Driving solo: how to choose safe, comfortable stops

Driving alone is freeing, but every stop is your call alone too. A few habits make them easy and comfortable.

#Share your route

Before you leave, tell someone where you're going and roughly when you'll arrive. Phone location sharing makes this simple. Check in at a couple of your stops.

#Pick busy, well-lit stops

Choose stops with lights, open doors, and other people around. Large travel centers and stores at busier exits are the most comfortable, especially after dark.

#Park close to the door

Park near the entrance and under a light if you can. Lock the car every time, even for a quick stop, and keep valuables out of sight.

#Plan stops before you need them

Running low on fuel or needing a restroom badly pushes you into whatever's next. Planning breaks ahead lets you choose good stops instead of settling.

#Trust your instincts

If a stop feels off, drive on to the next one. There's almost always another exit a few miles up the road.

#Rest in the right places

If you need a nap, a busy, lit travel center or a staffed rest area is a better choice than a quiet ramp or a dark lot. Lock the doors and set an alarm.

#Keep your phone charged

Your phone is your map, your contact, and your backup. Keep a charger in the car and a battery pack in your bag.

#Let the app watch the road

Best Exit's drive screen shows the best stop ahead as you drive, picked for the restroom you use and what you need, and can say it out loud so you don't have to look. After you stop, it asks how the restroom was, so the next driver knows.

How was your stop? Rate the restroom in about ten seconds. Rate

Stopped here? Rate the restroom.

Reviews come from the Best Exit iPhone app. It asks right after you stop, so scores come from people who were just there.

iPhone app coming soon