| We want you to have a memorable holiday, so | | | | while you are driving; neither should you operate a |
| these simple guidelines will give you extra | | | | phone as it causes the same distractions and |
| incentive to keep you and your family safe on | | | | miscalculations as if you were falling asleep or |
| the road as you head out to enjoy many days of | | | | over the limit. |
| freedom in your rental car. Road safety is | | | | Checking for water and oil and keeping an eye on |
| advertised without reservation on the most | | | | the instrument panel is imperative, as well as |
| highways, so there is no excuse not to buckle up | | | | keeping an eye on the tyres, especially for long |
| and slow down. These are the basic laws of safe | | | | trips. If you are in any doubt pull over to a |
| driving. It is not only for your own safety but the | | | | service station to ensure you haven't missed |
| lives of those travelling with you and those in cars | | | | anything. Also ensure that there are no loose |
| around you. | | | | items which can roll around the car and cause |
| Before you turn the ignition key, check all | | | | distractions and/or unnecessary damage. |
| occupants of the car have their seatbelts | | | | Be careful in the wet. If it is heavy rain, switch on |
| fastened, especially the little ones. This one vital | | | | your headlights so other vehicles will not miss you. |
| step could be a life or death decision. Tailgating is | | | | Slow down or pull over if necessary as the roads |
| unacceptable, and is the cause of much | | | | can get slippery and there is the chance of dips in |
| unnecessary road rage. Be patient, and if you | | | | the road and flooding. Also be careful in the heat. |
| need to overtake, make sure you are driving on | | | | There have been increasing reports of children |
| single lines and you have a clear view of any | | | | who have been unattended in vehicles with the |
| incoming traffic. It is more sensible to wait a few | | | | windows wound up on a hot day. This is life |
| extra minutes than risk many lives for the sake | | | | threatening. The solution is to not leave them in |
| of a kilometre or two. | | | | the car, and keep your windows down if it is hot. |
| There are plenty of rest stops on most highways | | | | Travel games are lots of fun, but be careful the |
| that give you a chance to have a coffee and | | | | driver is not distracted by too much noise, and |
| freshen up. With so many incidences of fatigue as | | | | keep activities well away from the driver's seat. |
| the reason for collisions, it makes sense to pull | | | | Games of 'I spy' are great for everyone else, but |
| over if you are starting to doze off. If there is a | | | | it's difficult to look around the car and surrounding |
| lot of driving ahead, make plans to share with | | | | scenery when you are supposed to be watching |
| another licensed driver if there is one in your | | | | the road. |
| travelling party. When you are planning your travel | | | | Lastly, there are a number of essentials that you |
| itinerary, give yourself a night or two | | | | should bring on all road trips, to ensure you are |
| accommodation to break up the journey, and | | | | prepared for a smooth running and enjoyable |
| slow down. It is not a race. My husband is on a | | | | holiday. Drinking water is a must, as is a torch and |
| mission to get from A to B every time we set | | | | first aid kit. Keep a bag with changes of clothes |
| out on a road trip. If we have to stop I catch him | | | | and extra food if you are planning a day trip |
| staring woefully at the trucks we all passed a few | | | | somewhere, and a warm blanket in the back seat. |
| minutes ago. Better to enjoy the holiday and | | | | Keep all the information you need to call for an |
| come to an amicable compromise instead of | | | | emergency, as well as yours and a family |
| speeding and putting people at risk. | | | | members contact details if someone else needs |
| Never drink and drive. This is one of the highest | | | | to contact you in an emergency. Locality maps |
| causes of road fatalities and is completely | | | | and tourist information will all help you plan well for |
| unnecessary. Also put the mobile phone in your | | | | a safer and enjoyable holiday for everyone. |
| bag and keep it there. You wouldn't read a book | | | | |