7 Things you should never do while driving

THE roads are going to become busier and busier in the next few weeks as schools close and families head for their holiday destinations.

“Road safety has got to be a priority for everyone as we see thousands of deaths on our roads every festive season. Being distracted while driving is one of the major causes of road accidents and we need to be conscious of this,” says Dewald Ranft, Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI).

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He says these 7 things, while not an exhaustive list, should be avoided at all times while driving.

1. Texting or looking at your phone while operating a vehicle remains one of the most dangerous activities but is not the only one.

2. Don’t read, eat, change clothing or groom yourself while driving.

3. Don’t allow passengers to distract you. Ensure small children are buckled up before departing and if they require attention during the trip, rather pull over to assist them.

4. Don’t let animals roam around the vehicle freely, rather put them in a pet carrier which is properly restrained.

5. Create a playlist with your favourite music so you don’t have to look for songs.

6. Let your friends and family know you will not answer any phone calls or texts while driving.

7. Keep a safe following distance, allowing yourself time to react if required.

“Let’s all work together to make our roads a safer place this festive season,” concludes Ranft.

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