Since I received my license when I was sixteen, I have always loved driving. There is something about the open road that can cure almost anything. When I am home from school, I love getting in my car and driving no where. I am lucky that my friends also have this love for driving. I often get in the car with them and we drive everywhere and no where. We make memories by blasting music that we scream our hearts out to and finding places we have never been. Occasionally, these trips become longer than the usual local area.
We are brought up with countless rules. There are rules in the form of laws, rules of etiquette and so many more. There are also unspoken rules for road trips.
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1. The rules of shotgun must be respected.
My friends are always screaming about getting shotgun. If you look into our group chat, whenever there are plans, everyone claims that they call "shotty." The rules of shotgun are simple: when the car is in sight, the first person to yell "Shotgun!" gets the passenger seat. The beauty of the passenger seat is the space and leg room. It is basically the throne of the car.
2. Whoever is riding shotgun must be the DJ.
This is an important one. If you are the one who gets the privilege of the front seat, you are given the beloved AUX cord. The DJ should be able to feel the vibe of the car and pick the music to continue the vibe. You cannot go from "Get Low" to "In The Arms Of An Angel" unless your friends are the type that allow you to. If your music skills are not on point, you should reconsider yelling "Shotgun!"
3. Snacks are important.
If you are going on a long trip, it is extremely important that you eat along the way. Prior to your trip, you should get snacks that are appropriate for the travel. For example, a bag of Lays and some Oreos are perfect for road trips. Things that should not be considered as road trip snacks are frozen foods such as ice cream and messy food such as salsa and queso. Those can wait until you reach your destination.
4. Have an emergency plan.
As much fun as emergencies are, it is important to remember safety. You should always wear your seatbelt in case of an accident and have a plan in case something goes wrong. I personally have a triple A card in case I need my car repaired. You should always have a spare tire in the car. It's also important to make an emergency kit in your car. Some things in this kit can include a lighter, water, snacks such as nuts and granola bars, a blanket, a flashlight and more.
5. Do not constantly chug liquids.
Don't get me wrong, it's important to stay hydrated. I am almost always chugging water or coffee. However, you should not be doing this when you are going to be in the car for an extended period of time. No one likes the person who needs to pull the car over every fifteen minutes to go to the bathroom.
Most importantly out of these rules, have fun! Going on a trip is always exciting, and the journey there is almost always just as fun if you let it be.
