way of thinking and forget about protecting myself and others. I keep my mask and hand sanitizer in my car door so I can easily don my gear as I slow down for a toll gate.

In the unlikely event that you do breakdown, please call roadside assist as well as your parents to complain that adulting is hard. After the many breakdowns we’ve experienced, I would recommend packing things that will entertain you during the wait. Definitely watch the downloaded movie first since the chargers are rendered useless while the car doesn’t work, then move onto card games and board games. Failing that, hope that the people you’ve invited away with you are able to carry a conversation until your rescue arrives.

Driving alone can be great too. I love choosing my music without fear of judgement; if I want to listen to I’m Gonna Be by The Proclaimers four times on repeat, I can do so in peace. Alternatively, listening to an audiobook is a great way to keep your mind engaged and focused on something interesting. The main difference that stands out to me when driving alone is obviously that there’s nobody to take the wheel or hype you up when you get tired. Don’t be afraid to take a quick power nap on the side of the road, providing you’re in a safe area and all your doors are locked. I’d rather arrive alive half an hour later than risk driving exhausted. Plus, car naps just hit different.

Road trips are some of the best memories of my holidays. I love the excitement of going on holiday, of singing songs at the top of my voice with people who I cherish, and even the sore neck I get from sleeping with my head at a 45-degree angle. I’d highly recommend getting yourself a friend with a car (or yourself), some money for petrol, and hitting the open road. Let me know what adventures you come across along the way!