Now that your plans are set for vacation and you are ready to take off,highway driving becomes even more enjoyable if you take care of most important aspects. Below are some tips to help make your highway driving a happy driving!
Highway driving
- Get your vehicle serviced at least one week before the journey to ensure the vehicle is running smooth
- Get adequate sleep the previous night (at least 7 hours) and stay hydrated to get your reflexes set
- Fill up your vehicle’s petrol tank the day before journey
- Keep music, water, juices, snacks such as candies, cookies and chocolates handy during your travel
- Remember to take cushions and backrest for your comfort as well as a sheet
- Start your journey preferably early morning one hour before the sunrise so that you are comfortably on the highway by sunrise. This helps you to avoid any city traffic
7. When on the highway, stick to your lane and drive at a constant speed preferably. Do not cross the speed limits to better control your vehicle. Speed of 80 kms per hour is also very high. You might need a few seconds to react to the situation
8. Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead to prevent any collision. Remember this vehicle ahead is your safety net and if it suddenly stops, you should not collide with it. Hence maintain the distance from vehicle ahead of you
Signboards
9. Focus on rear break lights of vehicles ahead while driving. If you see the vehicle ahead is applying breaks or avoiding any pot holes or turning suddenly, you should also do the same. Remember the vehicle ahead is your safety net
10. While overtaking, always follow your safety net and if you feel that the vehicle coming from opposite side is too fast then, its always always preferrable to abort the overtaking. Remember, more than 60%-70% of accidents occur during overtaking
11. The trucks on highways are generally loaded and are driving at a constant speed. They are not able to stop abruptly. Hence, you have to adjust and give them the right first
12. Always use dippers while overtaking. On Indian highway, if a truck gives you the indicator, it means it is giving you the way to overtake. It is opposite for cars which means it wants to remain on the side of indicator
13. Always prefer to have GPS on. Read the sign boards on the route carefully. If not possible, then ask about routes only from policemen or auto drivers.While night driving, there would be groups of policemen with vehicle and torches to help you
Milestone information boards
14. Always take bypass roads to avoid small townships. If by chance, you enter a township, follow traffic rules and go slow specially on crossings
15. Don’t drive too much at the edge of the road (left side in India) since you might find some local traffic which might disturb you
Local transport
16. Take a break after 2-3 hours of driving . Even if you don’t need a break,your vehicle does
17. In case of night driving, if you feel sleepy, immediately park the vehicle to take a walk, wash face. That is where your music and eatables become handy
18. If you need to stop, always prefer to hault at a popular joint or midway cafe where you are safe
Midway joint
19. In case you need to stop on the highway itself, always park on extreme corner so that you don’t disturb others. Put your parking lights on before stopping.
20. If weather is bad, either stop for sometime at a safe place or drive with parking lights on
21. Its always preferable to have co-driver to talk to you during journey so that both remain awake and alert
Please ensure to follow traffic rules. Have a safe trip!
Nidhi KM
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