Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re taking a road trip or need to travel long distances.

1. Drink water before your journey

In the UK it is recommended to drink six to eight glasses of fluid per day. However, if you are going to be spending a lot of time driving, it’s unlikely that you will get a chance to do this. This is why we recommend having a glass of water before setting off on your journey to ensure you’re hydrated before the trip.

2. Keep a water bottle handy

Once you set off on your journey it can be more difficult to keep your water intake topped up as you drive. However, you should make sure you have a water bottle handy so that you can take a drink when able to.

3. Take regular breaks

On long car journeys, the driver should always take a break to rest before restarting the journey again. This is also a good time to drink water and re-fill any empty bottles for the rest of the journey.

4. Avoid excessive air-conditioning usage, as this can have a drying effect on the atmosphere.

A side effect of overusing air conditioning in your car is that it can have a drying effect on the atmosphere which, if the humidity drops low enough, could cause mild dehydration.

Signs of dehydration to watch out for whilst driving:

If you are dehydrated, you will likely experience one of these symptoms below and they could have a big impact on your driving ability. Any of which could lead to a £1,000 fine for failure to have proper control of the vehicle.

Tiredness

Dizziness and/or light-headedness

Muscle cramps

Loss of focus/concentration

Headaches

Causes, and those with increased susceptibility, of dehydration:

Did you know that some people are more susceptible to dehydration than others? It’s true. Check this list below, and if one or multiple of these relates to your current state, it’s vital to maintain or elevate your hydration levels when driving.

Suffer from diabetes

A recent bout of vomiting and/or diarrhoea

Too much exposure to the sun (heatstroke)

Have alcohol in your system

High level of sweating post-exercise

Have a high temperature (38C or more)

Are on medication

Suffering from back pain