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As we ease out of the 2020 lockdowns, and our minds turn to the celebrations over the festive and holiday period, we must remember that these are also high-risk times on the roads. The holiday periods are a particularly dangerous time for drivers and we often see more incidents, injuries and deaths on the road over this time compared to other periods.

Having a holiday is supposed to be about relaxing and having fun but it often ends up being a time when everyone rushes around. This frantic pace can lead to speeding, impatience, distraction and carelessness behind the wheel.

With more people out and about, there’s usually more congestion, fatigue and an increase in road users travelling longer distances and often driving in new environments which are largely unfamiliar compared to local neighbourhoods. The holiday season also brings about an increase in the number of travellers towing trailers as well, which can make life on the roads even more interesting!

At Innovation Group we want everyone to stay safe and come through the holiday period without incident. Here we share a couple of helpful hints and tips to get you safely through the holiday season.

Vehicle health check

2020 may well have been the year of reduced travel, so it is important to check your vehicle before embarking on your holiday.

Check your vehicle for tyre tread, damage and air pressure, engine oil, lights, brakes, coolant, battery and overall condition. Getting your car properly serviced before you head off is a sensible idea.

Being prepared is what it is all about. Think about your vehicle maintenance, load capacity when packing and being prepared for any eventuality. Having an emergency kit in your vehicle might well be a saving grace for an unexpected event. Also consider the essentials if you are driving to or through areas that are prone to bush fires –woollen blankets and water may come in handy!

Checking the spare tyre is easily overlooked. Make sure that it is in the right condition and that you have the necessary tools on hand should it be necessary to change a tyre along the way.

Plan your route

As much as you’d like to try out a new or more scenic route, remember that sometimes the road less travelled is less travelled for a reason (Jerry Seinfeld). Journey planning is a must for a safe and hassle-free travel this holiday season. Bear in mind that the most direct route is not necessarily the safest –and with road works or traffic jams causing delays, it may not be all that quick either!

Spend time researching your route, so you have some idea of the hazards you might encounter along the way. Considering the road types, proximity to busy tourist areas and cities and travel timings are just the start of the process. It is also wise to take the risks for weather condition impacts, bush fire warnings and environmental conditions into consideration.

Finally making sure that you plan for delays, expect that your journey may take longer, and if luck is on your side and you arrive ahead of schedule, then that will be a cause for celebration!

Monitor driving conditions

When we think about driving conditions, our mind naturally turns to the weather and how that impacts our drive. Whilst the weather plays an important part in planning your trip, there are more factors to consider.

Driving conditions also involves driving while exhausted, have animals and children in the car – “are we there yet?” – using unfamiliar roads or changing road rules as you travel state to state. Tightly winding roads will reduce the time you have to react to traffic around a hidden bend, so you’ll need to be cautious. An unexpected traffic jam or road incident, will also entail some quick thinking and careful driving.

The open road is not the only place to take driving conditions into consideration. A crowded festive season car park is no less dangerous–frustrated drivers looking for those elusive and limited parking spaces can make for some interesting driving!

The key is to be alert, be vigilant and keep an eye on those ever-changing driving conditions.

Avoid driver fatigue

We all want to avoid the rush, beat the traffic and be the first on the road. So, we get up extra early to start our journey and completely forget the fatigue that will set in later! It’s no wonder that driver fatigue is one of the biggest causes of road incidents over the festive season.

If you’ve researched and planned your route, then you will have avoided peak traffic times for both departure and arrival. Remember to also work in stop and rest breaks, at least every 2 hours.

Cat-naps, fresh air and copious amounts of coffee will not cure fatigue! Leaving the window open for fresh air, coffee and loud music are ‘band-aid solutions’ at best –they don’t address the fact that you need to stop and have a decent sleep before you can safely go any further.

Curb driver fatigue by following these simple and easy tips:

Take care and be responsible

The festive and holiday season is all about celebration. And this may include celebrating with your favourite beer or an ice-cold G&T. Celebrating and relaxing is good for the soul… if it is done responsibly.

Keep in mind that:

Be responsible andconsider the alternatives: