How to prepare for your festive season road trip
28 November, 2023
Families all over the country are looking forward to spending the festive season together but if you will be driving to your destination, now is a great time to make sure your vehicle is adequately prepared. Proper vehicle preparation will ensure a trip that is safe and incident free.
Performing a thorough vehicle inspection should be part of anyone’s road trip planning process as many accidents are caused by unroadworthy vehicles or a lack of maintenance.
Have your vehicle serviced : If your vehicle is due for a service or if it will become due midway through the holiday, it is a good idea to have it serviced sooner rather than later. Apart from carrying out the required service items, workshops in the Kia Retail network will thoroughly inspect your vehicle and alert you to anything that requires your attention such as brakes or tyres that need replacing. A properly serviced vehicle will be more reliable, more fuel economical and everything will work as it should.
Pack the essentials : Apart from all your holiday gear make sure that you pack the essentials for dealing with a vehicle emergency. This includes the tools for changing a flat tyre, gloves, emergency triangles, jumper cables and things like a torch, reflective vest, extra water and a first aid kit. Also make sure to pack a cell phone charging cable to ensure connectivity during an emergency.
Who you going to call : Make a list of the contact numbers you might need in an emergency. If you belong to a roadside assistance programme, make sure you know what this coverage includes and how to contact the service provider should you need to. Most vehicles sold through Kia Retail and Kia Konfidence network
include free roadside assistance for a certain period of time, which ensures additional peace of mind when hitting the long road.
Check your tyres : While your cars tyres will be checked when the vehicle is serviced it is a good idea to check them before embarking on a long journey. Make sure that the tyres have adequate tread depth remaining and that they are free from any foreign objects that could cause a loss of pressure down the road. Ensure that your tyres, including the spare wheel are inflated to the correct pressure for the load you will be carrying, as indicated in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
Be prepared for the rain : December is rainy season across the country so be prepared to drive in wet conditions. Ensure that your windscreen is clean and free of cracks and make sure that your wiper blades are up to the job. Wiper blades harden and crack over time, losing their efficiency but are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace and a new set of wiper blades will make the world of difference in wet weather. Also make sure that all your vehicles’ lights are working as well as the lights of any trailers that you might be towing.
Be responsible : A car is only as safe as the driver behind the wheel. Obey the rules of the road, do not drink and drive or text and drive, avoid speeding and take regular breaks. Most importantly be patient, remember your holiday starts the moment you leave home.
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