Thousands of holidaymakers will be travelling all over South Africa this festive season. This places an extraordinary load on most major roads, and motorists’ driving skills may well be tested. Read the following tips that could help you prepare for the holiday rush.
Have a good look at all of your car’s the tyres1
Your only contact with mother earth while hurtling down the road in your car are 4 pieces of rubber called tyres. It makes absolute sense to make sure that they are all thoroughly checked before embarking on your journey. Don’t forget the spare tyre, as well as all the necessary tools which are so easily overlooked.
Have you had enough sleep? 1
It is crucial that you have enough sleep before starting your journey. For example, if you would like to leave at 3 am, it is recommended that you go to bed at 9 pm the night before to get in the usual hours. If you short-change yourself from sleep, it may well catch up with you the next morning while driving.
Is your car roadworthy? 1
You should check your car’s headlights, taillights, stop lights, indicators, mirrors, wiper blades, exhaust system, all fluids such as coolant level, oil level, and brake fluid level, brakes, and steering. Also, make sure your car’s tyres still show the legal depth of tread.
Make sure you know where you are going1
This means you should spend some time studying your route. Check the distances between garages so that you won’t run out of fuel. You can use apps on your cell phone while travelling but remember that you may lose this when there is no signal. The best is to have a clear idea of where you are going before you leave home and bring a paper map just in case something happens to your cell phone.
Where will you spend the night? 1
Spending the night somewhere on your way to your destination may cost you a little extra, but may be worth it. You don’t want to endanger your life and those of your passengers by falling asleep at the wheel.
Plan your rest stops1
If you are planning to find a rest stop, it is best to aim for a popular garage. After refuelling, if you have no passengers, park in a place with plenty people traffic, lock the doors of your car, and have a quick power nap.
Never carry any flammable liquids1
Avoid carrying any flammable liquids in the boot of your car. In the event of an accident, this could burst and catch alight.
Never drink and drive2
Remember that a driver may not consume any alcohol, as the new law being introduced does not permit any alcohol to be in the blood of a driver.
Now that you know what to look out for before you go on holiday during the festive season, you will have peace of mind that you have at least prepared yourself. Perhaps consider ensuring that you have sufficient car insurance protection for added peace of mind. Are you looking for affordable car insurance? Perhaps consider PMD? Affordable car insurance with unique benefits such as fixed premiums* is available with PMD. T’s and C’s apply.
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. 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.
Sources:
1https://joburg.co.za/road-safety-tips-festive-season/
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