Our 10 best tips for travelling safely

If you are going to travel in the coming days, here are 10 tips to make your trip as safe as possible.

Driving in spring or summer involves a series of challenges that we don’t normally face the rest of the year: long journeys with a loaded vehicle, and heat. That is why preparing the car, and preparing yourself too, both physically and mentally, can make the difference between a pleasant journey and a nightmare behind the wheel.

Here are ten tips that will serve you well

1. Take the car in for a service

This is the first thing you should do if you don’t usually use the car for long trips and haven’t been to the workshop in a while. Fluid levels, tyre pressure, lights… a timely service can save you a lot of trouble.

2. Plan the journey

Choosing the best route and the best time to travel is also something that is often forgotten. Toll motorways are an option if you can’t change your departure time and want to avoid traffic jams. The time you set off also has a big influence on driving: travelling by day is not the same as travelling at night, nor is driving fresh and just after waking up the same as driving after a heavy meal. Listen to your body clock, and choose to drive at the time of day when you normally feel most alert and active.

3. Luggage: selection and loading

This is hard to manage, especially if the driver is not the one deciding what has to be carried. But perhaps if whoever does decide knew how excessive weight negatively affects the vehicle’s handling, they would think twice before loading more than necessary. In any case, remember not to carry anything loose in the cabin, distribute the load well in the boot with the heaviest items underneath, and always keep within reach whatever you may need. Remember that what goes into the boot first is the last thing to come out… and vice versa.

4. Seat belts, always

It is never superfluous to remind people how important it is to wear a seat belt; you would be surprised how many people still don’t. Fastening your seat belt as soon as you get into the vehicle should become a habit, for both the driver and the passengers, not only on the journey but also on short trips at the destination.

5. Suitable clothing and footwear

Being comfortable behind the wheel is essential to delay the onset of fatigue. But clothing or footwear that may seem comfortable in day-to-day life when the heat arrives is not comfortable at all when driving, and can even be dangerous. A shoulder-strap top, for example, can make us “fight” with the friction of the seat belt. And if you didn’t know, driving in flip-flops is prohibited. There must be a reason.

6. Turn off your mobile phone

It’s tempting to write this in capitals and with exclamation marks, but using a mobile phone while driving remains one of the main causes of distraction and accidents. On long journeys the temptation is greater. And since you’re bound to get a message, or will want to check your email… the best thing is to switch it off. Or at least silence it or activate “driving mode”, leaving only the phone, provided you have a hands-free connection system.

7. Stop to rest and stay hydrated

Here’s a two-for-one. Experts say you should stop to rest every 200 km or every two hours at the very least; or sooner if symptoms of fatigue appear. To prevent this, it is important to make stops to stretch your legs. But it is also important to stay hydrated during the journey, drinking water, soft drinks or juice. Of course, that refreshing beer is best saved until you reach your destination.

8. Beware of dazzle

Sometimes it isn’t possible to choose the best times to travel, so you need to be very careful if you drive at dawn or as the evening draws in. The greater brightness at those times of day not only causes more visual fatigue, but glare is very dangerous. Don’t hesitate to use the sun visor, and always wear sunglasses, preferably ones with lenses that protect against flashes and reflections.

9. War on mosquitoes

However hard you try, you won’t stop the front of your car becoming the target for every mosquito. This means they will also splatter on the headlights and windscreen, reducing visibility. If an insect suddenly hits the glass in a way that impairs or compromises your visibility, you can remove the remains provided you have enough windscreen washer fluid. But inevitably, the windscreen will fill up with mosquitoes during the journey, and in the end all the wipers will do is spread the smear, reducing visibility even further, and damaging the blades. Don’t overthink it: it only takes a few minutes to pull into a petrol station and use the buckets of water, soap and sponges you have ready for this kind of situation.

10. An unexpected problem? Above all, stay calm

Any unexpected event during the journey can force us to stop the vehicle: a passenger feeling unwell, a puncture, a mechanical fault… The first thing is to stay calm, and stop off the road where possible, signalling the situation with hazard lights and warning triangles. If you have to get out of the vehicle, don’t forget your high-visibility vest. And always keep your passengers inside.

BONUS: In addition to these ten tips, here is some interesting information that will also help you enjoy a safer journey at the wheel

• Travelling with pets
• Tips for travelling with children in summer
• How to combat fatigue at the wheel
• Tips to keep your car’s air conditioning working well