There are a number of points to take note of before and during your journey that will help you and your passengers to arrive at your destination safe and sound.
The following good driving habits are mostly common sense but some are law.
Drive at the appropriate speed for the road type: Keeping to a sensible speed is one of the most important aspects of driving safely. To avoid an accident, it is important to drive at a speed that is appropriate for the road and the conditions. Sometimes, this will be significantly lower than the speed limit.
For example, many accidents occur on rural roads, often with limited visibility and narrow lanes, so driving below the speed limit in these circumstances will keep you safer. Remember the speed limit is a maximum, not a target.
Never drink and drive: Under no circumstances should you ever drink and drive. Driving after drinking reduces your reaction time and will make you a threat to yourself and others.
If you are planning to drink alcohol, plan how to get home without driving. Options include agreeing on a designated driver, saving a taxi number to your phone, or finding out about public transport routes and times before you go out.
Also beware of the ‘morning after’: You could be over the legal limit many hours after your last drink, even if it is the ‘morning after’. Sleep, coffee and cold showers don’t help you to sober up – time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system.
Avoid Using a mobile phone while driving: Talking, texting or browsing on a mobile phone can distract you from the task of driving. It is illegal to use your phone when driving if you hold the phone at any point during its use.
Although hands-free/Bluetooth devices are legal if you do not have to touch the phone, it is still recommended that you pull over to a safe location whenever you need to make or receive a call.
