Long journeys: Are you (really) ready?
We do not leave home for a long trip by car as we do to drive the children to soccer!
Easy to make a to-do list: put the gear in the trunk of the car, grab a bottle of water ... and try not to forget your child at home. In more complicated cases, there may be a detour to pick up another team member.
But, oddly enough, there is often less preparation before making a trip of several hours. And there are oversights that can become catastrophic. Fatigue at the wheel has become a factor in the increase in automobile accidents, according to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. In fact, this represents 26% of fatal impacts.
Here are some things to consider before setting off on a long trip to avoid hassles along the way ... and to get to your destination safely.
Prepare your car
Make sure that the oil change and tune-up have been carried out recently.
Avoid postponing vehicle maintenance sessions such as changing brakes and belts.
Check whether the cooling system still contains enough antifreeze.
Prevent fatigue at the wheel
If you are riding alone, plan to stop for sleep.
In pairs or in a group, we can always take turns. Otherwise, book a hotel.
Depending on the drivers' experience, make sure a co-pilot keeps the driver alert throughout the journey. A good co-pilot will have a strategy to keep him entertained throughout the trip.
Did you also know that fatigue is the 3rd leading cause of death on the roads? Each year in Quebec, an average of 95 people die and 9,227 people are injured in a fatigue-related accident.
View your journey
Take a look at all the stages of your journey in advance. Are you passing through major cities? If so, plan the best time of day to avoid frustrating traffic jams.
If you use a GPS or a smartphone, ask yourself about the route proposed by it. The shortest route is not necessarily the best.
Get a cell phone holder so you don't have to hold it in your hand. A traffic ticket or an accident happened so quickly.
If you are crossing the border, the passport or Nexus card will be required. In addition, the day and time of the border crossing can play tricks on you.
For travel outside of Canada, call your wireless service provider before leaving to choose the best possible deal for voice and data.
If your travels take you outside of the province where you live, be sure to purchase travel insurance. This gives you peace of mind knowing that your health care will be covered in the event of an incident.
What about the house?
Are you going away for several days leaving the house empty?
Call your insurer to let him know.
Do not tell the whole world on social media when you are leaving and how long you will be away.
Leave the lights on and ask your neighbors to collect the advertising bags.
Turn off the faucets on your washing machine.
If you are going alone, leave your itinerary and the phone numbers of the places where you will be stopping with your family.
You are now ready.
Good road!
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Long journeys: Are you (really) ready?
Jan. 11, 2018
We do not leave home for a long trip by car as we do to drive the children to soccer!
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