Do you share the widespread fear of being caught by your need to use the restroom at the most inopportune time on a road trip? There are those times when the need to relieve yourself can be unfortunate because there is no bathroom or toilet paper for miles, all the places “to go” are suspect for cleanliness, or the places “to go” seem dangerous to the safety of your person. This article will deal with the latter two scenarios. Follow these steps to maintaining your personal hygiene and safety when traveling on the road.
Step 1
Avoid the temptation to procrastinate on filling the gas tank or using the restroom when agreeable facilities are present and available. This will eliminate unnecessary experiences with truck stops you would otherwise never visit.
Step 2
Prepare for any road travel by stocking your vehicle with items such as a flashlight, toilet paper (travel toilet paper can be found in convenient packaging from any CVS or Wal-Mart near you), hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. These items can prepare you to protect your health in most situations on the road.
Step 3
Find a truck stop that is clearly visible from the road and well lit on the inside and outside at night. Criminals who might be trying to cause mischief generally avoid a lot of people and areas where they can be seen.
Step 4
Lock the doors to your vehicle and keep all expensive or valuable items hidden from plain sight.
Step 5
Maintain a positive, confident appearance inside the truck stop and throughout your rest stop.
Step 6
Be respectful inside the restroom by waiting your turn for the facilities and reciprocate friendly conversation when it is directed towards you. It is helpful to make new friends, not to create enemies.
Step 7
Return to your car, maintaining your confident appearance, while holding the key to your car firmly with your thumb and index finger.
Step 8
Make sure all your passengers are secured inside the vehicle and the doors are locked, and then use hand sanitizer and wipes if necessary.
Step 9
Exit the parking lot of your truck stop calmly, with the doors locked, and stay aware of the traffic entering and exiting the area.
Tips
- The key to your vehicle will be ready for you to unlock the door and restart your car, but the key can also serve as a useful weapon in self-defense if necessary (refer to How to Fend off an Attacker).
Warnings
- Your determination to “make good time” and persist in your road trip until a need becomes unavoidably urgent, such as an empty gas tank or a full bladder, can place upon your destination an unnecessarily unpleasant stop, i.e., a run down gas station with poorly kept restrooms and price gouging at the pumps. So, don’t procrastinate the inevitable.
- If you look afraid inside a truck stop, then someone who is actually trying to do harm to you will be encouraged by a weak appearance. If there is no one trying to harm you and you appear frightened of your surroundings, your attitude will be perceived as disrespectful to those who share your surroundings.
Things You'll Need
- Travel packages of toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Wipes
- Flashlight
- Pepper Spray or other self defense item
- cell phone
