Holiday driving

The Christmas holiday period is a particularly dangerous time on New Zealand roads. There are several reasons for this:

There is more traffic on the roads during the holidays.
Many people are driving on unfamiliar roads.
Many people are driving long distances and may become tired or frustrated.
Driving can be stressful becuase of heat, noisy children, family tensions and general end-of-year tiredness.
Drivers may be fatigued from driving long hours or at abnormal times, such as early morning or late evening.
People on holiday can let down their guard when it comes to road safety - eg, driving too fast, not wearing a safety belt, etc.
There is an increased incidence of drink-driving during holiday periods.

But driving during the holidays doesn't have to be stressful or dangerous. By planning ahead, packing and preparing properly and allowing plenty of time for long trips you can help ensure your safety on the road.

Prepare and pack your vehicle

Have your vehicle checked before travelling. Many garages offer safety checks for tyre tread and pressure, lights, brakes, cooling systems and other components.
Make sure everything is securely stowed when you pack your vehicle. Even small objects can become dangerous missiles in the event of a sudden stop or crash.
If you're towing a trailer or caravan, load heavy objects evenly over all of the axles.

Towing trailers and caravans

Check all towing attachments and make sure the couplings are compatible. Remember to check the safety chain, trailer lights, tyres and brakes.
Remember that if you are towing a trailer your maximum speed limit on the open road is 90 km/h. Keep left and pull over when it is safe to let other vehicles pass.

Avoid driver fatigue

Holiday driving often means spending several hours behind the wheel. Long journeys can be tiring, and fatigue can be fatal behind the wheel. There are some simple ways to avoid fatigue and improve your alertness:

Get plenty of sleep before your journey, and try to drive at times of the day when you are normally awake.
Don't rush your journey. Plan for rest breaks every couple of hours. Get out of your vehicle and take a short walk or do some other exercise to get your blood flowing and improve alertness. If you feel tired, take a short nap (less than 40 minutes).
If possible, share the driving.
Don't drink and drive, and don't speed. Many fatigue-related crashes also involve these two factors.
Use air conditioning, if your vehicle has it. Cool air will keep you more alert and will help avoid frustration and stress, which is a major cause of fatigue. Make sure your air conditioning is set to the 'fresh air' mode.

Keep an eye out for kids

Watch out for children on the road. Young cyclists and pedestrians can be unpredictable and poor judges of vehicle speed. Young children may also be learning to ride new bikes over the holidays. Please respect cycle lanes.

Keep an eye out for learner drivers - the holidays are a popular time to learn to drive.

Keep your cool

Driving can be a frustrating experience at the best of times. Add in busy roads and stifling heat and your patience can evaporate very quickly. For safety's sake don't let that happen. There are simple and easy ways to keep your cool and stay in control.

Be courteous - let others merge into traffic and use your indicators before turning or changing lanes.
Keep left unless passing. If you're a slower driver, pull over when you can to let others pass. You are legally required to use a slow vehicle bay if one is provided.
Be patient. Don't be provoked by other drivers' aggressive behaviour.

Buckle up

Too many family holidays are marred by tragedy when a crash occurs and people aren't properly restrained. It's the driver's responsibility to make sure that all passengers are wearing safety belts. The law requires children to be in approved child restraints, suitable for their size and weight. There is a $150 fine for each person not buckled up.

Share the road safely

Traffic volumes increase significantly during the holidays. You will have to share the road with other cars, as well as heavy trucks, buses, campervans and vehicles towing boats or caravans. Keep the following points in mind:

Always keep a safe following distance between yourself and the vehicle in front. This gives you enough stopping distance if the vehicle stops suddenly.
Be patient. Trucks and towing vehicles have lower speed limits. If you're travelling behind a slower vehicle, wait for a passing lane or until you have enough clear road to overtake safely.
After overtaking a larger vehicle, don't slow down quickly or cut in too closely. Larger vehicles take a longer time to brake and you could end up getting hit from behind.

More information

See the following factsheets and brochures:
Factsheet 24, Fatigue
Factsheet 33, Speed
Factsheet 34, Sharing the road with trucks and oversize vehicles and the Loading and towing safely brochure.

Last updated: 27 February 2005