The Easter long weekend is nearly upon us, which means you should be getting ready for a fun-filled weekend. Many Australian families will be hitting the road once Friday comes around, which means it’s a very busy time on our freeways and regional roads. With that in mind, it’s important to prioritise your road safety this Easter long weekend.

Tips on how to ensure your road safety this Easter

Do your vehicle road safety check

We may be repeating this quite often, but it is one of the most crucial steps in ensuring you stay safe. Before leaving, you should run through your vehicle checklist to rule out any avoidable issues. Check that all your tyres are inflated to the right pressure, all your oils are at the correct level and that all your lights are functioning correctly. You should also check that your insurance is up to date and that you’re covered for roadside assistance. At Auto Leaders, we offer free roadside assistance with every service.

Plan your route

Before hitting the road, you should make sure that your route is well planned so you’re not distracted while driving. Use your GPS to choose the roads that are your safest bet, such as new highways or freeways. If you are using Google Maps on your phone, make sure that you enter your final destination prior to leaving and mount your phone towards the centre of the windscreen. Touching it while driving is both illegal and dangerous, so you should avoid it at all costs!

Stop, revive, survive

Driver fatigue can be fatal, which is why you should get a good night’s sleep before getting behind the wheel. If you’re headed on a long road trip, make sure that you stop, revive, survive. It’s a simple slogan to live by, but it works. Stop every few hours, get a bite to eat and get some caffeine in you if you need to.

Keep a safe distance

Tailgating might seem like a minor issue, but it can lead to major consequences. If you find yourself frustrated on the road and decide to tailgate to save time, you need to rethink your strategy. Take a deep breath and slow down, and remember you will get to your destination in the end. You should always leave a two second gap between you and the car in front of you, or four seconds if conditions are poor.

Give yourself the best chance to have a good time this weekend by keeping these road safety tips in mind!