The Top 5 Tips for a Christmas Road Trip

The Christmas countdown is on and the days are dwindling until thousands of Kiwis embark on their summer road trip. The holiday season is all about spending time with friends and family. With so many people on route to festive celebrations and family gatherings, or travelling to holiday destinations, it can be a recipe for disaster.

In last year’s holiday period, there were 9 deaths on the road in New Zealand, the only acceptable number is zero. During the frenetic holiday period, good driver behaviour is paramount for all drivers. So, before you get behind the wheel this holiday season with your precious cargo (friends and family) and whether you’re travelling to Taipa or Tekapo, these following tips can help you get to your destination safely.

1. Safe following distances

No one likes it when the car behind is so close that the driver could reach over and help themselves to your road trip snacks. Keep your distance – it can give you enough reaction time to avoid something that can go wrong.

To adhere to the New Zealand Road Code two-second following rule, pick a landmark e.g. a stop sign, a post or a tree. Then count out loud “one thousand and one, one thousand and two”. If you’ve passed the landmark before you’ve finished counting, you need to slow down.

If you’ve packed everything including the portable barbeque for your beach holiday, then the car will be more heavily laden than usual. It’s best in this situation to observe a four-second gap to allow space to bring the vehicle to a stop more safely. When driving on unsealed roads stay back from the dust cloud to give yourself a clear view of what’s to come. And if there is wet weather these holidays, again observe the four-second gap to give yourself a longer braking distance.

2. Plan and know your route

Don’t just rely on your smartphone’s maps to get you to your destination. Plan your route before your journey, so you know where the best rest stops are. By giving yourself an itinerary, you won’t get caught out by nasty surprises like finding out there are no toilets for the next 100 kilometres when you’re ready to burst. Knowing where roads are closed is important too, ensuring you don’t rush get to where you need to be on time.

3. Refresh and take breaks

The snickers slogan goes: ‘you’re not you when you’re hungry’. And this is true for fatigue as well. Fatigue can cause a delay in reaction times and impair judgement. This can increase the chance of an incident. Stopping to rest, stretch and fuel your body will give you the much-needed energy boost you need to stay alert on the road.

If you’re feeling sleepy, pull over and take a rest. Whether its twenty minutes of shut eye or a walk to stretch your legs and admire New Zealand’s lush scenery, you’re better off being a little late and safe. Use these breaks to restock on water and snacks in between mealtimes.

4. Stick to speed limits

Not only will this save you a few dollars in speeding fines, but it may save you, your life. Remember the speed limit is not a target but an absolute upper limit. According to the New Zealand police, in December 2018 police officers issued more than 212,800 speeding tickets around the country. Mobile and static speed cameras collectively issued more than 143,400 speeding infringements. Sticking to the limit and the road rules can be what it takes to keep you, your family, friends and the public safe this holiday period.

5. Reduce distractions

We live in a world where we can get easily distracted, when driving it’s important to keep distractions to a minimum. Distractions while driving include checking social media, texting or chatting on the phone, eating those tasty road-trip snacks, or paying more attention to the landscape than the road.

A distracted driver is a dangerous driver. You can reduce distractions by:

• Switching to ‘do not disturb’ on your smartphone.
• Not playing music too loudly.
• Insisting on passengers using headphones with their entertainment devices.
• Engaging in conversations to keep you aware, but not distracted.

The Christmas holidays are a frantic time on New Zealand roads. By taking precautionary measures and being mindful of other road users, we can all enjoy a happy and, most importantly, safe holiday season.