Easter Travelling Tips
It is an Australian Tradition to travel on the Easter Holidays. Camping and fishing trips with the family and as the highways become busier every motorist is taking extra precautions when driving to avoid the traffic. Typically the most dangerous time of the year to travel, see below some helpful tips to keep safe these Easter Holidays.
Tip 1
Book your car in for a service a couple of weeks before you travel. This gives you and your mechanic plenty of time to fix any unforseen problems and there are no delays in your holiday from waiting on parts. The mechanic can top up and check all fluid levels and air pressure in tyres and advise if there are any safety issues with the vehicle. The last thing anyone wants is to be stranded on the side of the road with the whole family in the car.
Tip 2
Check you have roadside assist, especially if you are travelling a great distance or a road trip weekend. The last thing you want is to have to foot a large towing bill because you went down the wrong road and broke down.
Tip 3
Make sure that you have plenty of water in the car, not only for the passengers but also as a top up if you need it for your radiator. Always remember to never put freezing cold water into a hot radiator and always wait for the engine to cool down. Have a rag in the boot of the car to protect your hand if you need to open the radiator cap.
Tip 4
When is the best time of the day to travel? Many travellers like to get out onto the open road well before the sun kisses the horizon whereas others believe that it is best to travel in their normal waking hours. There is no right or wrong answer to the question but really what suits you best. The most important thing is to make sure you are alert at all times of driving. Fatigue is one of the highest reasons for fatalities on Australian roads and a hectic work schedule up until Easter on top of trying to get the family away on the first holiday of the year can leave drivers exhausted.
Tip 5
Allow enough time to get to and from your destination. Speeding coupled with fatigue are an accident waiting to happen. Don’t speed. It is better to lose a couple of hours of fishing time than losing the lives of the people you love.
Accept that the traffic especially at the beginning and end of the holiday breaks is going to be havoc and plan either leaving a day earlier or later than the rest of the travellers.
Tip 6
When towing camper trailers or caravans the first thing is to make sure that your indicators and brake lights are working on the trailer being towed. Make sure that the safety chain has no damage or compromise of the chain and is attached properly to the vehicle. Remember to check the tyre conditions and pressures for the trailer as well as the vehicle doing the towing. Check the chassis for any rust or fractures especially if the holiday is on rough terrain. The last thing anyone wants is a broken chassis or broken axle to spoil their holiday.
Tip 7
Always check the weather forecast for the areas you are travelling to as well as the areas that you will be travelling through. If there is going to be rain in the area allow more time to travel especially if you have a deadline to arrive to your destination. Avoid driving in bad weather at night if possible especially on roads that you have not driven on before. The risks of an accident are tripled in bad weather conditions and not worth putting you, your family and other drivers on the road at risk.
Keep in mind also that if you left it too late to check your vehicle into your mechanic for a service to do so as soon as you get home if you have been driving in rough terrain. Mechanical problems with vehicles do not go away and usually cost more if they are left too long. At the very least have a check yourself of all the fluid levels, oil and water at the end of a trip. Especially if your vehicle normally does a short drive to and from work and not used to long trips.
Travel Safe
