Motorists need to be aware of the most important road safety tips, so that accidents can be avoided. This applies especially during the festive season, when traffic is considerably heavier on roads than normal.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Don’t be in such a hurry to go on holiday that you forget to plan for the journey. Get out your atlas or computer and look at various main routes. Find out about their latest condition and general safety, and work out where you can refuel and take a break.
Check the weather forecast. If a bad storm is expected to be occur at departure time, make sure it’s still safe to leave.
IS YOUR CAR ROADWORTHY?
Have your car checked by a mechanic well before your departure date if you are not sure about its roadworthy condition. If a service is imminent, have it done before you leave. Check all the electrics, such as head lights, tail lights, indicators, and windscreen wipers. Ensure the tyre tread is equal to or above the minimum legal tread depth of 1.6 mm. Remember, your accident claim may well be rejected should your tyres be found to be not roadworthy at the time of the accident. This can have devastating financial consequences.
DON’T OVERLOAD YOUR CAR
Find out from the manual how much extra weight your car can handle. If the car is going to tow a trailer, it will take longer for it to stop. If your car is heavily loaded, adjust tyre pressures accordingly, especially when going on long trips.
MAKE SURE YOU AND ALL YOUR PASSENGERS ARE BUCKLED UP
It’s the law that everyone travelling in a car must be wearing a safety belt. You, as the driver, have the responsibility to ensure everyone is safely buckled up. Correctly-sized seats must be installed for children, especially for those 3 years and younger.
OBEY THE RULES OF THE ROAD
The rules are there for your protection, and thus treat them as seriously as you would regarding not having an accident. Do not exceed the speed limit at all times. Avoid tailgating, by following the 3-second following distance.
MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE AT HOME
It’s a great idea to let your loved ones know which routes you are taking. Provide them with updates of your whereabouts. It makes them part of the journey, takes away any anxiousness they may have, and provides added protection for you and your passengers.
AVOID NIGHT DRIVING IF POSSIBLE
Night driving is so much more dangerous than driving during the day, as your visibility is restricted to the length of the light beams in front of you. The other danger about leaving in the early hours of the morning is that you may be cutting short your normal sleep by several hours. The latter can lead to serious driver fatigue, which, in turn, can be deadly.
HOW DO YOU MINIMIZE DRIVER FATIGUE?
You need to have a good night’s sleep before you go on holiday.According to the AA, you should stop every 200 km or so for a rest. Let any children on board know when the next stop is going to be, as the trip may seem endless to them. The only remedy, if you are feeling tired while driving, is to find a safe garage or lay-by so that you can close your eyes. Lots of coffee just won’t work. Finally, if you are having a party the night before going on holiday, don’t go the next day, as driver fatigue will most likely catch up with you.
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE
You may have heard this so often, but it’s well established that drinking and driving can kill people. If you are going to drink, arrange for another driver to take your place.
STAY CLEAR OF ANY DISTRACTIONS
Without thinking, you are looking for sunglasses in the cubby hole and your eyes are off the road for two seconds. You may be involved in a deep conversation on your cell phone, or, worse still, you may be texting a message. Only do the above when you have stopped at a garage for a fuel break.
DON’T BE AGGRESSIVE – DRIVE DEFENSIVELY
Driving defensively and courteously is the safest way to drive. Taking risks is just not worth it. Only overtake when all is clear.
Following these safety tips closely will get you to your destination safely, but what if, for any reason, someone else damages your car? Why not protect your car by purchasing affordable car insurance with PMD?
Disclaimer:
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Prime Meridian Direct (Pty) Ltd, FSP41040 (car insurance and life cover products). The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.