Tips for keeping safe on the road

File picture: David Ritchie / Independent Media.

File picture: David Ritchie / Independent Media.

Published May 17, 2017

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Road Safety Week and the copious amounts of rain we've had have all been a reminder to be more caution drivers. Sacha van Niekerk gathered these safety tips from AA Spokesperson, Layton Beard:

- Make sure your car is in good condition and roadworthy. Check your vehicle: Are your tyres working properly, do they need changing? Are your windscreen wipers in good working condition?

- Make sure your spare tyre is in good condition and that you have the tools required for changing a tyre in an emergency.

- Stick to the regular services of your vehicle (even before you hit the road).

- Before hitting the road it is important to follow certain rules: make sure you and your passengers are buckled up and that you are not distracted.

- Drive to the conditions of the road. Consider weather and road conditions along with the speed limit. For example, during rainy weather, it might be safer to drive under the speed limit.

- Drive sober.

- Stop driving when you are tired. In November 2016, the American Automobile Association released a study equating driving while tired to drunk driving. The safest option while driving long distances is to take a break every two hours/200km.

- Be courteous and considerate of other drivers.

- Children younger than three need to be in a car seat, and children who cannot sit comfortably with a seat belt should be put in a booster seat.

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