Before stating a long journey, people often focus on the clothes they need to pack or the snacks they need to take along. They would try figuring out the cheapest and quickest route. However, there is one more important aspect that needs to be attended to as it is equally important and that is checking the safety of your car.
Check your vehicle
Your top most priority before starting a long journey should always be to check your vehicle. You need to ensure that the car on the whole is working correctly. Check the indicators, lights, tires and windscreen pipers. In case you have any doubts about the roadworthiness of your vehicle, then get it checked.
Always remember to carry spare tools on the journey. You may require spare tire, spare car key, puncture repair kit and a jack. You need to consider other useful items such as spare batteries, torch, blanket and water.
Always travel with the necessary paperwork. This includes an emergency contact list, vehicle insurance policy, maps or GPS. Don’t forget to carry your driver’s license with you.
Tips on driving safely
Seat belts
Seat belts are the best precautions when it comes to traveling. The first thing that you need to do when you get inside the car is putting on your seat belt.
Maintain a safe distance from other cars
Always keep a minimum distance of 2 seconds from the car in front. Keeping a safe driving distance is necessary to avoid accidents. This distance will need to be increased during rainy conditions, when the road is wet, during a fog and at night.
Carry a tool for cutting seat belt and shattering window in case of an emergency
Always keep a tool with which you can cut your seat belt and break your window in case of an emergency such as vehicle entrapment. A tool with a sharp blade that can be used for cutting the jammed seat belt and a spike for the shattering the window is recommended. In such cases, every second counts. You would require an effective tool.
Stay within speed limits
Staying within the sped limits is one of the best precautions for avoiding accidents. Use your lights whenever necessary.
Never drive while you are tired
Everyone knows the dangers associated with driving when under the influence of alcohol and drugs. However, it could still be dangerous if you are driving when tired. Look out for symptoms of fatigue and if you have any then stop driving. These symptoms are yawning, day-dreaming, slow reaction time and finding it difficult to keep your eyes open. You can get tired by various factors. Try following these steps.
How to avoid tiredness
Always wear a good quality sun glasses to avoid the sun glare. This helps avoid straining the eyes. Try traveling with someone else with whom you can chat and share the driving. This helps avoid stress, boredom and illness. Make sure you do not overeat before driving as overeating leads to blood being diverted to the stomach, thereby causing drowsiness. Avoid an interior that is overheated or very cold as it can cause sleepiness. Ensure you have had a minimum of six hours sleep before you drive. You need this minimum sleep for functioning properly while driving.
Stop and rest if you feel tired. You need to take a break every two hours or after a distance of about 200 km.
Author Bio: Stephen Roshy is a passionate writer and blogger. He has years of experience in writing content on various industries. Useful information for this article is provided by “Help2move”. Get in touch with Mr. Roshy on Face book, twitter and Google+