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Well it is that time of year again, the Easter long weekend. Now everyone that gets this time off, and some lucky enough to have more, will at one stage get behind the wheel of a car and drive. This can be fun or a painful experience.

This holiday season, like all of them, you need to remember that during the holidays many drivers are worried, hurried or distracted which is making them less careful on the roads. This means that you must be more vigilant than normal to avoid a crash that can leave you with less-than-festive memories of your holiday.

Other road users are a concern and you need to be thinking all the time while on the roads and one way to make your trip less stressful is to ensure you have your vehicle in a safe condition to travel.

These nine tips could be a life saver on the road and also a cost saver. All of these tips are things that anyone can do, not just the car lover but anyone that owns a car really should do at least these things before going anywhere.

Top nine tips to a safer holiday

1.         Check the oil: Even if you are a few thousand kilometres away from your next scheduled service, get it done early. Check to see that the oil is at the full line and that no leaks can be seen. If it is low then be sure to check the owner’s manual for the type of oil to top it up with.

2.         Check the tread on your tyres: Nothing puts a damper on holiday trips more than getting booked or even worse into a crash due to worn out tyres. Check your tyre pressure, the correct pressure can usually be found on the tyre placard, as correctly inflated tyres improve handling, make tyres more resistant to punctures to help improve fuel economy.

3.         Slow down! Though it seems patently obvious, you need every trick in your arsenal during the holidays. Drive defensively; drive the posted speed limit, pay attention to the road and you will arrive at your destination alive.

4.         Plan ahead: Allow extra time for the heavy traffic immediately before and after Good Friday and Easter Monday. Use whatever means necessary to plan: GPS, RACQ, NRMA, or good old-fashioned paper road atlas. But after you’ve picked out what appears to be the ideal route, spend a few more minutes researching road construction plans. There is a wealth of information available online, starting with each state’s own department of transportation web pages. There are also applications of this sort available for mobile devices, including GPS units and smart phones. Regardless of which method you use, the information is there for the taking and can help prevent wasting time in traffic.

5.         Plan to stop: Although you and your family might be excited to get to destination as soon as possible, plan to make stops along the way. Getting out of the car for just fifteen minutes every two hours will help. You stretch your legs, give your mind a rest and have time to grab a drink to stay fully awake while driving. Switch drivers if necessary to avoid any tired driving.

6.         Avoid distracted driving: Avoid texting, playing with your GPS, adjusting the radio or talking on your phone while driving and you will reduce the chances of having a crash. Although most of these are illegal anyway, the second you take your eyes off the road is all it takes for something to go wrong.

7.         Prepare a safety kit: Pack a safe road trip kit with essential items such as a phone, torches with extra batteries, water: both drinking and for the car, snacks, jumper cables and a first aid kit. Also let everyone in the car know about these items and be sure you know what is in the first aid kit.

8.         Designate a driver: Since there is usually drinking involved during the holidays, avoid any problems by having a designated driver. Drink driving is a major cause of car crashes and no distance, no matter how short, is worth taking the risk of being killed or killing someone you love.

9.         Buckle up: Always use seat belts and car safety seats for your children. They will protect you and your family in case of a crash and it is the law.

Follow these simple tips and you, your family and friends will all enjoy a safer holiday.

Stay safe.

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