Road Safety Tips for the 2018 Holiday Festive Season
The whole family is getting so excited to travel to Cape Town for the 2018 festive holiday season. However, there is about 1500 km distance that separates them from reaching their destination. It is crucial that nothing untoward happens during such a trip. So, read on about some great road safety tips.
INSPECT YOUR CAR BEFORE YOU LEAVE
You’ll probably not be surprised if you hear of people just getting into their cars without giving the entire trip any thought. However, there is more to travelling than that. Ensure all the lights and all the electrics are working. Are the wipers working fine on a windscreen that’s not cracked?
THE CONDITION OF YOUR TYRES ARE CRUCIAL
Make sure the tyres are in good condition and are still roadworthy by having sufficient tread. Remember, the only contact your car has with mother earth are those 4 ‘patches’ of rubber touching the road at any one time.
WHAT ABOUT THE BRAKES?
In cases of emergency, you need to be able to stop your car in time. Faulty brakes could spell unnecessary disaster.
WHEN WAS YOUR CAR LAST SERVICED?
During a major service, a mechanic will check items such as the battery, cooling system, the oil filter, brake fluid, and so on. Make sure your car is not due for a service before going on holiday.
PREPARE FOR YOUR TRIP
Be careful to plan your trip, finding out which routes are the safest to travel on. Know what your car’s fuel range is, so that you can plan for the next stop. Check the weather and if there are bad rain storms forecast just before you are due to leave, perhaps delay the trip a little.
KEEP TO SPEED LIMITS
It’s a fallacy that by travelling faster you may get there much sooner. A speed limit is not there to spoil the fun of motorists, but to ensure their safety. Stay a little on the slower side – you’ll enjoy the trip better, and you’ll have more time to react.
DON’T TAILGATE
Tailgating is a dangerous practice because you have no time to react should the car in front of you suddenly brake. In addition, tailgating may evoke road rage.
DRIVE DEFENSIVELY
By accommodating other drivers, you are promoting courtesy and safety on the roads. You are also minimising the chances of any road rage taking place.
MAKE SURE YOU CAR AND TRAILER ARE NOT OVERLOADED
Find out from your handbook, what the maximum load is that your car can handle. Find out too if your small car can handle that large trailer you want to borrow from your neighbour.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT FALLING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL?
Falling asleep at the wheel has caused many road fatalities. So how can this be avoided? Before going on a long-distance trip, you need to get at least seven hours sleep. It’s a fallacy that you can have a party the night before and then drink lots of coffee while you drive the next morning. As soon as you feel you are getting tired, stop at a safe lay-by or garage. Drink lots of water.
AVOID ANY DISTRACTIONS
Avoid using hand-held cell phones, fiddling with the radio, or looking for something in the cubby hole while driving. In a split second, something can appear on the road, and your eyes are elsewhere. They say distracted driving is equivalent to driving under the influence.,2
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN?
It can happen to anyone. As soon as your car has stopped in the emergency lane, put on the hazard lights to warn other motorists. If other cars can’t see your car clearly, place a warning triangle on the side of the road some distance away. It’s best to stay in your car with the doors locked. Immediately phone your insurer for roadside assistance.
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE
Alcohol seriously impairs your decision-making process. The legal limit in South Africa is a breath alcohol content of 0.24 mg alcohol per litre. In plain terms, you will exceed the limit if you have two drinks in one hour.
Now that you have read how to drive safely during your 2018 festive holiday season, make sure your car is adequately covered. Why not make use of PMD’s affordable car insurance?
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.
