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Put safety first these holidays – Transport for NSW

Transport for NSW is urging people to put safety first these holidays and take care when travelling in and out of Sydney.

Centre for Road Safety general manager Marg Prendergast said that it is just as important to be prepared for your journey before you begin than it is to be vigilant when you are behind the wheel.

Before you hit the road

While everyone is excited about the up and coming holidays, this is an incredibly busy and stressful time of year for many people. For this reason, Christmas travel plans are often fine-tuned at the last minute.

You may know your destination and desired arrival time, but have you worked out who is going to do most of the driving? How many stops are you going to take? Do you need to carry extra petrol? Is your car ready for a long journey?

“A large part of safe driving happens before you load the car and set off,” Ms Prendergast explained.

“As well as checking petrol, oil, tyres and other parts of the vehicle, drivers need to plan their journey to avoid rushing to their destination which can tragically lead to speed and driver fatigue related crashes.”

Ms Prendergast also advises people not to set off on a long car ride straight after finishing a long day at work. It can be tempting to leave the hustle and bustle of the city as soon as possible, but you will be better prepared for the journey after a good night’s sleep.

“Avoid driving straight after working a long day, don’t drive at times when you would normally be asleep, remember that often driver fatigue crashes happen in the early afternoon and give yourself plenty of time so that you can enjoy the journey rather than rushing to the destination,” she said.

Once on the road

The above preparation techniques are important, but once you are on the road the reality of the long drive sets in and you have to take care and be vigilant about following the road rules.

Sticking to speed limits is a big problem at this time of year, and even if other motorists are going full throttle do not give in to any peer pressure.

“Once you’re on the road, fatigue and speeding are major issues during the holidays with motorists going too fast or driving for too long without taking a break to reach their destination sooner,” Ms Prendergast said.

Remember that you hold the lives of your family in your hands and you want to be healthy and well to enjoy the holidays!

If you are the victim of someone else’s negligence on the roads this holiday season then there are lawyers in Sydney that may be able to help you make a claim for compensation.

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