South Africans are known for travelling to different provinces during the holiday seasons, for a vacation or just to visit family and friends. When travelling these long distances, you need to be extra vigilant and ensure that you are mentally and physically prepared.
The main goal of each trip should always be to arrive safely at your destination. Safe-driving experts have explained that motorists should drive a maximum of ten hours per day, not longer, when on a road trip. Planning in advance will aid in a peaceful and pleasurable trip, you should know the locations where you will stop for petrol, food or the restrooms. For a bit of fun along the way, keep an eye out for information centres where you can explore some of the country’s hidden gems.
Take breaks in between driving to allow yourself to rest and have a nap if need be. Lack of sleep can increase your chances of being in an accident, so if you start to experience symptoms of tiredness or fatigue, carefully pull over and allow yourself to take a break.
If possible, you should share the driving responsibilities with your passenger or others in the car. Ensure that each driver is well-rested before getting behind the wheel and create a schedule for when and how often you will swap drivers. If this is the case, it is a good idea to make sure that each driver is insured under your motor plan.
Cruise control is a great tool to use on long trips, however, do not rely on this alone. You could become lazy and lose focus while using cruise control, so by driving on your own you will keep yourself awake and alert. In South Africa, it is not uncommon to see cattle along the roads. You should always keep an eye out for animals, especially at night as this is when animals tend to be more active. If you do encounter animals nearby, slow down and pass with caution, you can even honk your horn to encourage them to move further from the road.
Always obey traffic and road safety regulations. You and everyone else in your vehicle should wear their seatbelts and eliminate distractions as much as possible to allow the driver to stay focused on the road ahead.
No matter how much planning you do, there is always the chance of unforeseen events. Remember to stay calm, stay focused and aim to arrive home safely at the end of your holiday.
