The 2011 Holiday seasons is fast approaching. Most of your reading this will be going away to enjoy some well-deserved rest after a hectic work-year. Some of you might be going camping, some wannabe will trying to improve their golf skills and others will be making their way to a holiday resort for some R&R.
Most of you leaving your towns and cities this holiday season will be travelling via car. Road traffic volumes increase dramatically during the holiday season in South Africa. Since Junk Mail Cares, we have decided to post some safety tips for road users that are going to be travelling this holiday season.
Follow these tips to ensure that you Arrive Alive at your destination:
- Be alert to changing road and weather conditions.
- Take safety breaks every 2 hours or 200 km.
- Plan the route to your holiday destination and give yourself enough time to reach the destination.
- Make sure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before departure. All lights and indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes, steering, exhaust system and tyres should be carefully examined for faults.
- Do not overload.
- Be visible – drive with your lights on.
- Do not drink and drive.
- Obey the rules of the road and carry your drivers license with you.
- Try to avoid driving after dark if possible.
- Have a good rest before you embark on your journey
- Try to recognize potentially dangerous drivers on and pedestrians alongside the road and keep well clear of them.
- Headlights should be dipped well before an approaching vehicle is within range of the main beam.
- Always wear your seat belt and check to see that everyone in the car is wearing theirs.
- Drive defensively.
- Stay within the speed limit at all times.
- Only overtake when it is absolutely safe to do so.
- Avoid distractions while driving.
- Maintain at least a 2 second following distance – this distance should be increased at night, in foggy or rainy conditions and when the road is wet.
- Expect others not to be as obedient to the law as yourself.
- Be courteous towards fellow road users – keep your temper and resist the temptation to retaliate.
We hope that you find these tips useful. Feel free to share these tips with your family and friends. Help them to Arrive Alive at their destination too.
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