Holiday safety

Before you go on vacation, you should prepare the car for the trip. So that you can safely and comfortably reach your destination. It will also be good not to forget about the documents ...

Most Poles will spend their holidays outside the city, a decisive percentage of them will go on holiday by car. To rest You must be well prepared for a journey, especially a longer one. Often you have to travel hundreds of kilometers to get to your destination.

From first aid kit to inspection

– Our observations show that we often forget about the most important documents. It so happened that the whole family went on a long journey, and it turned out that the driver had neither a driver's license nor a vehicle registration certificate with him. You should start with this: check if we have a complete set of documents, including a valid insurance policy, advises Robert Tarapach from the Traffic Department of the Silesian Police.

It is impossible to prepare for everything that can happen on a trip, but it is worth checking the car before leaving and taking a few necessary things with you. Even those that are not required by the regulations. So, let's check if the car has a fire extinguisher with a current expiration date, or if there is also a warning triangle. It is also good to take a decent first aid kit and a set of light bulbs with you.

- It is worth buying the so-called. euro first aid kit with European standard. It is much better equipped than first-aid kits stocked according to Polish rules. We can also travel all over Europe with her without any problems. Although it is not necessary to carry spare bulbs in the car, I strongly recommend that you have them with you when you travel, says Witold Rogowski, an expert at ProfiAuto.pl, a network of independent wholesalers, shops and car repair shops. Buying bulbs on the road, such as at night, can be a challenge, so it's best to have them on hand. By the way, we did not receive from the wife for not foreseeing the failure of the headlights before going on a holiday tour.

- Before leaving, it would also be good to go for a technical inspection, or at least check the levels of fluids: brake, coolant and oil. Let's also check if the tire pressure is correct. Attention! Only when we have already packed our luggage, adds Witold Rogovsky.

You can't move without service

Autotraper experts also talk about the need to check the level and condition of liquids. During the inspection, the service technician will also check the quality of the brake fluid - if it contains too much water, replace it with a new one. Finally, it is worth looking into the engine cooling system - topping up the coolant level and checking the tightness of the connections will eliminate the possibility of overheating of the power unit. And one more note from Autotraper specialists: it’s good to sign up for a service station no later than two weeks before departure - during this time even the most serious malfunctions can be eliminated.

It is also worth remembering about the ventilation and air conditioning of the car. When there is an unpleasant smell in the car, and passengers constantly sneeze, ventilation is probably inefficient - the used cabin filter does not retain pollutants from the outside, and mold and fungi have settled in the channels that supply air to the passenger compartment. Therefore, the ventilation system, especially in a car equipped with air conditioning, should be cleaned once a year. The start of a vacation is the best moment. Maintenance of the ventilation system includes the replacement of the cabin filter, disinfection of the evaporator and ventilation ducts, as well as topping up the refrigerant, i.e. cooling gas. Such a refreshed "climate" will create a friendly atmosphere in the car.

The condition of the shock absorbers is also important for holiday trips, especially on Polish roads. The suspension is responsible not only for driving comfort, but also for body stability and stopping distance. Loose mounting points or twisted wishbones can cause you to lose control of your vehicle (including on a straight road), and knocked-out shock absorbers lengthen your braking distance by up to 30%.

- Drivers very often ignore a slight play in the suspension system, postponing repairs "for later." Meanwhile, the weakening of one element can lead to a faster destruction of other parts of the suspension, so the apparent savings leads to rapid wear of the entire suspension, and this is a serious and relatively expensive repair, says Jerzy Brzozowski, head of the Alfa Romeo and Lancia car service.

Luggage tailored to your needs

Unfortunately, on vacation we usually take a lot of luggage, and in addition, it usually turns out that we could easily do without many of these things. First, we need to think carefully about what we need and what we can refuse or buy on the spot for little money.

- Often the larger the car, the more things it does not fit. However, let's think about whether we need a laptop on vacation or do we really need to wear four instead of one fleece sweatshirt, warns Maja Moska, ProfiAuto.pl expert.

Another important point is the location of luggage in the car. Contrary to appearances, poorly distributed and loose cargo can be very dangerous. Especially when it is in the car.

 - An ordinary thermos that just rolls somewhere around the car, with sudden braking, can turn into a real projectile. A bottle of drink can roll out from under the seat, for example from under the driver's brake pedal. Such seemingly unimportant details can be deadly, warns Robert Tarapach.

Witold Rogovsky, in turn, warns against loading suitcases into the car up to the ceiling. – Imagine a suitcase in a station wagon, which is under the roof, and in the car there is no lattice separating the luggage compartment from the passengers. In the event of sudden braking or a collision, this suitcase flies forward and injures passengers. Without the slightest exaggeration, it can even crush your head,” he says.

Plan a route - avoid trouble

All that was left was to hit the road. However, it is worth planning carefully in advance. - Including the places where we will make stops, it is even worth looking for hotels along the route. Just in case, says Maya Mosca. However, it should be remembered that during the journey, fatigue can get us faster than we expected. In this case, you should not try at any cost to get to the planned stop.

 “It’s better to immediately stop at the nearest parking lot or gas station,” warns Robert Tarapach.

So, it's time to hit the road to the cherished resort. We can drive at night or during the day. Both methods have their supporters. ProfiAuto.pl experts advise traveling at night. There is much less traffic, and the heat does not bother you. On the other hand, the driver usually stays alone at night. Up to a certain point, the passengers keep him company, but then they fall asleep. Then there is a risk that the driver will also fall asleep.

You should take breaks every three or four hours. During the stop it is good to drink coffee or tea and have a snack. The food should not be hearty, because after that the driver will fall asleep. There is a simple remedy for drowsiness - a short nap in the parking lot. This will definitely put the driver on his feet, advises Alicia Cieglowska, MD, head of the internal medicine department at the St. Barbara Hospital in Sosnowiec.

“You never know what diseases will hit us. That's why it's worth taking a few medicines with you - painkiller with paracetamol, but rather mild, something with glucose, which can be useful in case of fainting, or popular coal, adds Dr. Alicia Ceglowska.

We should bring something to drink in the car. This is important, especially in good and hot weather. - Avoid dehydration. While driving, it is best to drink non-carbonated mineral water, says Dr. Alicia Ceglowska.

And most importantly - let's drive carefully, slowly and keeping concentration until the end of the road. Then we will definitely reach our destination.

What do you need to remember before traveling?

1. Take care of the technical condition of the car: do an inspection or at least check the most important fluids in the car.

2. Check the documents: driver's license, car registration certificate, insurance policy.

3. Do not forget to take with you: fire extinguisher, triangle, reflective vest, first aid kit, spare light bulbs.

4. On a long journey, do not avoid stops. You might even take a little nap.

5. Pack smart: don't take things with you on vacation that you won't even take out of your suitcase. Secure suitcases carefully in the trunk, and make sure that even small items are securely secured in the car.

6. If you are traveling at night: ask a fellow traveler to keep you company. If you are traveling with a person who has a driver's license, you can also change to drive.

7. Plan your entire itinerary before you hit the road. Do not forget about places to stop and, possibly, overnight.

8. Have something to drink on hand: preferably still mineral water. Remember that the air conditioner also dries the air in the car.

9. Try to drive economically. Drive smoothly - do not brake hard and do not release the gas pedal.

10. Stay focused until the end of the journey: don't rush forward at breakneck speed. Most accidents happen towards the end of the route.

Source: ProfiAuto.pl