I am going on a long car journey. Does anyone have any driving tips for safe driving?

myoneonhere

Heat, exhaustion and lack of sleep can often lead to a black out. Sometimes there is no warning whatsoever, but if one feels faint or dizzy, it is always better to pull over immediately, even when driving up or down a hill. Parking is far less dangerous than losing consciousness at the wheel of a moving vehicle.

It is advisable to check the daily weather report even on a short drive. Bad weather affects roads and driving conditions, especially in winter. Driving in snow is never a good idea, but if it canï¿½t be avoided, the following driving safety tips might prevent serious injury and possibly save lives.

First of all, nothing is too small, insignificant or unnecessary. Check anything and everything. Ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses, fan belts, air fuel and emission filters, PCV valve, the battery, the air, sidewall wear and tread depth of tyres, antifreeze levels, freeze line, spark plugs and anything else that you can think of.
To read the full article see:
http://www.shops-flower.com/1/driving/Driving-Safety-Tips.php

Carl J

I find drinking water at regular intervals helps . I also find eating biscuits or other light snacks helps as this keeps you occupied. Might get fat in the process though....

alphacenturi

Look in the distance and not just the cars right in frount, you can see brake lights coming on and predict the flow of traffic so you don't have to slam the brakes on at the last minute.

Have regular breaks even if you don't feel tired, it will help you to concentrate.

Be prepared, plan and know your route as well as having the information in frount of you so you don't take a wrong turning.

Check the car before you set off, tyre pressures can affect handling, braking and fuel consumption, check the water, the window washer fluid, the oil, that the spare is ok, etc.

Have things to hand in the car, a drink, your cd's, your map, sun glasses so your not looking searching for them while your on the road.

Fill up with fuel an hour before you set off, a small thing but setting off on along journey somehow feels better when you can just go without hitting the petrol station first, probably because you get frustrated by the queues, etc.

Last of all, try and enjoy the journey as best you can and it will make it go quicker.

Curious

Ensure you use the lav before starting out. Leave plenty of time for the journey so you don't start rushing to get to your destination.

Take refreshments for the journey. Leave your window open slightly for fresh air. Ensure the car doesn't become too warm inside.

You should rest after at least 4 hours. You may not feel tired, but because you have had to concentrate so much you will be. Stop somewhere, have a little walk, and rest.

Enjoy your trip. Wish I was coming, I love long journeys by car.

Paul S

top up all fluids in the car, oil, water, window wash, power steering fluid if you have power steering. make sure you have the radio on or some music to keep you alert

make sure you have plenty of rest before hand and go to the loo before you leave. try not to drive for more than 3 hours at a time and take at least 30 mins breaks when you stop to have a snack and drink and a stretch

I travel to rochdale and colchester on a monthly basis from Leics and that takes about 2 1/2 hours but i always stop for 30 mins to have a rest etc..

peter gunn

a few tips and trick from some one who travelled all through europe and back
fresh air and soft music are great for keeping your attention up.
dark glasses help you relax your eyes and work great against fatigued eyes
a few stretching excercises behind the wheel can do wonders.
always keep a drink and snack handy sugar and caffein work great in small doses (no too much or you risk the inverse effect)
breaks are good to take your mind off things for a while but they will not stop you from getting tired(unless you sleep)
use the cruise control. If you're travelling long strokes of highway it helps a lot when you can relax your feet the rest of the body relaxes along.
don't delay on things like pi(t)(ss)stops or to eat when you are seriously hungry any physical stress will only amount to bad concentration

Nickynackynoo

Make sure you get lots of rest, as soon as you feel tired, take a break and share the driving (if that's possible).

Get your tyre pressure, oil, water etc checked before you start your journey and make sure you have a spare and kit in the boot.

make sure you have you mobile with you (obvious i know) and give someone your itinerary.

Good luck!

Without-style

Keep cool. No, literally. Have cold air following, I find this keeps me alert and wards off fatigue.

acierinox

stay in the slow lane and take regular breaks

hanmabookie

If you feel tired while on the road, do isometric exercises. Flex your leg muscles as hard as you can for as long as you can, then do the same with your arms.

Another exercise is squeezing your shoulder blades together as hard as you can, then stretching them apart.

When you pull off the road, do long hard stretches for your torso and legs (which is basically bending over and touching your toes for 2 minutes). I did these exercises on a one-way drive from Mississippi to Virginia. I started at 8am and reached my destination at 9pm. I was very tired, but I made it.

nj2pa2nc

get a good rest before you start your journey. stop along the way and walk around. went on a 6,177 miles road trip thru 20 states. would get up early, eat breakfast, start to drive and would take a break when we needed gas or had to take a bathroom break. would stop for lunch and then would find a motel room around 5.30-6pm, have dinner and then watch some tv or take a walk. would get to sleep early and start again early the next morning. sometime we would stay in one place more than one night.

TERRY READ

FIRST OF ALL CHECK THE CAR OVER! oil , water, petrol, tyre pressures (might sound silly but 1lb more or less will make a differance to fuel economy ) .
Take a break every two hours, this means stop and turn off engine get out stretch legs use the loo .
Turn radio on or have a cd on but with the rds/atr on this means you get traffic reports coming on every 15 minutes or so, might be annoying but could save you hours if the road ahead is obstructed.
do not drink loads whilst driving ( drinking whilst driving is illegal) eat fruit sweets or chew gum to keep mouth moist.
Have a good trip.

willow

I drive for a living and can sometimes be driving for 12 hours, i usually put my foot down and get there as soon as, bu7t it depends on what kind of driver you are. if you are doing a lot of motorway travelling then you need to keep your eyes open as there are a lot of pillocks on the motorways especially at the weekends. If you travel over night you won't have any traffic problems. Redbull and chocolate helps.

rad sujanto

Most importantly, just never let yourself fall asleep in the car. Never drink too much before driving. Try hard to not answer calls while driving. Do not listen to so much loud music or you won't hear anything from outside if there is something bad happening. Never try to put on make ups while driving (lol). Never read magazines or books while driving.

UCANTCME

Driving on expressways: Be especially alert when driving on expressways. Speed and traffic volume are major concerns:

Check your rearview and side mirrors before changing lanes.
Use your turn signals when making lane changes.
Go to the next exit if you missed yours. Backing up on expressways is against the law.
Do not follow too closely. Allow plenty of distance between you and the car ahead.
The right lane is for slower traffic. The left lane is used for faster traffic and for passing.
Do not stop on the expressway. Pull off the road if you have a problem. Lift your car's hood and turn on your hazard flashers. Do not walk along the expressway.

NIGHT DRIVING: Night driving is difficult because things may appear differently than in daylight. Also, glare from lights may interfere with vision. Courtesy and common sense should be used when driving at night.

Never overdrive your headlights. Always keep them clean and aimed properly. Use them at dusk and dawn. Bright lights must be dimmed 500 feet before meeting an oncoming vehicle or 300 feet before passing a vehicle.
If street lights cause a lot of glare, dim your dashboard lights and use your sun visor. Avoid using any other light inside your vehicle.
Roadway signs are more difficult to see at night.
Use edge lines and center lines of the roadway as guides.
Do not stop on the roadway. If you must stop, carry and use a red warning light.

Kool J. B.

I don't think it's all about checking pumps and pumping tyres and tiring out (lol), obviosuly it helps. But that's for the car: what about you? You have to be psychologically ready: are you looking forward to it? Be, cuz,the more you want it, the more you'll like it. Apart from this, I think one good thing is to do something enjoyable (obviously not destracting!): what about some very good music? If it's a very long journey, and if you have a pc (which I'm sure you do, if not you wouldn't have had access here I suppose!) that burns cd's, and if you got a CD player in your car, why not burn some CDs with your best songs (not too slow, in the late evening it might get you too tired and sleepy) that makes you want to sing (singing distracts you from the sense of time: your internal clock goes slower when you don't enjoy what you're doing, that's why at schools it looks like boring lessons never finish, whereas recreational time always finishes too quick!). If you enjoy singing, get it going!

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