A rest stop (also known as a rest area) is an area at the side of a road where motorists can stop
their cars to have a meal, use the bathroom, or contact their loved ones without exiting onto
secondary roads.
If you are constantly on the road, here are five reasons you need to plan your next rest stop.
1. Essential to Road Safety
Rest stops help ensure motorists’ safety. They provide safe, clean, and comfortable places
where motorists can rest, recharge, and reset before returning to the road. When motorists are
well rested, they are more alert and are less likely to be involved in car accidents.
2. Information Centers
Rest stops serve as information centers. They provide information including:
● Roadway Conditions
● Public Service Bulletins
● Missing Children Information
● Tourist and Recreational Opportunities
● Traveler-Related Commercial Services
● Information about the culture, local history, and regional environment.
Rest stops also provide maps that you can use for direction and telephones that you can use to
call your loved ones.
3. Crash Prevention
Rest stops are an essential safety feature on the highway system that helps address driver
fatigue, which is one of the main causes of car accidents.
Rest stops also prevent car accidents caused by driver fatigue by:
● Reducing driver discomfort.
● Reducing motorists’ need for shoulder stops.
● Reducing driving under hazardous road conditions or inclement weather.
4. You Can Sleep in Your Vehicle at a Rest Stop
If you have been on the road for hours and are starting to feel worn out or fatigued, you can
sleep in your vehicle at a rest stop. Sleeping in your vehicle at a rest stop is a great way to deal
with travel tiredness and reset for the next day.
5. Refill Your Gas
When traveling, you should stop at a rest stop to refill your gas. Letting your vehicle get below
an eighth of a tank can damage your fuel system. To be on the safe side, refill your gas every
three hours.
You do not want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with no rest stop in sight and no gas
for your journey.
Plan for Your Rest Stop
Planning your next rest stop is an essential practice. At a rest stop, you can use the restroom,
have some food, check maps, place telephones, and take a nap, allowing your body to recharge
before you return to the road.
Author bio – Thomas Bouve has had an intensive IT career in innovative transportation projects. During
a 4-year tour of duty in the Navy, LCDR Bouve received critical computer training which he directly
applied to various logistics programs. After his military service, Tom was appointed Chief, Research and
Analysis Division within the U.S. Department of Transportation. During this time, he managed the
development of advanced graphic mapping applications, which often included hands-on design and
development. Moving into the consulting arena, Tom designed, developed, and managed highway travel
websites, apps and proprietary databases. Over his professional career, Tom has been awarded several
transportation-related IP patents.
