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Driving Tips
ALTHOUGH modern cars are safer and more reliable than ever before, it would be rather foolish to jump into a car totally unprepared and expect to have a trouble-free trip ­ especially if one considers South Africa's worsening road conditions.

Some of the following tips may seem obvious, but these small matters can be decisive to whether or not you'll have an eventful drive.

Preparation and prevention

Plan your trip
Having a vague idea of the direction you'll be travelling in is not good enough and may prove to be disastrous. Buy a new map (markings change regularly) and plan your trip in detail. Also, be aware of weather on the days you plan to travel.

Check your car
It goes without saying that your car should be roadworthy. Check headlights, indicators, brake lights, windscreen and wiper blades, brakes, steering, tyres (including a properly inflated spare), exhaust and possible fuel or oil leaks. Make sure all fluids are at proper levels.

Spares and equipment
You can't carry hordes of replacement parts in your car, but you should, at least, have a spare fan belt and radiator hoses. Carry the required tools to change a wheel, or for any minor repairs, and always include a bottle of water. A first-aid kit and a blanket should also be included.

For the absent-minded
Keep the car's spare keys in your wallet ­ better still, in one of your passengers' wallets. And don't forget your driver's licence! If you own a cellphone, take it along, and only use it with a car-kit. Driving with a phone in your hand is illegal.

While driving

  • Use your seatbelts ­ and this includes ALL passengers.
  • Keep a safe following distance from the driver in front.
  • Reduce speed when it is raining, the road is wet, or the conditions poor.
  • Use low beam headlights (never drive with parking lights or fog lights alone) between sunset and sunrise, as well as in overcast or misty conditions.
  • Guard against eyestrain and fatigue. Take breaks frequently or, where possible, change drivers.
  • Be aware of possible distractions ­ radio, cellphone, scenery, etc.
  • Stay focused on driving. If your mind is wandering, it's time for a break.
  • On some of the routes featured in this booklet you'll get up close and personal with wild animals. In these situations it is necessary to decrease speed and be alert. If a small animal gets in your way and it's too late to brake, it may be better to hit it than to swerve out of the way and, maybe, cause a bigger accident.
  • Before starting your trip, make sure you have a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle. If you are involved in an emergency, drive off the road onto the shoulder, or as far off the road as you can, as soon as safely possible. Set up flares or triangles so they are visible to oncoming traffic and identify your presence. In such situations a cellphone's real worth will be evident.

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CONTENTS
Garden Route
  Escarpment Route
  Midlands Route
  West Coast Route
  Orange Route
  Highlands Route
  Wine & Whale Route
  Natal Wilderness Route
  Wild Flower Route
  Karoo Route
  Peninsula Route
  Magaliesberg Route
GREAT DRIVES
Driving Tips
Towing Tips
 
 
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