Avoid trying to speed to get to your journey more quickly. Speeding will just lead to additional frustrations, especially on crowded holiday routes. A good mantra to adopt is that the journey is part of the holiday. Stop often and take in the sights. The more relaxed a driver you are the safer a driver you will be.
Plan carefully With Easter being a shorter holiday, motorists are often in a hurry to try maximise their downtime. It is important to plan your journey and know how long it will take in order to determine the feasibility of travelling this distance over a long weekend. Motorists should also factor in increased traffic into this journey time. Choosing destinations that are closer to home, will result in a far more relaxed holiday travel, which is a big contributor to safety.
Don’t drink and drive : Drinking and using the road is one of the biggest contributors to accidents on our roads, both by drivers as well as pedestrians and should be avoided at all cost. As a driver you are not only endangering your own life, but you are also endangering the lives of your passengers and other road users. Drivers causing and accident while under the influence will most certainly face the full might of the law which could result in serious criminal charges. Driving with a hangover is also not a good idea, as this will affect your alertness and cognitive ability as a driver, so be sure to fully recover from festivities before hitting the road.
Avoid driving at night : Driving at night is popular over long weekends as South Africans try to get to their holiday destination after work, but it is during this time that the biggest proportion of accidents take place. Driving at night is an extremely hazardous practice as our roads are littered with a wide variety of hazards, including unroadworthy vehicles, pedestrians and animals. If you do need to drive at night, it is important to remember that your visibility and what you can see at night is greatly reduced and you should adapt your speed and driving style to accommodate for this.
Have your vehicle serviced A vehicle that is well maintained will ensure a road trip without any hassles. Before setting off make sure that your vehicle is not due for a service and that any issues are seen to. Kia Retail offer customers a free safety check, where expert technicians will inspect the vehicle and ensure that it is in tip top shape before you hit the road this festive season.
It is also a good idea to prepare your vehicle adequately by ensuring that all the lights work, that it is clean, that all the fluids are at the required level and that the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure for the load you are carrying. Don’t forget to check that spare wheel too.
Check the details of your roadside assistance cover New and pre-owned vehicles sold through the Kia Retail network will include roadside assistance for a certain period of time at no charge. This will add peace of mind to your journey, knowing that if you need help, it is just a phone call away. Double check your cover and consider extending this cover if it has expired as it is worth its weight in gold. Motorists should keep the contact number and details of their cover handy in case of an emergency. Kia Retail customers can dial 0861 542 000 in the case of a vehicle emergency.
