2 Mar 2016
Whenever the holidays arrive my kids are usually over excited and so are Mum and Dad for that matter. With our holiday already mapped out and booked, we’re usually off racing with the car packed to the hilt – we just can’t wait to get there.
But then there is the five hour drive to get to our destination. While we can’t wait to get there as soon as possible, it’s actually more important we get there as safely as possible, especially with young children in the back. So it’s always essential to make sure I’ve considered everything I need to for a safe drive.
At Discovery Parks we’re committed to helping make your holiday as much fun and as relaxing as possible, but we’re also committed to ensuring the safety of you and your family. So I thought I’d share my safe driving checklist as well as a few other handy tips.
First of all it’s essential to remember that distraction can occur at any time. So never take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your mind off your primary task – driving safely. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert your attention away from the primary task of driving and any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.
All of these distractions endanger driver, passenger and bystander safety:
- Texting
- Using a cellphone or smartphone
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
- Grooming
- Reading (including maps)
- Using a navigation system
- Watching a video
- Adjusting a car stereo
A good defensive driver will practice the following:
- Glancing well ahead in the direction of travel
- Getting the ‘big picture'; learning to see the entire roadway
- Always allowing for an escape route, leaving a cushion by slowing or moving ahead of the vehicles beside you
- Keeping your vehicle visible and signalling your intentions early
- When stopped prior to making left turns across incoming traffic, leaving wheels straight to prevent being pushed into oncoming traffic in the event of a rear-end crash
- Always wearing your seat belt
- When entering intersections practicing looking left/right/left
- Learning to compensate for hazards such as weather, debris, potholes, loose gravel or sand
- Making sure you check your vehicle before long drives and have it maintained as per registration requirements
- ALWAYS maintaining a cautious driving attitude.
Following the above can go a long way toward reducing unnecessary vehicle accidents. Which means you and your family will get to your destination safely and have more time for the fun holiday stuff that you’ve been looking forward to.
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