IT’S the Queen’s Birthday holiday time, and you are all packed up and prepared for your long-awaited trip to visit family or enjoy some relaxation in the nearby snowfields. The winter days are shorter, roads can be wetter and driving conditions can be quite hazardous. Post-COVID, many of us are only now finding ourselves taking long car trips after constant lockdowns rendered us unable to do so. We may have also noticed the driving skills of our loved ones and even ourselves have diminished after such an extended period of adhering to stay-at-home orders.
Some questions to consider prior to leaving are, am I well rested, well hydrated, and is the car in tip top condition? Whilst driving please reduce the causes of distractions such as mobile phones, navigation aids and entertainment systems.
Fatigue and speed are two of the greatest contributors to road trauma. Please take regular breaks, stopping at least every two hours and do not drive when you would normally be sleeping. Be aware that reduced speed zones are in place at dangerous intersections. In country areas farmers and contractors often need to move stock and oversize farm equipment. Be patient when passing and moving through animal herds. Wildlife hazards including deer, kangaroos, wallabies, and wombats are abundant on country roads. They are most active during dawn and dusk. Colliding with any of these animals can cause severe damage and/or injury. Enlist any passengers to be on the lookout for hazards. A road crash will change your life forever and that of many others. Stop the car, rest up, let your people know you are safe and continue driving with a clear mind. The ripple effect after a collision touch all involved, family, friends, first responders and our health workers – so many.
If you are driving long distances, take rest breaks and do not speed. Currently, there is already a 9.4 percent increase on last year’s lives lost tally, with the rural Victorian statistics faring worse than that of metropolitan Melbourne. Do your part this holiday period to avoid contributing to the huge ripple effect that trauma road incidents bring.
We hope that these tips are of assistance, arrive safely and enjoy your well-deserved break.
