Before Driving
- Ensure rear doors are locked if children are in the rear seats (activate child locks)
- Check your tyre pressures regularly (don't forget the spare)
- Do not touch your phone whilst driving (use bluetooth if phone/car is equipped)
- Ensure all compartment doors (e.g. glove box, sunglass holder, etc) are latched properly
- Never leave loose items, including phones, satellite navigation units, club locks and luggage, unsecured in the cabin -these could become projectiles in the event of an accident or sudden acceleration or braking
- Utilise your air conditioning to quickly demist your windscreen. Having your air set to 'fresh' and not 'recirculation' may help prevent your window from fogging up
- Ensure child seats are correctly fitted. Obtain assistance if unsure
Seating position
- Adjust headrest to the appropriate height level
- Seat belts should be fastened tight around the lap and over the shoulder
- Ensure seat belt sash sits comfortably over your shoulder and not up around your neck
- Ensure rear and side mirrors are correctly adjusted for each journey
Driving
- Do not put your feet or legs on the dashboard whilst travelling in the passenger seat
- Do not extend any body parts out of the vehicle during the journey
- Keep two seconds safety distance to the car in front
- If sun glare or oncoming headlights are affecting your visibility look at the left hand side road markings to gauge your position on the road
- Always drive with two hands on the steering wheel
- Always assume that you have not been seen by other road users
- If you cannot see the driver's face through their mirrors, they cannot see you
- Be courteous and share the road with other road users
- Adjust your speed to suit the range of your headlights i.e. do not drive too fast with your lights dipped -make sure you have adequate forward vision for the speed you are driving
- Use dipped headlights when foggy
- Do not drive with your front or rear fog lamps on when it is not foggy/limited visibility
- When changing lanes, always do a head check (turn and look) to ensure there is no vehicle in the lane beside you (i.e. check your blind spot)
- If you have a breakdown, leave your vehicle in a safe position away from moving traffic
- Always expect the unexpected
