Essential Safety Tips For A Road Trip In The Australian Outback

Before you set off on your trip and whenever you stop in a town, take the opportunity to research the route so you know what to expect. Find out about the condition of the roads and check where all of the petrol stations are so you don’t get caught out. When planning the next leg of your journey, leave time for breaks every two hours or so because it’s easy to become fatigued when driving in the heat. Never drive for more than 8-10 hours in one day, and never drive around sunrise and sunset. If you must drive at night, drive slow and make sure you’re alert. 

Breaking down in the outback isn’t the same as breaking down in the middle of a city. It could be a long time before you are able to get help, so you need to reduce the chances of a breakdown as much as possible and have a backup plan in place if it does happen. Give your car a thorough once over, changing the rims and tyres if they need it, checking the brake pads, replacing the battery if you’ve had it a while, and refilling all of the fluids. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, don’t ignore it because it could turn into a serious problem later on and leave you stranded in the outback.
 
Make sure that you have a spare tyre and a well-stocked toolkit as well, so if your car does breakdown, you can get it up and running for long enough to reach the nearest town. 

When packing for your trip, there are some extras that you need to take. Always bring detailed maps of the area and a compass. Firelighters and matches will be a big help if you get stranded too. When packing food and water, always overestimate and bring enough for each person for at least two days, even if you don’t plan to be on the road for that long.
 
It is also worth renting a satellite phone to take with you because mobile phone signal is patchy at best and in many areas, you won’t get a signal at all. If you get into trouble, a satellite phone is your only lifeline.
 
You should also pack an emergency first aid kit in case you get injured or fall ill during your trip. It may be a while before you can get medical attention, so being able to provide immediate care is important.