Wednesday, October 16, 2024 Fall Break Travel Safety Tips
As fall break approaches, it's important for UNL students to stay mindful of travel safety best practices. Whether you're hitting the road with friends or heading out on an adventure, these tips will help ensure a safe and enjoyable break.
Traveling with Friends
- Share Your Location: Before you set off, share your location with your friends. This way, if you get separated, everyone can easily stay connected.
- Altitude and Alcohol: Be mindful of how alcohol affects you at higher altitudes. To practice harm reduction, alternate between alcoholic beverages and water to stay hydrated and safe.
- Choose Wisely: f you're in a new or unfamiliar place, opt for lower alcohol-by-volume (ABV) drinks like hard seltzers instead of high-proof liquors.
- Document Your Journey: Take photos of the places you visit and the people you meet—these can be invaluable if you need to retrace your steps later.
- Stay Vigilant: Always be aware of your surroundings. Trust your instincts and avoid situations that don’t feel right.
Driving with Friends
Whether you're driving to the Indiana football game or heading home, these safety tips will help keep your trip smooth and secure:
- Stay Alert: Keep your gas tank as full as possible and plan breaks during long trips to stretch, eat, check messages, and switch drivers if needed to avoid drowsiness.
- Avoid Risky Behaviors: Follow traffic laws, avoid distractions like texting, obey speed limits, and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver or arrange for a rideshare to get home safely.
- Plan Your Route: Check weather conditions, road statuses, and traffic updates before you leave. Allow plenty of time and share your route and ETA with someone.
- Prepare a Roadside Travel Kit: Keep essentials like a cell phone and charger, first aid kit, flashlight, flares, jumper cables, tire gauge, jack, basic repair tools, work gloves, water, nonperishable food, and more.
- Buckle Up: Always wear your seatbelt—it’s one of the simplest yet most important ways to stay safe on the road.
Balance Fun and Studies
While enjoying your break, don't forget to keep up with your academic responsibilities. Set aside time for study and coursework to stay on track as the second half of the semester begins.
Stay safe, have fun, and Go Big Red!
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Want an Alcohol and Other Drugs presentation or program for your RSO, chapter, or group? Connect with Jon Gayer, assistant director for alcohol and drug education, at jgayer3@unl.edu and 402-472-2583.