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Going on a road trip in a group is immense fun. Do it by all means. Just make sure you’re doing it the right way, the safe way
As roads improve, road trips have become more and more popular with many now opting to drive down to a place rather than opt for the boring comfort of a train or aeroplane. What adds to the pleasures of a road trip to your vacation destination is company. Trust us, for we have been on enough drives to know this, driving in a group is a lot more fun than driving anywhere solo. What you need to keep in mind though is safety, of yourself and the rest of the group. Here’s how you can ensure it.
Understand the skill and abilities of the other drivers. Find out if they’re overtly aggressive behind the wheel or whether they are cautious drivers. This will give you a good idea of the kind of driving that lies ahead. Also, get their mobile numbers. And, of course, you do not compete with each other.
Are you quick or are you slow? Can you tackle the twisties as easily as you drive on straight roads or fast sweeping bends? These are important questions that will help you assess your own driving abilities. And be honest with yourself, for the answers to such questions will decide whether you will drive within your limits or beyond them.
Make sure you always have the car behind you, in your mirrors. If it is not visible for an extended period of time then signal the car in front and pull over and wait for him to catch up. This applies to all drivers in the group.
Getting lost is no one’s idea of fun, less still when other members of the group have to wait for you to catch up.
This helps the rest of the group know what the car ahead or behind is doing and in the process helps avoid confusion. Eg – Flashing the headlamps once and switching the hazards on might be a sign that you need to pull over. The driver in front needs to know this to be able to act appropriately.
If you’re being unable to keep up with the other drivers, don’t try to catch up by pushing beyond your abilities. Instead wait for them to stop. Ask them to set a pace you’ll be comfortable with.
Keep a safe distance with the car in front, especially on the highway where speeds are higher and braking distances longer. The two-second rule applies even when driving in a known group.
The lead car should have a moderately quick and experienced driver since everyone will follow his example. The sweep car should also be driven by an experienced driver who knows what to do in an emergency. In case of the leader, he should make sure that all cars in the group have enough space to park safely in case there is a need to pull over.
Driving down line astern will limit the forward visibility of cars driving behind each other. If there is space, staggering them will help things immensely.
Just because the car in front has overtaken that slow moving truck doesn’t automatically mean there’s enough space for car to overtake it as well. Take your time and assess the situation thoroughly before you make your overtaking move. Don't worry about the cars following you. They will wait for you to overtake before they attempt their own manouevre.
