Highway driving: Here is list of dos and don’ts for motorists

Hyderabad: Highway driving is different from city driving because of the higher speeds involved. Most drivers drive around 50 kmph on city roads. Highways may require 80 to 100 kmph, which leaves very little room for error.

Here are some tips to be a successful highway road warrior!

Pre-driving prep: Ensure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition so you don’t have a breakdown. Preferably get it serviced before the journey. Pay attention to brakes, tire condition, tire pressure, engine oil, coolant, working headlights, indicators, and brake lights.

Get wheel alignment and wheel balancing is done to prevent a wobbly journey. Check spare tyre pressure & windshield washer. Get Fastag if you are going on National Highways. Ensure you have a good night’s rest before starting the journey. Avoid night driving as it increases risks significantly.

Once you get in the vehicle:

1. Adjust mirrors before starting. Ensure all occupants are wearing seat belts- even the back seat. Especially children, don’t let kids below 12 years sit in the front seat, or stand unbelted. If on a bike wear a helmet with a visor to protect your eyes from road debris and wear shoes and gloves to reduce fatigue.

2. After hitting the highway don’t go directly to the fast lane at 100 kmph, let your body and reflexes acclimatize to higher speeds. Stick to 80 kmph initially.

3. Always drive between lane markings and never on the white lines.

4. When changing lanes, perform MSM- Mirror Signal- Movement. Check the rear-view mirror, then the door mirror, if the path is put on the indicator, turn your head to check your blind spot, if clear then change lanes gradually. Turn off the indicator. Don’t change 2 lanes at once.

5. Overtaking on undivided state highways: Never overtake when the center line is solid or there is a ‘No Overtaking’ sign.

Don’t overtake if your sight distance is limited due to a dip in the road, curves, large vehicles, etc.

Give additional allowance when overtaking long vehicles as it will take longer. In general, avoid overtaking unless the vehicle in front is traveling at 15 kmph slower than the speed limit. If the speed limit is 80 kmph and the vehicle in front is at 75 kmph then just follow it, as overtaking it will push you above the speed limit. PS: On a multilane roadway, per MVDR2017 it’s OK to overtake from the left lane if it's free.

6. Drive with headlights on even in daytime- it’s a concept of See and be Seen. Most modern cars come with DRL- Daylight running lights for the same reason.

7. Keep at least 2 seconds following distance from the vehicle in front. Don’t tailgate. You can google ‘2-second following distance’ to see videos on how to do this neat safety trick.

8. Take a break every 2 or 3 hours. Get out of the car, stretch, and have a caffeinated drink if required. Don’t eat heavy meals as that will make you drowsy. If you feel drowsy exit the highway and take a nap, especially during the last hours of the journey. Don’t push your limits to stay awake. A true road warrior always reaches the destination safely not fast.

9. Watch out for breaks in the median for cattle, pedestrians, and vehicles making U-turns.

10. If you miss an exit don’t brake hard or reverse, just keep going to the next exit and come back.

11. If you have to make an emergency stop on the shoulder- place a warning triangle at least 50 meters behind to alert others. Indians are notorious for driving on the shoulders!

12. Keep your air condition duct on Fresh air to reduce fatigue

Drive Smart, Drive Safe!

The author, Naresh Raghvan, is a road safety author and regularly posts road safety information on his Twitter handle @TopDriveIndia.