Easter Holiday Driving Survival Guide

It’s that time of the year again-school holidays. For some of us, it means some time off hanging out with our kids and friends, for others it means the arduous task of tackling holiday traffic. FamilyCar.com.au comes to the rescue to give you our top tips to keep you safe and sane on the road these holidays. 

Top 10 Tips for Safe Holiday Driving

1. Share The Driving - Plan your driver changes and always adjust your seat and mirrors to suit you.

2. Buckle Up - Seat belts must be fastened for all passengers, regardless of where they are sitting (including taxis).  Make sure seat belts are fitted correctly, across hips and shoulder, and use seatbelt height adjuster if available.

3. Correct Driving Position - Make sure you are sitting high enough to see out, but not too high to block long distance visibility.   Ensure your bottom is pushed back into seat, stretch arms out so that wrists just hang over the steering wheel.  Always hold hands at ¼ to 3. This will give you maximum steering ability under sharp steering and leave space available for airbag to correctly engage.  Click here for more information on sitting in your car correctly.

4. Slow Down - Keep to speed limit (unless raining or slippery conditions then drive 10kms below speed limit) and make sure you stop every 2 hours to stretch, relax and refresh.  Click here for driver reviver stops on your trip.

5. Happy Kids -  Entertain kids with games; I Spy, Books, DVD players, Magna Doodle, colouring in and the silent game!   Use this time to talk with to your kids.   Don't forget comforters - ruggies, dolls, etc.   Minimise car sickness by improving their visibility eg car seats, booster seats.  Create a map for long journeys with landmarks to look out for on the way.

6. Snacks/Drinks - Keep hydrated, especially the driver.   Eat healthy snacks, such as sultanas, sandwiches, cheese sticks, fruit and avoid too much junk food. Save the chocolate for when you arrive at your destination. The sugar content can contribute to car sickness and we all know the mess that melted chocolate can make!

7. No Alcohol - Drink driving is one of the biggest causes of injuries on Australian roads. Avoid a big night before you hit the highway to ensure you have no alcohol in your system.

8. Know Your Car - If you've got ABS fitted, know what they feel like prior to an emergency situation and understand the acceleration ability of your car.

9. Car Care - Self service your oil, water, tyre wear and pressure frequently on a long trip.  Have a technician service your car before you leave, so it is in optimum traveling condition.  Click here for some basic maintenance tips.

10. Plan Ahead - Map out your route and map out stops. School holidays can be some of the busiest times on our freeways, so prepare for delays or travel outside peak times. Click here to see where the toilet stops are along your route.