Your guide to road trip safety

Before starting your journey, give your vehicle a thorough check-up.

• Tyres: Are your tyres inflated to the pressure recommended in your car owner’s manual? Also, check they have good tread depth. If winter driving conditions have worn your tyres down, replace or rotate them.
• Brakes: Check brakes are working well. Listen for any unusual noises and inspect the brake pads and rotors for wear and tear. 
• Oil: Regular oil changes are important for your engine’s performance. If needed, replace the oil and filters. 
• Fluids: Do your car’s fluids need a refill? Check coolant, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, and transmission fluid, if needed. 
• Battery: A flat battery can leave you stranded. Test your battery as cooler winter weather may have affected its performance. 
• Lights: Check all your car’s lights, including headlights, tail lights, indicators, and hazard lights. For safe driving, they must be working properly and clean.

If you’re unsure about tackling these tasks, book your car in for a service with a registered mechanic

You’ll likely plan your route ahead of time to avoid any roadworks or road closures. However, the weather can be unpredictable, so be sure to check live updates that could affect your route.

• Map out your journey: Using GPS or a map app for live traffic conditions can help you stay up to date. Then you can change your route, if needed.
• Plan rest and fuel stops: Make sure you take regular breaks and be mindful of driver fatigue. On long drives, consider sharing the driving, and plan overnight stays. For more tips, see the Centre for Road Safety’s Fatigue page.
• Avoid heavy traffic: No one wants to spend their holiday stuck in traffic. For a more enjoyable and relaxing trip, try driving during off-peak hours if you can. 
• Choose your playlist: Every good road trip needs a great playlist, but did you know the music you listen to can affect your driving? To find out more, check out Seat Belters on Spotify. 

Remember that carrying too much can make your car harder to drive and uses more fuel. Pack your essentials, but don't overload your car. Have you included the following, just in case?

• Emergency kit: For long drives, bring an emergency kit that includes snacks, water, a blanket, and a first aid kit. Don't forget your phone charger and a spare tyre.
• Remote communications: If you’re going to a remote area with poor phone reception, bring a satellite phone.

Just in case of any issues along the way, have your important contacts ready such as the following:

• Car insurance details: Keep your insurer’s claims phone number in your phone contacts. 
• Roadside assistance: In case of a breakdown, know who to call for roadside assistance. 

We all know speeding increases the risk of accidents, and that you need to stay focused on the road. 

Stick to the speed limits and adjust your speed according to road conditions. 

Avoid using your phone while driving. If you need to make a call, pull over safely. For a reminder about the rules, read our article Australian laws for using your mobile phone while driving.

A dash cam is a small video camera that monitors your driving and records what happens on the road. Popular with drivers, investing in this technology has certain benefits.

Imagine you’re involved in a car accident. It wasn’t your fault, but the other driver blames you. There aren’t any impartial witnesses, so what can you do?

That’s where having a dash cam can help you. If it has clear footage of the accident, it can show what happened and reveal who’s at fault. The footage could settle the dispute quickly and may speed up your insurance claim.

You might be keen to get on the open road, but checking your car insurance cover first is a smart move. 

• Make sure your policy is up to date and covers you for the whole trip. With Allianz Car Insurance, you can check your policy documents online. 
• It’s also a good idea to check that your Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance cover is up to date.