An overseas road trip is a great way to explore new countries, but you may find different road rules, driving conditions and licence requirements make it a challenge. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe.
Motoring
Make sure your car is well looked after
6 tips to keep you safe on the road
Your car might have great features like Bluetooth, leather seats and reverse cameras – but what about other the features keeping you safe and saving you time?
Here's our list of simple things to remember with your car to help you stay safe on the road.
Make sure your car is well looked after
Regularly servicing your car is vitally important to the safety it can provide for you and your loved ones. Plus, it will end up cheaper and is worth more in the long run. Additionally, you should regularly check your tyres for inflation and general condition, as they are your number one safety item.
If you’re buying a car, make sure it’s a safe one
RACV is part of two initiatives to help car buyer get the safest car they can afford. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program performs laboratory crash tests on most new cars in the market to see how they would protect people in the event of a serious crash, and how good it would be at avoiding one in the first place.
Additionally, the Used Car Safety Rating is a study updated yearly, using an enormous database of emergency services that report injury statistics. These are used to determine which cars already on the road protect their occupants best. RACV vehicle inspections are also conducted at RACV Accredited Auto Care Centres and can help you to make the right decision on whether to purchase a vehicle.
Personalise your seatbelt
Many people may not know that they can adjust their seatbelt height to ensure the placement is correct over their shoulder and chest. A correctly adjusted seatbelt will help keep the driver and passenger in position in a crash and ensure the airbags are effective if they need to deploy.
Make those side mirrors work for you
Our side mirrors can help minimise the risk of having accidents and help reduce blind spots. Look to position your side mirrors with a small portion of the car visible. This will assist you in judging distances better, and also makes it easier to spot cyclists and avoid dooring instances.
Get yourself a emergency kit
One of the most important things you can do to keep safe in the car is to prepare, prepare, prepare. Consider filling your boot with an emergency kit, including:
- A First Aid Kit
- Covid-safe items such as masks, hand sanitiser and wet wipes
- Car safety items such as jumper leads, water, ensuring you have an inflated spare tyre, tape, oil
- All your roadside assistance and insurance information
- Phone charger, maps, torch, food, a coat and blanket
Ensure you have current car insurance and roadside assistance
Make sure you are always protecting yourself and loved ones when you are in the car. Having car insurance is the peace of mind to protect you in case you end up in a potentially dangerous crash; there is theft of your vehicle or costly damages; and can also assist with car safety issues such as smashed windscreens and broken car doors. With roadside assistance, With roadside assistance, you can get help for car bungles such as flat tyres, car break downs, car overheating and more to get you moving again.
For more tips and tricks on car safety, check out our extensive guides.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
