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AVOID HOLIDAY HORROR Plan your drive – and enjoy the ride

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A holiday from work doesn’t mean a holiday from the rules of the road and responsibility – prepare before you leave!
A holiday from work doesn’t mean a holiday from the rules of the road and responsibility – prepare before you leave!

As drivers take to the roads all over the country, reckless driving and lack of preparation are two of the challenges they have to overcome.

Excited children in the back seat, holiday excesses and poor car maintenance all play a role in putting you and your family in danger these holidays.

Eugene Herbert, managing director of MasterDrive, told SunWheels the key to ensuring that your kids were not distracting you while driving was to plan the drive beforehand.

“If you are comfortable driving during the early hours of the morning, consider leaving early so the kids sleep through the first few hours of the journey.

“Then plan some activities once they wake up.”

Many parenting blogs suggest preparing crafts for children to enjoy during the trip.

Lastly, breaks are just as important for children as they are for drivers. Kids can burn off considerable energy with 20 minutes in a playground.

Holiday excess

Holidays and excess go together, but before you eat that next chocolate, be aware of how it affects your driving.

“Unhealthy foods cause fatigue and poor concentration which affect your ability to avoid and respond to emergencies. Eat proteins, healthy fats and fruit and vegetable, eggs, bite-size pieces of chicken, carrot sticks, grapes and nuts.”

Healthy food helps concentration levels for you and the rest of the car’s occupants.

“Stop for breakfast or lunch at rest stops, but keep a cooler bag with plenty of healthy snacks and water too,” he said.

Maintenance

All long-distance trips should include a double-check of your car’s maintenance needs.

“Check if the shocks are worn, get the wheels aligned every year and make sure your spare wheel is in good condition. These are just a few of the things you need to check before leaving.

“Many fitment centres do checks and replacements at affordable prices,” said Herbert.

A successful holiday trip never starts with just jumping in the car – it takes planning and preparation.

Check out MasterDrive’s app to find more information about plans and safe driving.

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