How to make short distance trips safer?
Most of the accidents occur when traveling to and from work, shopping and taking the children to school, because drivers travel on urban or secondary roads they know well and tend to disregard the necessary safety measures.
Usually traveling to and from work, shopping and taking the children to school accumulates more danger for the occupants of vehicles at risk of suffering a traffic accident. For this reason, ALD Automotive developed a series of points to increase the protection of travelers:
Seat belt: The first action to take when getting into the car must always be the same: to fasten the seat belt; no matter how brief the journey and how little the traffic may be.
Car seats: Same as adult passengers, children must be properly accomodated on car safety seats and tightened with the belt; moreover, the smallest children should be traveling backwards.
Speed limits and safe distance: It is very important to respect speed limits, especially on urban roads and in the entrance and exit areas of schools, where pedestrians may appear on the road at any time. In addition, it is very important to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, in order to avoid jumping on the brakes for any unforeseen event.
Route planning: Although they are usually well known routes, it is advisable to chech the traffic situation in real time in order to avoid possible traffic jams or any problem on the road. In this way, you can plan an alternative route if necessary.
Unfavorable and unforeseen circumstances: In the same direction as the previous point, and even though it is a short and well-known trip, the weather and traffic conditions may vary. This is why we should be focused on the road and avoid distractions while behind the wheel, an aspect that sometimes, with children in the car or in the rush of daily routine, we tend to forget.
Alcohol and medicines: When behind the wheel, no matter how short or familiar the journey is, you must pay full attention. Certain medicines produce as side effects drowsiness or problems with the vision, so driving after taking them could be dangerous. Of course, when driving, the alcohol levels in your blood should be 0.0.
Stay safe and enjoy driving!