IT’S Easter time, and you’re all packed up and prepared for your long-awaited trip to visit family or enjoy some relaxation.
You’ve done a final check and it looks like you’ve packed enough, but have you prepped for the actual journey to your destination?
Are you well rested, well fed and have you ensured you’re prepared for a drive that’s as free from distraction as possible?
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.
Roadsafe Goulburn Valley exectutive officer, Bill Winters, wishes for everyone to slow down, pace themselves and ensure they arrive at their destination safely.
“It’s not a race,” Mr Winters said.
“It’s all about choices and planning. It’s easy to prepare for a a long car journey by imagining what you’ll need on the ride and how you can guarantee you’ll be at your best. Make sure you get enough rest the night before and you have easily accessible fluids that aren’t distracting to access.”
If you are driving long distances, take rest breaks and do not speed. A road crash will change your life forever and that of many others. Stop the car, rest up, let your people know you’re safe and continue driving with a clear mind.
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.
