“Start early, go slowly &reach safely” is the best deal of the day, whether you drive alone or with your family, either to office, school or on a vacation. “Safety first”- should be the norm at all the times. Here is a list of safety measures for both the two wheelers &cars…. · Don’t forget to wear your helmet, when riding a two wheeler. · Footpaths are meant for walking; they are not a space to manoeuvre two wheelers to cut through traffic. · When a vehicle shows an indicator to turn left or right, it’s a sign for other motorists to slow down and give way, not to race ahead and see if one can hamper their chance of taking the turn. · Driving into the opposite lane is hazardous to you and other commuters &walkers; it can be fatal. · Look in front and drive. There is really no need to turn back, bend and peer into autos or cars. · There’s only so much one can move when caught in bumper to bumper traffic. Honking incessantly will not help. · Avoid cell phones while driving, in case of emergency use hands free device. · Never start your car without wearing seat belt. · Before beginning a long drive, always get enough sleep and eat something before you go. · Pull over and take breaks every couple of hours’, even if you don’t feel sleepy. Grab a snack, get some fresh air, and stretch your legs by walking around. If you need to, take a quick nap. · If you are driving alone, turn on the radio or put on some music, and keep your window cracked open. · Never drink alcohol before your trip · Familiarise yourself with local traffic laws, which vary from state to state. · Before setting off on a long car trip, be sure your vehicle is in prime condition. · Keep costs down by conserving gas as you drive. Minimise sudden starts and stops, empty your car of all unnecessary weight, and slow down- it takes much less fuel to drive 55 miles an hour than it does to drive 70. · Don’t wait until your gas gauge is sitting on E to refuel. On an un familiar road, you never know when the next gas station will appear; as soon as you hit a quarter of a tank, start looking for a place to fill up. · Keep an eye on the skies, and if you can, plan a route around inclement weather. A minor detour could actually wind up saving you major time. · Search the web for traffic update sites and listen to radio traffic alerts, especially when approaching major cities. If you don’t have a smart phone, all news stations on the AM dial is often your best bet. · A mapping app on your smart phone is another must have for long road trips. · If you are driving a rental vehicle, familiarize yourself with the car and all of its equipment. (Horn, brake, &lights) · Always carry with you a first aid kit, flash light, pillow and blanket. Keep a set of jumper cables, a spare tyre and extra fluids for the car.
Do not keep your eyes only on the car in front of you. Regularly scan the side lanes and rear view mirror. Even a few seconds of advance notice can make a difference in accidents. Be aware of traffic as far as you can see ahead of you. Will give you more time to avoid a wrong direction driver. Read up on what to do for some scenarios such as: steering wheel suddenly locking up when driving front hood (bonnet) pops open when driving Driving emergency - Bonnet (hood) flies up stuck accelerator icy road (for people not used to it) air bag deploys (sometimes you temporarily cannot see in front of you, especially if you are on the shorter side) Most important: focus on the driving. Do not be too deep in thought. I would say avoid listening to audio books that require serious attention.
Wat if some bunny or cat hits the road all of a sudden and you are unable to stop the vehicle suddenly due to the high speeds and vehicles behind ! Especially common in US. I have seen so many bunnies lying on the road .