Be it a regular two-day weekend, or an extended staycation a few hours away by car, it is hard to beat the excitement of hitting the open road on your way to invaluable family time. Of course, any extraordinary journey often requires perfect planning and prior preparations, and at the height of summer, keeping cool under the conditions is often easier said than done. To be as comfortable and as confidently primed as possible for your short-term sojourn, Ford has listed out some tips for a ride in the summer: Late night departure: While not always possible, postponing your departure until after the sun sets will dramatically reduce the heat inside your cabin. Ford has available lighting technology that can make night-time driving less stressful, like Dynamic LED Headlights and Auto High Beam Control, which detects oncoming vehicles and automatically switches to dipped beams until the vehicle has passed. Visionary visor: The slide-on rod sun visor can easily keep that blindingly bright sun glare out of your eyes, keeping you invariably more comfortable. Too cool for school: Ahead of your road trip, be sure to pick up a cool bag or a cool box to store your bottles of water, or perhaps to maintain the level of freshness of some fruit slices. The air conditioning system will keep you from overheating externally. Life’s a breeze: Before you hit the road, ensure your AC is topped up with the necessary gas to keep the cabin nice and cool. Proper maintenance of your car’s air conditioning has several benefits: It saves money, reduces the amount of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere, and increases the life of your vehicle’s air conditioning system. Chilling sounds: The 12-speaker B&O Play premium audio system by Harman available in Ford vehicles has been perfected by acoustic engineers for a sound even audiophiles will appreciate. Stay the course: SYNC 3, Ford’s next generation of voice-activated technology, with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, has a new, easy-to-use design and features. The easy-to-read color LCD touchscreen displays phone, audio and navigation functions. Be prepared: It is a great idea to be prepared for any crisis by putting together an emergency kit. Things to include in the kit are jumper cables, a flashlight, stretch cords, water bag, knife, tire inflator, first-aid kit, PVC tape, plastic gloves, non-perishable food, flares, and a blanket.