What I Think: Road Trips

Spring Break is right around the corner and if you’re anything like I am, between your studying for midterms, you’re most likely planning what you will do during the break. SWSW will be in town, but the event can be hectic and parking is impossible. You could always take a trip, but unless you’re willing to fork over $100 dollars for a plane ticket, your best alternative for travel is taking a road trip with a couple of friends. However, as fun as road trips can be, road trip etiquette is a foreign concept to a lot of people. In order for you to have the best road trip possible here are a few rules that you should always follow.

1)       Know where you stand.

The roles people take in road trips are very clear, but the first rule someone fails to understand is that the owner of the car is always in charge. As a passenger you do not have the right to change the radio station or suggest changes in music. If you do not like the music or how the driver sings bring your iPod and listen to it on the way, because the owner of the car rules supreme. More importantly, don’t ever critique the driver’s ability to operate a vehicle and whine who gets to seat in the front. This only leads to guideline #2.

2)       Avoid unnecessary drama.

When people go on a road trip they sometimes fail to realize how uncomfortable things might get. It doesn’t matter who you go with – you’re still going to be trapped in a very small space with at least two or three people. If you’re lucky, you’ll just get irritated, but the opposite may happen you may start to feel closer to the driver and other passengers. If this does happen, do not use alone time to divulge your darkest, deepest secrets. No one needs to hear about how you were molested by your uncle and had ‘experimental’ gay experiences with the local circle jerk club. Once the road trip ends, the closeness will wear off and things will return to normal; everyone will know you’re a damaged, molested weirdo.

3)       Make sure your car works.

If you are taking your car makes sure to know the mechanical condition of your car. There is nothing worse than being stranded in the middle of a road and risk being attacked by a serial killer – there is no good excuse for a breakdown! In case something does go wrong, bring a decent set of tools, a flashlight, a service manual, and water. If you’re mechanically ignorant, have the vehicle inspected before leaving. Bring a full-size spare and leave the doughnut at home, if you can spare the trunk space.

4)       Don’t be afraid to explore.

If an exit says “Historic” or “Scenic”, take it. Bring a digital camera and take a picture of every obscure, stupid little thing. Stay with friends or at cheap motels and save your money for souvenirs, tourist traps, and retarded little knick knacks. Stop at every hole in the wall location advertised on billboards. Road trips are called adventures for a reason, and there is no reason to not make your road trip memorable.