How to prepare for a long journey?
Summer is coming and, like every year, crowds of motorists go on vacation in their cars. How to prepare for a long journey so that it is comfortable and safe?
Travel planning should begin a few days before departure. You need to trace the route on the map, as well as check the technical condition and equipment of the car. To begin with, we should pay attention to the types of roads on which we are going to travel. It's not just the topography, but also the intensity of traffic on the routes.
When determining the route, you should also remember about its optimization. The shortest path will not always be the best. In many cases, it is better to choose a longer road that runs along highways or expressways. It will be safer. - When choosing a road, it is also necessary to know the rules for driving on it, especially if we are going abroad. Before leaving, you need to find out about fares or speed limits, advises Radoslav Jaskulsky, an instructor at the Auto Skoda School.
If we have to travel a long distance, then we will break it into stages, taking into account breaks every two hours. It is worth putting them in places where there is good infrastructure for travelers (bar, restaurant, toilets, playground) or there are some tourist attractions that can be visited as part of the rest.
Let's also check our navigation, whether the maps loaded into it are up to date, and whether the device itself works. Today, many drivers rely endlessly on GPS navigation. However, remember that this is just a device and it may break. That is why we also take with us a road atlas or maps of the area we are driving through.
Today, many drivers use navigation apps for smartphones. A properly equipped phone will be a good guide. You can use apps provided by car manufacturers. For example, Skoda offers two interesting applications. Skoda Drive is a comprehensive overview of travel in your smartphone. Routes are recorded, so you can check how we drove through a particular section. After a trip, the app shows a summary of the route: route efficiency, average speed, distance to the destination, and money saved. In turn, the Skoda Service app offers, among other things, the addresses of workshops with their opening hours, instructions for individual Skoda models, first aid tips and contact details for Skoda support. Experts also advise keeping all materials, maps, travel reservations, and even money for travel in one place in the car.
With this stage of travel planning behind us, let's check out the car. Let's start with the technical state. If there are any problems or defects in the machine, they must be fixed. Even the smallest ailment during a long journey can turn into a serious failure. For example, a squeaky V-belt can undercharge the battery, and if it breaks while driving, it can cause serious trouble.
Under the technical condition of the car, the corresponding tires are also meant. Tires should be inspected for possible damage such as bumps, blisters or scratches. If the tread depth is less than 1,6 mm, it is absolutely necessary by law to change the tire. You should also check your tire pressure before driving. This directly affects driving safety and fuel consumption. Too low pressure increases rolling resistance, which requires more engine power to propel the vehicle. This results in higher fuel consumption. The effect of too low pressure is also to increase the stopping distance of the car.
It is also mandatory to check the condition of the lighting. Remember that in Poland driving with dipped headlights is mandatory XNUMX hours a day. If the light bulb burns out, you can be fined. Although the regulations do not require you to carry a set of spare bulbs in your car, it will be a great convenience for you to have one, for example, in case of a breakdown at night.
The next step is to check the mandatory equipment of the car, i.e. warning triangle and fire extinguisher. The latter should be hidden in an easily accessible place. Additional items will also come in handy, such as a set of wrenches, a jack, a tow rope, a flashlight and, finally, a reflective vest.
