Every day, the Ryda team think and research ways we can be driving safer, it’s kind of our whole deal! We’ve asked around and found the absolute top 11 tips (Because why stop at 10?) for driving to help you drive safe on your holiday journeys.
Naomh:
Eliminate distractions, put away your phone!
We know it can be hard to pry yourself away from that screen but even if you’re not using it, a sudden message or alert might distract you at a critical moment. That’s why it’s always best to stow your phone away, out of view, when driving. Better yet you could put your phone into ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode for the drive
Adele:
Buckle up, every trip!
Hopefully we don’t need to be the ones to tell you to put your seatbelt on for every drive. It’s something we’re sure you already have plenty of practice at as a passenger and as a driver (if you already have your license). Making sure that you and your passengers are wearing your seatbelt and that you’re all wearing it correctly should be priority number one for any pre-drive checklist. For more information on how to make sure you’ve got your seatbelt on correctly, check out our seatbelt facts guide here.
Liona:
Be patient, don’t risk overtaking if it’s not safe
When you think about the math’s, if you’re driving at 100km/h and you end up behind a truck going 90km/h even if you were stuck behind that truck for an entire hour you would have only saved around 6 minutes on your trip if you had overtaken it!
It’s never worth taking a risk with overtaking, so make sure you’re safe to do so before attempting it. There’s a load of information on how to overtake safely here.
Graeme:
Always watch your following distance! Especially when it’s wet.
Ensuring that you have enough distance between you and other vehicles to be able to react to changing conditions is an essential part of being a good driver. Knowing to increase this following distance when going at speed or in different road conditions (like rain or on gravel roads) makes you an even better driver!
We also can help you with what to do if someone is following too closely behind YOU.
Sarah:
Stay focused, stay alert. Never drive tired and take breaks when you need them.
Driving tired is more dangerous than you might think. A driver that has been awake for 17 hours is impaired to the same level as someone just over the full license legal limit for alcohol. If you’ve been awake for a full 24 hours it’s the same as being twice the legal limit! It’s a reason why planning your trip ahead and knowing where to take rests is so important. Simply not driving when you’re tired is the best solution and if you find yourself on the road and getting drowsy our guide to power napping might be what you need.
Rachael:
Arriving safely is always more important than arriving quickly – give yourself time.
Speeding is a major factor in many crashes, injuries and fatalities on our roads. Speeding is also not just going over the speed limit, driving too fast for different conditions on the road could also lead to a crash! You might be in a rush or running late but when you’re driving, whatever the circumstances, ALWAYS go the safest speed for you. For more information on speeding check out our speeding fact page.
Brooke:
If you’re a parent of a Learner or soon-to-be-Learner driver, use your holiday trips as a teaching experience.
Something that can be terrifying for any parent is the thought of their children getting behind the wheel. There’s always ways to help prepare them better as they learn to drive though. One way is as you make decisions on the road, to talk them through with your young passengers – these are the kinds of choices they’ll be facing soon so this gives them some great insight, and a head start to the learning.
We have a checklist for teaching someone to drive that can help you here.
Ryda also frequently runs free online and in person ‘Driver Coach’ classes, the best way to find out when the next one online or in your area will be is to join our Facebook page for Australia or New Zealand.
Anton:
Choose the time of day you travel through regional areas, as animal movement across roads increases at dawn and dusk.
We don’t mean to harp on about it but being aware of how conditions can change due to the weather or time of day (and how to drive safely in those changed conditions) is key to becoming a great driver. For this the best advice we can give you is to plan your trips ahead to avoid driving in conditions that you’re not experienced in and to practice in those conditions when you’re safe and with an experience driver by your side who can help teach you!
Kathy:
Make your driving environment as comfortable as possible before driving off.
Making sure you’re comfortable means less distractions when you’re out on the road! The type and volume of music, the air con settings, planning your route and rest breaks and calling ahead if you’re running late make focusing on the road easier. For a first step why not plan your driving playlist? We can help you out with that!
John:
Check you have enough windscreen washer fluid and clean and functioning wiper blades.
Whether you’re driving into a rising or setting sun, or struggling with mist or rain, being able to clean your windscreen, and rear window, is essential for being able to see what’s going on around you. Some cars will warn you when your fluid is running low, but you don’t want to discover you have nothing left when you need it. And while you have the bonnet open, check up on all your other fluids as well. You don’t need to be a mechanic or really into cars to do this, and you can check your car’s manual on where all the gauges are and what levels should be at.
Maria:
Plan your trip and enjoy the journey. Take your time and make the travel part of the holiday
Driving is a big responsibility to take on board, not just for ourselves but also for the safety of everyone on the road. Driving is also fun! With this skill you can take yourself, your friends and family to places you’ve never been before! By preparing ahead of time, being patient and making sure that we’re driving when we’re calm and well rested we can make sure that not only are we safe for the journey but that we’re also having a great time.
Isn’t that what it’s all about?
Enjoy your holiday trips everyone! You’ve definitely earnt it!
For more driving tips and stories explore the ‘Drive Safe, Arrive Safe’ site here
