The great departure of the holidays is approaching and some will even leave this weekend. In Belgium, 60% of travelers planning a long journey prefer to travel at night. But while this practice has benefits, it also has risks.
1 Rest well a few days before departure
“The risk is obviously to constantly fight once morest fatigue at the wheel”, indicates Benoit Godard, spokesperson for Vias, a road safety research institute in Brussels. He recommends good nights and rest a few days before departure.
2 Get well organized before leaving
Although Christelle and Laurent have been going to the same place every year for many years, this does not prevent them from preparing breaks and distribution of tasks well in advance. “We can have a bite to eat then I’ll take the wheel from there”, they plan before departure. It’s a good reflex to adopt according to Vias.
3 Stop every two hours
These stops are important steps to avoid fatigue. “The Belgian stops on average every three hours, it’s too much”, underlines Benoit Godart.
4 Pay attention to the last kilometers
According to the Vias Institute, many accidents on these journeys occur during the last 100 kilometres, with some motorists preferring to skip a final stop to get to the holiday destination more quickly. “Ten years ago, we didn’t stop but we realized it was a mistake, the sun is starting to rise but it’s the most important stop”, confirms Christelle the vacationer. The Vias institute also recommends not setting a time of arrival.
5 Check the general condition of the car
Many accidents on the road are due to under-inflated tires, check the pressure before starting.
6 Provide something to occupy the children
For families, don’t forget games to entertain the children.
