Tips for a hassle-free Holy Week drive

HAVE YOU noticed that it is when Holy Week comes in that the summer heat really starts sizzling? It’s also the time the vast majority of Metro Manilans start heading out of town for a short but much needed vacation to their home provinces. Traffic is usually gridlocked, the public transport systems are overflowing with people rushing home and for motorists heading out, a lot of things can go wrong. There’s no worst time to break down or get into an accident that during Holy Week as emergency rescue takes forever because of the traffic and there’s a bunch of other motorists on the road also in dire need of help. Here are some things you can do to prevent finding yourself in distress:

1. Have your car serviced

A full tune up/ change oil is a good start, as well as checking the level and condition of all your vehicle’s fluids, topping up, adding or replacing as needed.

2. Check the wheels and tires

Put your car up on a lifter, check for wear as well as wheel alignment and rotate/replace the tires as needed and get the proper inflation. Check for the recommended tire pressure inflation. Don’t forget to check your spare tire too!

3. Travel lightly

Bring only what’s needed for the trip. Don’t over-pack or bring unnecessary things. A lighter car is a more fuel efficient car.

4. Sit properly

Ideally your back should be flat to the backside of the seat, with your hips and spine as close as possible to 90 degrees in angle. Avoid slouching. Poor driving position inhibits blood circulation throughout your body. Your mind will start to wander, you’ll lose focus and your evasive maneuver reactions will slow down, increasing the likelihood of getting into a serious accident. If you’re slouching, chances are you won’t get the full range of motion afforded by your arms and shoulders, and your feet won’t be able to step on the brake pedal positively and progressively. In the event of an accident, you’ll most likely submarine under your car’s dashboard, and your neck will have a greater risk of suffering from whiplash.

5. Travel when it’s cooler

Traveling under the sun’s intense heat is very tedious for both the car and the driver. Heat decreases your engine’s output and increases fuel consumption and further strains your car. Try to avoid traveling between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun is at its highest, hottest and harshest.

6. Drive steadily

Try to maintain a steady, consistent pace. Out on the highway, try traveling right around 100 kph. Cruising at that speed actually consumes very little fuel. It’s when you’re constantly accelerating and decelerating that your fuel consumption goes up. Traveling at a constant speed is also less stressful.

7. Overtake positively

It’s dangerous to be travelling right exactly alongside another vehicle at the same speed, which is why wheel-to-wheel racing is dangerous. When you’re going to overtake, do it positively, use at least 50 percent throttle and if you’re a manual, try to keep the revs high before shifting to the next higher gear when overtaking. This is especially crucial on a two-lane road wherein you’re counter-flowing onto the opposite lane when overtaking. The more speed you have when overtaking, the less time you spend counter-flowing, minimizing danger on your end.

8. Slow down and honk your horn at every intersection

Even if you have the right of way, safety dictates that you should always be prepared to yield and give your right of way to others in the interest of safety.

9. Cars going up should have the right of way

When traveling through mountain roads, cars going up are at a greater risk due to the momentum they are carrying needed to clear an incline. So when traveling up Tagaytay, Baguio or any mountainous destination, slow down at curves and corners when you’re going down and give extra room for cars going up.

10. Pray inside the car

When it’s traffic and the cars aren’t moving ahead, the best way to remain calm and avoid getting agitated is to simply start praying, or any other activity that will momentarily calm you down and get your mind away from the traffic. It’s better if there’s more than one of you inside the car.