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Long
journeys by car: tips for a safe trip
Extended
weekends and school holidays are periods of high traffic on the roads. For long
car journeys to remain safe and serene journeys, focus on some practical tips!
89%
of parents admit having already behaved in a dangerous way while driving with
their children (Attitude Prevention study). If parents are more virtuous
driving during the holidays, take the road in peak periods can not improvise.
Prepare
your route before departure
Anticipate
your car journey
identify
his route and if necessary program it in his GPS;
check
the weather and delay departure in case of heavy rain or thunderstorms;
inquire
about the traffic situation to adapt to the conditions, such as for example in
the event of heavy traffic jams from a day later, cut the route in half or even
take routes bis;
do
not set an imperative arrival schedule.
Journey
by car: the hours to avoid!
Between
1pm and 4pm and between 2am and 5am, the human body is "programmed"
to sleep. Suitable for drowsy driving, these periods should be avoided to drive.
To
avoid too, the departure precipitated after a day of work without enough rest.
After 17 hours of active sleep, reflexes decrease as much as with 0.5 g of
alcohol per liter of blood.
Check
the condition of the vehicle
Vehicle
maintenance: the visit to the garage
A
thorough review of the vehicle is to be done by a professional. It will check
the braking elements (brake pads, discs and brake fluid), steering, shock
absorbers (responsible for handling and driving comfort) and engine tuning
(carburation, ignition, cooling system .. .). It will also control the lights,
the condition of the tires (including the spare wheel) and windshield wipers.
Several
checks do not necessarily require the intervention of a professional but are
essential before any long drive.
Liquid
levels
the
washer fluid;
oil;
the
coolant;
the
brake fluid (if necessary, consult a mechanic).
Tire
pressure
Under-inflated
tires are a real danger. The tires are inflated, preferably cold and the car
empty, at the pressures recommended by the manufacturer. These instructions are
often visible on the edge of the front left door or on the fuel door of the
car. Attention tire pressure may differ if you ride loaded, or with a caravan,
trailer, ...
If
the tires are inflated when hot, add 200 to 300 grams to the recommended
pressures.
Inflation
stations are available to motorists in certain service stations.
Tire
wear
The
tread depth of a tire should not be less than 1.6 mm to ensure a good handling
of the car and avoid the risk of aquaplaning in case of rain. When in doubt, do
not hesitate to have the tires checked by a professional.
Lighting,
signage and visibility
Dirty
lights and headlights reduce lighting efficiency by up to 30%. Before departure,
it is therefore useful to clean the windshield (exterior and interior) and all
other glass surfaces (mirrors and lights) of the vehicle.
Windscreen
wiper blades that are more than one year old or that no longer wrap the
windshield perfectly in case of heavy rain are to be replaced.
Effectively
storing luggage in the vehicle
Loading
luggage is often a headache. For this reason, it is best, if vehicle safety
allows, to perform this task the day before rather than the morning of
departure.
3
tips for loading luggage without negatively impacting driving
Spread
the heaviest luggage in the trunk, as low as possible to lower the center of
gravity and improve handling.
Stow
objects in the passenger compartment to prevent them from turning into
projectiles that are dangerous for passengers in case of sudden braking.
Secure
the luggage on the roof bars securely with straps. Make sure before departure
and regularly at each stop that the straps are tight and they do not float in
the wind.
Ensure
safety in the vehicle
Mobile
use: security rules
The
use of a mobile phone requires some safety rules to respect:
The
driver never answers the phone while driving.
The
phone must be turned off, put on messaging or entrusted to a passenger before
leaving.
In
case of an accident or breakdown, stop in a safe place before contacting the
emergency services or ask a passenger to do so. In case of emergency, dial 112
(European number).
See
our article on the risks of the phone while driving
Drivers
and passengers must fasten their seatbelts before departure and all the way by
car. The use of a restraint system, approved and adapted to the child, is
mandatory until age 10 (our advice on car seats to i-Size and isofix standards)
or until he can use the seat belt (size between 1.35 m and 1.50 m).
It
is also necessary to activate the "child safety" to lock the rear
doors, Finally, if the animals of the family also make the trip, they must be
attached or locked so as not to roam freely in the cockpit.
Driving
on the highway
The
highway is the preferred road network for the French to go on vacation and
arrive more quickly to destination. Even if it is the safest of France, one
must remain vigilant:
On
the road, the speed at the wheel intervenes in 7 out of 10 accidents: learn to
reduce your driving speed.
One-third
of accidents on the highway are due to drowsy driving: learn to prevent
drowsiness and identify signs of fatigue.
Respecting
the safety distance saves lives, here are some tips to identify the safety
interval to respect.
The
mobile phone is responsible for 16% of highway fatalities. Decode the true to
the false on the risks of the phone while driving.
Driving
on motorways requires vigilance on the basic safety rules: how to prevent the
risks of highway driving?
Do
not neglect breaks of 15-20 minutes every 2 hours!
Preparing
your trip is essential on the roads during these periods of high traffic. To
drive in the best conditions, anticipate your departure time with Bison Futé
and check Météo France forecasts: rain, thunderstorms, snow ... are all
elements to take into account before taking the road.
Climatic
conditions
Each
season its climatic hazards that can become a risk on the road. Rain, fog, snow
... the car ride can not be improvised:
To
avoid traffic peaks, many holidaymakers choose to ride at night, especially
with children. To drive at night safely, the driver must adapt his behavior and
take some extra precautions: see our article "Night driving".
Driving
in the rain doubles the risk of an accident: adapt your driving in rainy
weather.
Fog
accidents are twice as bad as the average: adapt your driving in foggy weather.
Snow,
freezing rain, freezing fog ... few drivers are used to driving on snow or ice.
Check our driving precautions in winter.
Good
habits to adopt in case of hot weather on the way:
Wear
light, loose and clear clothing.
Drink
plenty of water and cool off with a fogger.
Refresh
the air in the car, via the air conditioning (no more than 4 to 5 ° C
difference with the outside temperature) or the ventilation system of the car.
Make
more frequent breaks.
Park
in the shade if possible and install a sun visor to protect the dashboard.
Do
not stay in the sun during the break and protect your head.
Do
not leave anyone in the vehicle when it is stopped to avoid any risk of
dehydration.
On
the road holidays with children
Three
rules are essential for long journeys with young children:
Plan
occupations.
Stop
regularly.
Enjoy
the break to let off steam.
