 |
Auto Safety On A Family Road Trip
by Camian Veiture
http://www.faauto.com
Road trips can be rushed and stressful times - things to do
right up until the moment we leave, in-car entertainment
for the kids (lots of entertainment if they are
youngsters). Whatever happens though, there is a small
number of things that we must always do - they are easy and
they make the family safer.
Although you're taking the automobile, one of the most
important things to ensure has nothing to do with this but
has to do with yourself. If you are driving check that you
are fit to drive. Are you taking any medicine that affects
your alertness or concentration?; are you too tired?; are
your eyeglasses broken and you are thinking of driving
without them? If there is any reason that you are not
feeling your best you should think of postponing the trip
until another day.
Having checked the human element, check the mechanical bit
of the trip - the automobile. Okay, some of the new
vehicles we buy today do not come with many things that the
driver needs to look out for, but there are some that you
must check up on.
Check your tyre pressures. Remember that some automobiles
call for slightly increased pressure when they are full. If
the tires are at the wrong pressure then the automobile
will not be fully stable and may tend to drive oddly.
Do a check of all the main bulbs on the vehicle - have
someone stand behind while you press the foot brake and
engage reverse gear. If there is no one around then reverse
up to your garage door - you will be able to see the lights
reflected. Do any of the other regular checks suggested in
your manual, and make sure you have plenty of water in your
windshield washers.
Even if your vehicle has just been returned from the
autoshop it is essential to make a quick check on all these
items as bulbs and things can fail easily and without being
noticed.
When everyone is ready to go make sure that everyone is
wearing their seatbelts, whether they are sitting in the
front or the back seats, as they do make a lifesaving
difference. Tests show that in a crash, if the seatbelts
are not securely fastened, an adult sitting in the front
seat can be killed by the impact of even a small child
propelled to the front from the back seat. If the child is
very young a child seat should be purchased.
When you are on the trip do not forget that auto wrecks are
often caused by people falling asleep at the wheel. If you
feel tiredness creeping up, stop. On some long trips it is
probably a good idea to plan to call off at a motel. Many
of us over estimate our capabilities - particularly if we
do not do a lot of long distance driving. It is always
better to stop, even if it means being a day late and
incurring the extra cost of an unscheduled stop.
Submit An Article
|
|
|
