In today’s rushed society, it’s essential to stay safe on the road. Regardless of whether you’re taking a road trip or just have a long journey ahead of you, here are nine tips from Sumitomo Rubber South Africa to keep yourself and others safe on the roads:

Plan your route and breaks in advance

Plan ahead to prevent unexpected detours and busy routes during long journeys. Taking regular breaks to stretch your legs, rest, and recharge will help to make the trip less tiring. A fatigued driver is just as bad as a drunk driver.

Save emergency contacts on your phone

Ensure that you have emergency contact numbers stored in your cell phone in case of an accident or a break down. Most cell phones have a feature to store emergency contacts and medical information which can be accessed by holding down the home button.

Check all key roadworthy features on your vehicle

Ensure that all key features of your vehicle are working properly. Check all vehicle fluids are at the correct levels, including engine oil, radiator coolant, brake fluid, and water for your windscreen wiper reservoir and windscreen wipers.

Buckle up

Ensure that you and your passengers, including your kids are wearing seatbelts and that babies and toddlers are in their car seats, not held in arms. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people aged 5 to 29 years old in both South Africa and across the globe.

Avoid distractions

Staying focused on the road is essential to avoiding accidents caused by distracted driving. Refrain from using any electronic devices or engaging with your passengers while driving.

Keep a safe following distance and don’t speed

When driving, be sure to pay attention to your speed and maintain a safe distance from the car ahead of you. This gives you enough time to react in an emergency and avert a possible accident.

Mind the barrier

Never overtake on a solid barrier line. Solid barrier lines are often placed along highways or other roads to separate opposing lanes of traffic, so it is never safe to attempt to overtake a vehicle on this line.

Don’t drink and drive

Alcohol impairs your judgement and reaction time, making it difficult to manoeuvre safely on the road. If you plan to consume alcohol, make sure to identify a responsible and designated driver who will not be drinking.

Travel during the daytime

Driving in the day can help drivers stay alert and be more aware of their surroundings. By improving visibility, drivers will be less likely to become fatigued. 

By following these helpful tips and practising responsible driving practices, we can all do our part to make our roads safer, no matter how long your journey is.