10 Reminders to help you travel safe this Easter

We urge our Blue family members to travel safe this Easter. Road accident statistics at this time of the year have become synonymous with carnage. According to an address given at the opening of the Easter 2016 Road Safety Campaign, a six year trend analysis of crashes and fatalities over the Easter period has indicated that between 2010 and 2015, there was an average of 196 crashes recorded per year. These crashes resulted in an average of 260 deaths per year, one too many.
Below are some reminders to help you travel safe.
1. Do a thorough check-up on your car before hitting the long road. Remember to check the engine oil and washer fluid, and the wipers and lights to ensure they’re in good working order.
2. Inspect your vehicle’s tires, including the spare, to make sure they are in good condition and are properly inflated. Check for any tears or bulges in the side wall, and that they have a good amount of thread left.
3. Buckle up! This one goes without saying, but we all know how uncomfortable a seatbelt can become after hours in the same seat. Rather take a proper break to stretch those legs, and make sure everyone in the car keep theirs on while the wheels are turning.
4. Stay awake. Be realistic about travel times, and plan rest stops at least every two hours to avoid becoming fatigued while driving. Fatigue slows a driver’s reaction time, decreases awareness and affects their judgment.
5. Share the road. Not only with other motorists, but be aware of other road users as well, such as motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists. Practice patience and give others the time and space to reach their destinations safely.
6. Put your phone away. Don’t be tempted by the fleeting distraction. Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting; when traveling at high speed, that’s enough time to almost cover the length of a rugby field blindfolded! Catch up on those messages and emails during your pit stops, then shove your cell phone in the cubby hole and leave it there.
7. Have your front seat passenger keep an eye on Twitter profiles like the N3 Toll Concession, Arrive Alive or iTraffic. With constant real-time alerts, these profiles are excellent resources to give you a heads up if there are any accidents on the road you are travelling.
8. Be prepared on longer trips by packing essentials in case of an emergency. Keep a freshly stocked first-aid kit, water, flashlight, pillow and blanket in the car. Also check that you have a set of jumper cables, a spare tire, and extra fluids for the car (such as windshield wiper fluid) in your boot.
9. Don’t wait for the petrol light to come on before you fill up. If you’re driving on unfamiliar roads, you never know when the next service station will appear. You don’t want to be a sitting duck next to the road, especially if you’re a woman, travelling with little ones or alone, or are driving at night. As soon as you hit a quarter of a tank, look for the first garage to refuel.
10. Sometimes GPS units fail us! Especially if its maps haven’t been updated for a while. Keep a smartphone charged to use it’s mapping app in case you need to. As a third fail-safe, always keep a detailed map in the car. These are essential for long road trips, especially if you’re travelling on unfamiliar roads.