Holiday driving tips

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If you are not a racing or transport driver, the end of year vacation trek is probably the most challenging drive you’ll be tasked with all year.

South African road accident statistics read like the script of a bad B-grade horror movie, and if you factor in the vast distances between vacation spots there is plenty that can go wrong. Best you be prepared, then.

It stands to reason that your vehicle should be in working in good nick before tackling the long road, but here are five fundamental checklist items we'd suggest you tick off before carting the family down to the coast.



1) Can you spanner it?

Make sure you know how your car’s spare wheel arrangement works. Many modern vehicles do not sport full size spare wheels and instead do with skinny space saver instead.

Sometimes these space savers require inflation with a special pump. It would save a lot of roadside family tension if you have read the instructions a couple of times and familiarised yourself with your car’s spare wheel changing regime.

2) All diesel is not created equal

If you drive a contemporary turbodiesel vehicle, you’ll no doubt be pleased as punch with its outstanding fuel economy and range.

The downside, of course, is South Africa’s rather putrid diesel fuel quality.

Locally, fuel can vary from outstanding coal-to-oil refined stuff to horrendous rural diesel. Ensure you know which service stations along your route stock 50ppm fuel and plan refuelling stops well within your car’s range capability.



3) You are not Giniel de Villiers

Although excessive speeding is a primary cause of road accident, fatigue is (excuse the pun) an even bigger silent killer.

Around the time you’re returning from vacation in early January, South African racing superstar Giniel de Villiers will be defending his Dakar title. Giniel doesn’t race 1 000-km legs per day (and he is the world’s best at traversing gruelling road conditions at speed, day after day, you know), neither should you.

Stop every 250km and don’t try to be a hero by covering 1 500-a-day legs. It’s just not safe and your kids will drive you insane when they're cooped up in the car for 12 hours straight…



4) Keep your illumination true

South Africa contains thousands of kilometres of dirt roads, much of it accessed en masse during the peak vacation season.

The net result of driving badly maintained dust roads is a film of dirt collecting over your headlights.

By the time it’s necessary to switch to those headlights on as night times approaches, is that an appreciable level of illumination would be lost to clinging dirt. This has potentially dire consequences if other road users cannot see you.

So, remember to clean off your headlights after a particularly punishing dirt or off-road driving session.

5) Be load sensitive

Be sensible when loading your vehicle or hitching a trailer or caravan.

Don’t exceed your vehicle’s tow rating.

If you are hauling with a raised body vehicle (4X4 or double-cab bakkie) ensure you’ve fixed a drop-plate to keep the trailer/caravan attachment angle at a slight decline. A raised rig can have disastrous swaying and bucking consequences.

Also, despite being able to power up to the legal limit, tow at a speed that would leave you with a generous safety margin if there is an emergency.

But above all, take the time to enjoy the beautiful scenery this country has to offer. And relax - it is a holiday, after all.