5 tips for surviving holiday traffic while still feeling merry

It’s tempting to get up early in the morning and hit the road, but if that means you end up stuck in peak-hour traffic, either on your journey or at your destination that defeats the purpose. So plan your trip to try and avoid the busiest times on the road, both when you’re leaving and when you expect to arrive.

The same is true for the day you choose to set out on your trip. Choosing the first day of school holidays, or a long weekend, means there’s likely to be a lot more traffic on the road, so picking a quiet mid-week day could save you hours.

Even if you do plan carefully, you can often be caught out by a breakdown-induced traffic jam or some other obstacle on the road. This is why you should make sure you’re using a navigation app with live traffic, such as Google Maps or Apple Maps (both of which might be technology’s greatest gift to the modern motorist). Some modern cars have live traffic built into their navigation systems, but typically the smartphone apps are the best for staying up-to-the-minute with the latest conditions on the road. Be sure to use car play or a phone holder so you don’t need to look away from the road when driving. Better yet, get your friends or family who are along for the ride to navigate for you.

Holidays are the busiest time on the highways around Australia and one easy way to avoid the inevitable traffic is to steer clear of main roads. There’s usually more than one way to get to your destination, so with a bit of planning (try those mapping apps again) you can not only reduce your chances of getting stuck in traffic but also have a more enjoyable road trip. Maybe you could hug the coastline and see some of Australia’s picturesque seaside towns. Or head inland and take in the beautiful scenery this country has to offer.

Whether you’ve got a car full of kids or you’re driving alone, staying entertained is crucial to making a trip enjoyable – and safe. Make sure you prepare your entertainment ahead of time to keep everyone relaxed and enjoying themselves.

Scrolling through your music library on the move is simply asking for trouble, so spend the night before you leave organising a playlist or anything else you need to keep the good times rolling while on the road. Podcasts and audiobooks are also excellent ways to pass the time if you can find one the whole family agrees on.

If you get stuck in traffic you can play a game, sing along to your favourite album or listen to an audio book, the time will feel like it’s passing a lot quicker than if you’re all stuck in silent, steaming frustration. 

While it can be tempting to push through and ‘make good time’ on your road trips (and isn’t that one of those phrases you thought only your parents used until you found yourself wheeling it out?), making regular stops will actually help you have both a safer and more enjoyable experience on the road.

Obviously, you’ll probably need a toilet break every few hours and you should try and make time to stop for lunch, rather than just hitting a drive-thru. Stopping at a Shell Coles Express or OTR is a great way to fuel up your car and yourself, with plenty of food options, including a variety of healthier choices you won’t find at a fast-food outlet.