Car Trouble
Car trouble is not exceptional when enough miles are involved; it is a predictable category of tour risk.
Maintain before touring
Oil, tires, brakes, lights, battery, fluids, wipers, and recalls deserve attention before a long run.
Preventive maintenance is cheaper than missing a weekend.
Preventive maintenance is tour production.
Flat Tires
A flat tire becomes much easier when the vehicle, tools, roadside coverage, and safe-stop plan are understood before midnight.
Know your vehicle
Some cars have a spare, some have an inflator kit, some use run-flat tires, and some require roadside service.
Learn before the shoulder of an interstate.
Know the spare before you need the spare.
Breakdowns
A breakdown tests your buffer, emergency fund, contacts, and ability to protect the next show.
Protect the next date
Once safety is handled, determine whether the vehicle can be repaired locally, replaced, towed, or left while you continue another way.
The answer depends on route, cost, and timing.
A breakdown is a logistics problem after it is a safety problem.
Car Accident
After a collision, health and safety come before the show.
Handle the scene
Seek emergency help when needed, move only when safe and lawful, exchange required information, document the scene, and follow local reporting rules.
Do not prioritize a call time over injuries.
No show is more important than immediate safety after a crash.
