7 tips for safer driving this Easter

THE Easter long weekend is traditionally one of those times when South African families from across the country pack up their cars, bakkies, buses and caravans, and hit the long road.

It’s also a particularly treacherous time for those on the roads – the Easter holiday is notorious for the high fatality rate on our roads.

Follow these tips and things should go a lot more smoothly for you.

1 Check it out

Give your vehicle a thorough once-over before you hit the open road. Ensure the wipers and lights are in working order and carefully scan the tyres (including the often-neglected spare wheel).

Legally, in South Africa, the minimum tread depth is no less than 1mm, which along with lumps and gashes on the sidewalls make tyres more susceptible to blowouts.

Ensure that you have the necessary tyre-changing equipment and always check your tyre pressures when the tyres are cold. Remember that vehicles under heavy load usually require higher pressures.

2 Load up

Don’t overload your vehicle. Not only can this obscure your rear visibility but it can also affect your vehicle’s stability and its ability to steer and stop; cause premature brake and tyre wear; and increase your fuel consumption.

Where possible, pack heavy items in the boot and make sure to pack belongings securely. Sliding loose objects can distract and, if harsh braking is required, unsecured items could fly forward and hit occupants sitting in the car.

3 Buckle up

Yes, it’s one of the most basic safety details, but according to the results of an independent study conducted on the N4 highway by the Road Safety Foundation, only 36.9 percent of drivers wore their seatbelts, while 30.8 percent of passengers were clipped in. Childsafe suggests children be strapped into a suitable car seat from birth to 10 years old.

When used correctly, seatbelts reduce the risk of death and injury in a crash. Also, if your vehicle is equipped with airbags, which provide additional impact protection in crashes, your bags probably won’t deploy if your seatbelt is not secured.

4 Be defensive

Defensive driving is one of the tenets of South Africa’s driver training curriculum, but is not readily practised. Plan a defence or exit strategy so that you’re prepared when dangers present themselves. This is also why a safe following distance is important. A longer following distance – three seconds on dry roads is considered safe – increases your line of sight, which will give you more opportunities to spot and avoid potential problems. And if you can’t see the mirrors of the vehicle in front of you, that driver can’t see you.

5 All-weather driving

Always adjust your driving to suit the road and weather conditions.

When driving on wet roads ensure an extended following distance as roads may be slippery, turn on your headlights, avoid puddles which may conceal potholes.

Should your car aquaplane, don’t brake or steer. Remove your foot from the accelerator until you feel your tyres make contact with the road again.

6 Minimise distractions

A recent Driver Distraction Survey commissioned by Ford revealed that one in four young drivers in Europe aged between 18 and 24, have taken a selfie, have posted an update to social media or checked social media sites while driving.

But distracted driving is not just about motorists’ collective inability to ignore their smartphones when behind the wheel. Other common distractions are ‘rubbernecking’ when passing crash scenes or roadblocks; shaving or applying makeup; tending to children; looking for dropped items; and eating or drinking.

7 Extra care required

Avoid being on the roads during high-risk periods, like between dusk and dawn, peak traffic periods, late at night during ‘closing times’ for bars and clubs.

Source: Eugene Herbert, Project Coordinator for Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) South Africa, Ford’s responsible driver training programme.