For much of the world this summer, flying to a destination holiday is likely off the table. Analysts have warned that air travel demand won’t go back to pre-outbreak levels until at least midway through next year. Instead, a recent survey conducted by the US Travel Association and MMGY Travel Intelligence found that 67 per cent of Americans are likely to travel with their personal cars during the next six months – which is “more than double the percentage planning to travel by air during the same time period.” So, that means a return to the all-American road trip. “Road trips are forms of travel and movement …” Stanford University American history professor Allyson Hobbs told PBS in 2017. “Travel is a social and cultural practice that Americans have used to construct ideas about themselves, their society, the past, and the future.” But folks looking to protect themselves against the virus know that it won’t be a simple return to the road. There are safety measures to be kept in mind. Precautions to be taken. Plans to be made. 5 Canada road trips to embark on across the Great White North Also, understand that taking a road trip might not be feasible for every household. It’s tempting to get away for a bit, but when you come in contact with others or go to highly trafficked places, your exposure to the virus might increase. Here’s a checklist on how to safely road-trip this summer during the pandemic. Plan your route and location Despite many places opening back up for business in the US, this does not signal an end to the pandemic. You can still contract the virus, which is why it’s especially important to plan ahead. Map out which roadways and states you will pass through, recommends AARP. There might be relevant travel advisories you need to be aware of, such as changes to toll collection and rest-area food sales. According to Jeanette Casselano, an AAA spokesperson, it’s also especially important to call ahead and confirm which attractions (such as any local attractions or theme parks) and hotels are open. “You will want to understand capacity limits and, where possible, make reservations in advance,” she says. Pack to protect and sanitise View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marc Mapile (@cutmarc) on Jul 15, 2020 at 8:37am PDT Now more than ever, it’s important to pack up your car with hand sanitiser, sanitising wipes, sanitising spray, face masks, gloves and maybe even a thermometer. And keep practising good and frequent handwashing. If you can, pack your own snacks and drinks so you reduce the need to go into rest stops and expose yourself to others. AAA also suggests you travel with all necessary travel documentation, including health insurance cards. Furthermore, the agency recommends storing an emergency kit in your car. The list includes: car charger for your mobile phone, first aid kit, blanket, drinking water and snacks for everyone including pets, flashlight with extra fresh batteries, rags or paper towels, basic tools including duct tape, road flares or reflectors, ice scraper or snow brush, jump leads, traction aid (sand, salt), tarp, raincoat, and a shovel. Why coronavirus will change tourism forever: 4 post-pandemic travel trends These items, obviously, won’t be applicable to everyone reading this. But as with everything, use your best judgment and common sense. Be realistic about your plans and where you are going. Take proper precautions at rest stops and service stations View this post on Instagram A post shared by lobo (@midnight.raptor) on Jul 16, 2020 at 1:30pm PDT If you need to stop in at a rest stop or service station to use the bathroom, do your best not to touch anything. If there are others in proximity, wear a mask. Wear gloves or even plastic sandwich bags over your hands as a barrier between your skin and other surfaces. When you’re done, wash your hands well or use hand sanitiser. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that physical cash, credit and debit cards could be a source of virus transmission, so it advises people not to touch their faces after handling paper and coin money. Money should be placed on the counter rather than handed over directly. Counters should be wiped between each customer. People should use hand sanitiser after transactions and take advantage of touchless payment options when they are available. When pumping petrol, do so either with gloves on or some other kind of barrier between your skin and everything else. The pumps, number pads, and touch screens at service stations are all touched by many people throughout the day and it’s best to just avoid contact with them if at all possible. And instead of using your fingertips to press buttons, try using your knuckle. At the end of the process, use hand sanitiser. Sanitise your space before you eat View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jason Kaplan, DDS, MS (@kaplanorthodontics) on Jul 16, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT As mentioned above, it’s recommended that you pack extra refreshments in your car to cut back on trips to convenience stores, but if you must eat-in, AAA suggests you first wipe down the table with a disinfectant wipe and to use hand sanitiser after interacting with servers or cashiers. Why you should – and shouldn’t – book to fly later in the year Do consider drive-through or kerbside pickup as options, as they reduce your interaction with other people. And always try and call ahead and see if a restaurant or service stop is open. Some operate on altered hours or have longer-than-usual wait times because of capacity reduction efforts. Sanitise your overnight accommodation View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ieva Zorgevica (@ievazorgevica) on Jul 3, 2020 at 11:28am PDT Keep in mind that not all hotels might be operating normally, so it’s smart to call ahead and confirm your reservation if you are planning to stay overnight somewhere, AARP reports. And if you do decide to say overnight, the CDC has a guide on how to clean and disinfect places like hotel rooms, which you can see here. However, Casselano of AAA doesn’t think many people will be staying overnight much right now. “We expect Americans are going to take mostly local and regional trips to have flexibility and comfort of being able to return home,” she says. Anticipate some traffic View this post on Instagram A post shared by iCanBenefit (@icanbenefitinsurance) on Jul 16, 2020 at 2:06pm PDT Many people – likely still hesitant about public transit – will turn, instead, to their cars to commute. Bloomberg estimates there will be a general spike in traffic, reporting that, “Driving is rebounding all over the world, and it could eventually return stronger than ever, depending on how long commuters remain wary of public transit.” Watch out for speeding View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alycia Cooper (@alyciacooper2) on Apr 25, 2020 at 2:21pm PDT During nationwide stay-at-home mandates, Business Insider reported a concerning spike in speeding on the country’s emptier-than-normal motorways. Law enforcement officials from across the US detailed a surge in dangerous driving and called it a “free-for-all” on empty roads. Where will China’s millennials travel to post-coronavirus? Be careful of dangerous speeding while travelling and know that local law enforcement is aware of the issue and is looking out for it as well. Breakdowns: tyres and calling a technician View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blåljusbilder (@blaljusbilder) on Jul 9, 2020 at 12:35pm PDT It’s inevitable: sometimes your car breaks down or you get a flat tyre. What then? A good way to avoid mechanical breakdowns is to maintain your vehicle. Get regularly scheduled maintenance check-ups, change your oil, and don’t ignore unusual noises, vibrations, smells or the check engine light. The more quickly you nip these issues in the bud, chances are the less the potentially resulting damage will be. Make sure your tyres have a healthy amount of tread on them to ward off blowouts and other issues. Standard tread depth in the US is measured in one thirty-second of an inch (1/32 inch) increments, according to Tyre America. Typically, new tyres start with a tread depth of 10/32 inches with the actual, usable tread depth being 8/32 inches. If your tread is 2/32 inches or less, you need to replace the tyre. Determining this is easy – all you need is a penny, according to Goodyear Auto Service. Insert a penny into the tyre’s tread groove with Lincoln's head facing you and upside down. If you can see all of his head, it means your tread depth is less than 2/32 inches and you should get your tyres replaced. Would you pay US$130,000 for this ‘luxury’ camper van? Of course, it’s also highly recommended you take your car to a professional to have it looked over if you aren’t sure. Tyres are the only contact patch your vehicle makes with the road, so it makes sense to ensure they are in good shape. If your car has a spare tyre, consider learning how to change a tire yourself. There’s a great guide on the Bridgestone website. This way, you’ll be able to save yourself from calling a technician, and instead, you can drive yourself to a mechanic, thus cutting down on the number of human interactions in a day. But if you do get really stuck, definitely call someone. “Be sure to practice social distancing when the technician arrives,” Casselano says. “If your car needs to be towed, consider making arrangements for your own transport.” Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter . This article originally appeared on Business Insider.