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matespace
18-12-2014, 02:53 PM
Are you planning on going away these holidays? Long distance driving can take a great toll on you and your car, so it’s important to make sure that you take the right steps for the big trip ahead.

Follow our top five tips for staying safe when you decide to drive long distances this holiday season:


1. Planning

Leave with ample time to reach your destination, including factoring in rest stops at least every 2 hours during your drive, which is important to keeping fatigue at bay.

Also check the weather report the day before you leave to make sure you’re not hit with any unexpected weather conditions. Driving in adverse weather is more difficult and requires greater concentration. Plus, rain can also cause oil in the road to rise to the surface, dramatically decreasing the grip available to your tyres.


2. Car Preparation

Prepare your car by performing a basic service, either yourself or professionally. This will make sure you’re free of any headaches when on the road. Things to check include your engine oil level, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, and your spark plugs. Top up or replace if necessary.

Your car will run much more efficiently with fresh fluids and new hardware, and it will love you for it!

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If you are towing a trailer, ensure you perform a tow check. Check your towing equipment is properly secured, electrical connections are operating; the load is properly secured; brakes are working correctly, and rear vision mirrors are properly adjusted.

When packing your car, ensure you keep your luggage properly secured, particularly hard and heavy objects such as suitcases.


3. Tyre Preparation

Wheel alignment and tyre balancing

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If your car pulls to one side when driving, or your steering wheel is not straight, your car’s wheels might be misaligned. Misaligned wheels lower the control you have over your car, and can rapidly increase tyre wear, especially over long distances.

A professional wheel alignment will restore your car’s alignment to manufacturer specifications, and correct any problems that come as a result of wheel misalignment.

Steering vibrations can not only be annoying, but also dangerous. Unbalanced wheels and tyres may cause vibration in your steering, and these effects will be amplified at highway speeds.

Balancing your wheels and tyres is done via small weights stuck to the inside of your wheels by your tyre technician, and should be routinely checked as a part of your maintenance regime.

Tyre pressure

Properly inflating your tyres will improve the handling performance, and fuel economy of your car. Plus, your tyres will last longer! If your tyres are improperly inflated, your ability to brake and manoeuvre safely will be compromised, and uneven tyre wear may result.

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You can find the correct inflation specifications on the sidewall of your tyres, the fuel filler flap, front door jamb, or in the glovebox of your car. Remember to use an accurate tyre pressure gauge to check your tyre pressures when your tyres are cold.

If you are ever in doubt, visit your local Yokohama tyre dealer for advice.

Tread depth

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A tyre’s ability to grip in the wet lowers as tread depth lowers, because the tyre tread provides the drainage of water from between the tyre and the road. You can check the tread depth of your tyres with a depth gauge, or via tread depth indicators which are moulded into the tread of most modern tyres. When the tread depth indicators are flush with the tyre tread, the minimum tread depth has been reached.

The minimum legal tread depth in Australia is 1.6mm, so make sure you change your tyres before this level that happens.

Tyre Damage

Inspect all of your tyres for any signs of damage or irregular wear. These may appear as cuts, scuffs, tears or bubbles and can worsen over a long journey causing failure while driving, which could prove catastrophic. If there is any damage to your tyres, get them inspected, or better yet, replaced immediately.

Also remember to check your spare tyre, and keep it roadworthy. You never know when you may need it!


4. Self-preparation

On the day before you leave, make sure you get a good night’s rest. Research shows that missing sleep for 17 hours has the same effect on your driving as a 0.05 BAC, the legal limit in Australia.

Also don’t drive at a time when you would normally be sleeping, as your body is programmed to slow down during this time.

Stay away from alcohol during your drive, as well as on the days beforehand. Even a small amount affects your driving skills, increasing your reaction times, reducing concentration and impairing judgement.

Some medications may also have an adverse effect on your driving ability, so read any warnings on the box or consult a medical professional for advice.

Having healthy meals on the day of your long drive can significantly improve your own performance, and will keep you feeling energised while driving. Eat foods low in GI and high in protein, such as a fresh salad, grilled meat or fish, and stay away from carbohydrates and saturated fats, as these are more difficult for your body to digest and will make you more tired.

Pack accordingly, including a bag of nutritious foods to snack on. Fruit is the perfect choice!

Most important is to stay hydrated. Water is cheap, will combat the onset of fatigue, and can also save you from leg cramps.

During your drive, take a short break every 2 hours, or have a power nap as soon as you notice any signs of fatigue. The most common signs include heavy eyes, yawning and poor concentration.


5. Safe driving techniques

The best way to stay safe on the road is to drive responsibly and to the road conditions.

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Here are some simple safe driving techniques to keep in mind when driving:

• Be considerate to other road users, including indicating early when making manoeuvres. This is especially important if your view is obscured when towing a trailer;
• Keep left unless overtaking, and when approaching a blind corner or crest;
• Maintain a three-second gap between you and the car in front, and increase it in adverse weather or visibility conditions;
• Drive smoothly. This not only Improves fuel economy, but also decreases the wear on your car and tyres;
• Acknowledge the road signs and any road warnings, and obey them;
• Watch for wildlife, especially at night;
• Look further ahead when driving and anticipate potential hazards. Remember the faster you drive, the less time you will have to react and the longer it will take to stop.

When driving long distances, plan your trip, pack accordingly, and use these holiday driving tips as a guide. Remember you can always visit your local Yokohama tyre dealer (http://clixtrac.com/goto/?96591) for more friendly advice about your tyres and staying safe on our roads.