How to Road Trip Like a Pro this Easter Holiday

Easter road safety is a golden rule for everyone driving over this period. Especially when you’re on regional road trips and driving on high speed limit roads. For starters, more people take driving holidays over Easter than many other short holidays. And unlike summer holidays, everyone needs to get the driving bit done on time to fit in the holiday and still get back in time for work… school… life…

Easter also has a way of bringing out the unpredictable. Not only does it always move around on the calendar so you never really know when it’s going to take place, there’s this frenzy to fit in a lot of fun because it’s a long weekend. And it’s not just your family that’s in a frenzy, it’s a whole country worth of people!

Here’s what you need to know to get the most of your Easter road trip while keeping safety top of mind.

Packing, planning and booking ahead

With Easter just around the corner, many of us are gearing up for a well-deserved long weekend getaway. Whether you’re planning a road trip to explore new places or visiting family and friends, it’s important to put safety first, even during the holiday excitement.

Free up your mind on the road by planning well, packing well, having a solid itinerary and booking your holiday stay beforehand. Here are some great Easter holiday ideas for the whole two-legged and four-legged fam:

• Easter holiday road trips with pets
• Travelling with dogs and cats this Easter
• 2024 Easter road adventures from the big city to the beaches and beyond
• Driving holiday family Easter road trip tips

Now for some essential Easter road safety checks and driving tips.

Easter road safety checks

Before you hit the road, take some time to plan and prepare for your journey. The key is to be organised, so you don’t find yourself in a pickle along the way. Here are a few things to prep:

• Do a vehicle check. An ideal time to do your routine car service could be just before the Easter holidays. But if not, do a brakes, lights, fluid levels and tyre pressure / tread check. Perhaps see where you fare with this list of car maintenance tasks Australians can perform at home? If anything seems amiss or you just don’t have the skills, get it checked by a professional before setting off.

• Map out your route. Familiarise yourself with the route you’ll be taking, including rest stops, gas stations, and potential alternate routes. It’ll save you a whole lot of time on trying to understand the map while already on the road. GPS navigation or smartphone apps can be your best friend in this regard – but if there’s no signal (or your battery’s dead) have a printout as back up.

• Pack an emergency kit. Always keep your car survival kit packed – for Easter driving or otherwise. Make sure to include essentials like a first aid kit, a flashlight, jumper cables, a spare tire and a roadside assistance contact number. Read about car breakdown safety while waiting for roadside assistance.

5 Easter road safety tips for long weekend driving

Now let’s discuss some essential road safety tips to ensure your Easter road trip is both enjoyable and worry-free. Buckle up and let’s dive in!

#1. Take regular stop-offs

Long drives can be tiring and fatigue can affect your driving abilities. To fight driver fatigue, make sure to schedule regular breaks throughout your journey as part of your route. Not only will this give you a chance to stretch your legs and grab a snack but it will also help you stay alert behind the wheel.

If you’re travelling with pets and kiddies then they will need these stops to get a break from cabin fever too. Speaking of which, here are some tasty and wholesome car snacks and fun car games for the whole family to play.

#2. Stay focused, like Batman

While driving, it’s crucial to stay focused and avoid distractions. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Put away your phone. Avoid the temptation to use your phone while driving – except for GPS that is. Pull over if you need to make a call or respond to a message.
• Share the driving. If you’re travelling with more than one driver, ease the load by taking turns behind the wheel. Everyone gets to enjoy the view as a passenger, which means being more alert and refreshed while driving.
• Stay well-rested. A good night’s sleep before your journey is essential. If you feel drowsy during the drive, consider taking a short nap in a safe area.

#3. Pay attention on regional and metro roads

While you might think the open road in the countryside is not just more beautiful but also safer than bustling city ones this isn’t always the case. In fact, regional roads are statistically less safe and are the site of the majority of road incidents.

There are many factors that could contribute to this. For example, the idea that they’re safer could mean drivers aren’t as attentive. Speeds are also higher on the open road, which makes things immediately riskier. Find out more about regional vs metro driving for Easter road safety.

#4. Practice defensive driving for Easter road safety

Be mindful of always keeping a safe distance from cars in front of you – rear end accidents are really always the person at the back’s fault. They’re also one of the most common type of accidents. If there’s a busy multi-laned road and you see another driver is maniacally trying to overtake everyone, hang back and go slow. Let them get ahead.

You’d rather lose a few moments than risk intersecting with an overzealous fellow driver. And you’ll very likely see them again in the next busy section of cars because those few minutes they gained don’t get them very far ahead of the pack anyway. Or, you might see them at the first traffic light once the roads reach the towns and cities.

The moral of the story here is to practice defensive driving for Easter road safety so you have as much room and time as possible to react fast if needs be.

#5. Avoid driving in low visibility conditions

Where possible, avoid driving in rain, mist and after dark by checking the hourly weather conditions. Ideally you want to set off early so you’re on the road as the sun rises and get a good deal of driving done before the noon heat and brightness kick in.

Having said that, be mindful that animals tend to be out at dawn as well as dusk to feed and could wander into the roads. Speaking of this, be aware of what to do if you hit an animal while driving in Australia.

Easter is a high risk driving period

Statistically speaking, March is the worst time of year for accidents. This puts Easter road safety front and centre because it often happens in March. The thing is that people tend to eat, drink and be merry over Easter. It’s a period to let one’s hair down so to speak, but within a short amount of time. There’s a lot to squeeze in.

With so many people driving after less sleep, more fun and already trying to remember what’s happening in the boardroom meeting in the coming week, there’s a higher chance of accidents.

Essentially, it’s up to the more than 2 million drivers in Australia to play nice. Which in Easter driving mode, means play safe. So buckle up, don’t speed and enjoy the hot cross buns!

Get award winning car insurance for Easter driving

As you head out on your Easter long weekend adventure with these road safety tips, we’ve got one more tip to make it worry-free. That’s car insurance.

Comprehensive car insurance can help pay for damage you cause others, up to $20,000,000 in legal liability. It also helps cover the costs of repairs for accidental damage to your car from accidents, hail, fire, storms and even vandalism. If your car gets stolen or completely written off in a road incident, your car insurance can help cover a replacement car.

The level of cover you choose is up to you. Just click below to get a quick, easy and free quote for award winning car insurance from us – PD Insurance.