Taking the Resolutionary Road

By Bill McLauchlan

Road safety is important at any time. But it becomes an even more important part of our daily drive at this time of year. Witness the continental chaos created by the exceptionally nasty weather of the past few weeks.

So, young or old, seasoned or rookie driver, there might never be a better time to slip in a quick refresher course on ways to improve your driving for the New Year.

Night driving: You must be able to stop in the distance you see to be clear. Use your lights on full beam where it is dark and it won’t dazzle anyone else, and keep windows and mirrors clean to maximize your view in all directions.

Eyesight: Most vision professionals will advise having an eye test every two years, particularly once you approach middle age. That’s often when visual acuity or peripheral vision starts to degrade. It’s your responsibility to ensure you’re fit to drive.

Weather: Pay attention to weather warnings all year round. You’re likely to run into blizzards, blowing snow and whiteout road conditions at this time of year, but warmer weather has its woes too with the onset of thunderstorms, sudden downpours, flash floods and even tornadoes. If the weather is really bad, consider whether you need to travel just then. If so, there are sometimes alternatives to driving to think about.

Photo: PR NEWSWIRE/Newscom

Year-round maintenance: Clean your windows, lights, mirrors and licence plates regularly. You should spend a few minutes every week checking your vehicle’s fluid levels, tire pressures, tread depth, lights and windshield wipers.

Eco-driving: A planned drive is an economical drive – having a good sense of your vehicle’s power and gears will help you save fuel, and it is a safer way to drive as well. Just make sure you’re not too slowly for traffic conditions and causing a problem for other drivers as and when they need to overtake you.

Anticipate: Consider what the traffic and other people around you may do, especially at traffic lights, four-way stops and busy intersections.

Refuel: Be sure to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when embarking on a long journey. Running out of fuel causes hundreds of highway breakdowns every year.

The New Year is a common time for us to reflect and evaluate our goals for the year ahead. Why not begin by working your driving behaviour into your list of resolutions for 2014?  Why not resolve to make it better this year?