01/02/2022
ROAD TRIP TIPS:
Are you ready for that Road Trip? Is your driver ready for that long trip? How do you know and what does it take to be ready?
Good Journey Management is all about defensive driving skills, preparation and attitude. The ability to respect traffic laws, to be alert at all times, be patient and courteous to other drivers, to use correct judgement and most importantly, to drive defensively! If you can do all this, you are already a good journey manager.
As a Certified Tour operator, my 11 years so far working experience, I have been taught one important thing - SAFETY FIRST!!! There is not any one moment that I let my drivers depart with personnel or cargo without a SAFETY briefing (A Tool Box Talk). Tool box/Safety briefings are informal group discussions that focus on a particular safety issue. They enable us to remind and up-skill drivers to better manage challenges on the roads and prepare for the Journey. This has always been a company/business culture. If we didn't carry it out physically, I would do the talk on phone.
So, how do you prepare for that Road trip?
1. Get your vehicle road ready - Perform regular maintenance like oil changes, tune ups, and battery and tire pressure checks. If you’re not sure what to do, have a qualified technician inspect your vehicle. Make sure you or your driver and the vehicle are ready for the road (is your driver sober, well rested, in perfect health? Is the vehicle in good mechanical condition?).
2. Focus on the road - Be aware of the conditions around you (Watch out for other road users, road construction sites, road signs, extreme weather conditions i.e. heavy rain, snow, fog etc).
3. Eliminate distractions (Talking on the phone, eating on wheels, grooming self while driving (ladies), extremely talkative co passenger etc.)
4. Control your emotions (An angry, anxious, fearful or stressed driver is a Red Flag on the roads. Say NO to road rage! Say YES to calm, relaxed, and alert driving).
5. Know everything going on around you. Stay alert and always look well ahead down the road and around your vehicle.
6. Plan an escape Route - When climbing up or rolling down the highway, especially in heavy traffic, always plan an ‘escape route’. You do this by keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you.
7. Keep an emergency kit in your car. Especially before you head out on a road trip, prepare for the unexpected by keeping these items on board: Cellphone and car charger, First aid kit, Flashlight, Flares, Jumper cables, Candles and matches, Non-perishable food items, Water, Blankets, Personal safety awareness (masks, sanitizers, medicines, personal effects, Vital documentation (Passport, National I.Ds, Vaccination cards etc).
8. ALWAYS, ALWAYS use your best common sense and correct judgement.
You, the people or cargo that you move are highly important. Please drive and stay safe on the roads. Always REMEMBER, SAFETY FIRST!!!
A Road Safety Driving tip from Accolade Tours.
