Your guide to summer road safety
As more Tasmanians hit the road for summer getaways, it’s crucial to make safety your top priority. From rest stops to patience behind the wheel, these tips will help ensure your road trip is memorable for all the right reasons.
As the weather warms up, many Tasmanians are gearing up for family road trips and weekend getaways.
Whether you‘re off to the coast, visiting friends or exploring Tasmania’s hidden gems, summer is the perfect time to embrace the freedom of the road. But with more people out and about, increased traffic on the roads means it’s important to think about road safety on every journey.
Allowing plenty of time to get to your destination is important. Many people focus on getting there as quickly as possible, but Tassie’s compact size makes it easy to plan a rest stop. Maybe check out a small town you usually pass through or stop at one of the many short walks offered by local councils or Parks and Wildlife Services. Stretch your legs, grab a coffee and take in the sights. These short pit stops are a great way not only to discover more of our state, but also to prevent fatigue, one of the leading factors contributing to road crashes.
Summer holidays are a time when many of our newer drivers are taking the opportunity to gain their logbook hours. It is also the time we welcome more visitors to our state; they may not be as familiar with our roads, so patience is key. A little patience can go a long way in ensuring everyone reaches their destination safely.
If you need to leave your car, always take your loved ones with you, even if you’re only leaving for a short time. Children and animals are very sensitive to heat; they can quickly dehydrate and develop heat stress. Even on mild days, temperatures inside vehicles can rise rapidly, putting them at serious risk of heatstroke or worse.
At RACT, we’re committed to helping you stay safe on the road, not just during summer, but all year round. Road safety is up to all of us. Obeying the road rules is essential, but being a safe road user is also about being mindful of your own wellbeing and those around you. Whether you’re a seasoned local, a new driver or a visitor discovering Tasmania for the first time, we all share the responsibility of keeping our roads safe.
So, as you plan your next road trip, remember to take regular breaks, be patient with fellow drivers and stay alert. Look out for yourself and others, and enjoy the summer.