Australia is the perfect country for taking cars on long road trips. With long distances between cities and interesting sights along the way, it makes sense to travel by car and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Driving safety is absolutely crucial, however, with even the smallest of road accidents enough to ruin any good adventure. From planning your journey to taking regular breaks, every successful road trip takes care and consideration.
By following these eight safe defensive driving tips, you can stay well out of harm's way. When you follow these safety tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your journey and arrive at your destination safe and sound.
Get your vehicle ready
When planning a road trip, it's important to pay close attention to your vehicle. Whether you own a sedan, lease an SUV, or rent a 4WD, your vehicle needs to be in tip-top shape before you hit the road. There are lots of things to look at, from the tread on your tyres and the action of your brakes to your spare tyre and emergency safety gear.
Regardless of your destination, driving an unsafe vehicle is a recipe for disaster. Inspect your vehicle a couple of weeks before your road trip, and get your car serviced if you're going on a particularly long journey. It's important to make a checklist and tick things off as you go so you don't miss anything.
Pack smartly and safely
Whether you're planning a long day trip, a romantic weekend, or an extended family vacation, it's important to pack your vehicle well. While there's nothing too difficult about packing a car, doing the little things right will make your journey much easier.
It's essential to segment items into two categories: those you won't need until the final destination and those you'll need along the way. Pack the former category deep into the crevices of the car, and leave the other items towards the outside so you can access them easily. Looking for items in a car can be very annoying, and it may also lead to dangerous distractions.
Plan the journey ahead
Along with getting your vehicle ready, it's important to think about the route ahead. While most modern cars are equipped with GPS navigation, you should always research your route before you hit the road. Take some time looking at maps on a large screen, pay attention to road and exit numbers, and don't forget about toll roads.
Learning how to use your GPS properly is also key, so take some time getting to know all the features and lock in your route early. Safe driving is not about improvisation. Mid-journey changes are likely to create confusion and stress, which can lead to road accidents.
Take regular breaks
If you're driving long distances, taking regular breaks is important. Highway driving can be incredibly monotonous, with no traffic lights, few corners, and nothing much to do except stay in your lane. To avoid nodding off behind the wheel, it's crucial to take breaks at least every two hours and limit your daily driving to eight to ten hours.
You should stop for at least 15-30 minutes on each break, leave the car to stretch your legs, and go to the bathroom if necessary. Fatigue is a major cause of road accidents in Australia, and taking regular breaks is the perfect antidote.
Share the driving if you can
Long-distance driving can be very tiring, with a shared driving scheme helping to keep everyone fresh and engaged. If you're travelling with your partner, family, or friends, you may be able to share the load with other drivers in the car.
While not everyone is lucky enough to have a second or third driver in the car, it's important to take advantage of them when you can. Whether it's a 50/50 split or a short-deserved break, sharing the driving is a great way to avoid fatigue and get to your journey safely.
Stay entertained
Long road trips can be lots of fun, but only if you make them. This is especially crucial in Australia, where roads stretch endlessly in every direction, and the dry landscape doesn't always capture the attention. Along with enjoying the scenery and paying attention to the road, there are lots of ways to entertain yourself and your fellow travellers.
Music is the obvious road trip entertainment, so lock your radio stations in, get your MP3 files ready, and make sure you have a wide variety of tunes to match your mood. For an alternative or addition to music, you can engage with podcasts, audiobooks, or other people in the car.
Microsleeps can happen through boredom alone, so - while it’s important to avoid major distractions during a drive - try to keep your mind active while you pay attention to the road.
Take an advanced driving course
While a driving test is required to be able to drive independently, you can always learn more things about the best practices while on the road. This could include taking an additional driving course to learn more good driving practices - including for long road trips.
Something like a defensive driving course could help you learn more about what to do when confronted with aggressive driving from other road users, as well as help teach safe driving habits for particular situations such as night-time driving.
Obey the driving rules
It might sound obvious, but one of the best tips for safe driving is to follow the road rules. First and foremost, you should follow the speed limit at all times. You should also leave adequate space for other vehicles, especially large trucks and road trains. While most highways are listed at 100 or 110 km/h, paying attention to roadside signage and driving to suit the conditions is important.
While it's not a rule, one of the best safe driving tips in Australia is related to the local wildlife. It's important to watch out for kangaroos and other animals, especially during dawn and dusk when they're very active. Not following the road rules dramatically increases driving risks, not just for you but also for passengers, pedestrians, and people in surrounding vehicles.
Drive safely anywhere you want with easi
If you're looking for a new car, a novated lease from Easi is the perfect solution. This arrangement allows you to finance a new or used car through repayments from your pre-tax salary. As the national leader in this space, Easi offers bespoke finance solutions to customers across Australia. To learn more about Easi, check out our website or contact our team today.
