The Chinese
New Year is almost here, and there is no better way to celebrate it than with
family and friends. With the holidays ahead, road trips become more frequent, and
that often leads to congested roads, unexpected breakdowns, and even accidents.
Driving Tips from Tayaria
for Your Chinese New Year
So before
taking a long trip, there are some safety measures to be taken, such as checking
the condition of your vehicle, getting updated road information to avoid
traffic, and carefully planning the route.
Safety
first
Before
hitting the road, it is important to make sure that all the safety systems of
your vehicle are working properly. In that sense, it is vital to check the tyre
pressure. That can either be done by your mechanic, or you can do it yourself
with a tyre pressure gauge. Don’t forget to check the pressure of your spare
tyre too!
The vehicle
lights should also be inspected, especially before a long road trip. The best
way to check if your lights are working is to turn on your car, switch on the headlights,
and make sure both are bright. It is best if you do it at night, with your
vehicle facing a wall.
Check
the state of your car to avoid breakdowns
First of
all, check if your engine oil is topped up. This way, you’ll avoid heat build-up
and make sure all the moving components work properly.
As
mentioned before, checking your tyre pressure is vital before a road trip in
order to avoid punctures, but you should also check the wheel alignment. Remember
that driving with unaligned wheels might lead to uneven tyre wear, increase fuel
consumption, and compromise the vehicle’s stability.
Also, you
might want to check the state of the battery with the help of a multimeter. It
is best if you don’t test the battery right after driving, as you won’t get an
accurate diagnosis. Also, make sure the ends are clean. Further advice in this
regard can be found in our Long Distance Survival Pack.
If you are
unsure about doing all this yourself, our advice would be to take your car to your
local Tayaria outlet for a full check-up. This way, you’ll avoid any
inconvenience on the road, and you’ll only have to focus on enjoying your
holidays.
How
to avoid traffic
When you’re
on holidays, the last thing you want is getting stuck for hours in a traffic
jam. That’s why it is important to plan your route ahead, and always have
alterative options.
Before
heading out, try to get as much information on the state of the road as you
can. To do so, you can listen to traffic reports on television or look it up on
the internet.
It is also advisable to memorise the alternative ways to your destination, just in case there’s a traffic jam so that you can change the route without the help of your GPS.
Avoid
the holiday rush-hour
People usually
start their road trips at the beginning of the Lunar New Year holidays. That’s
why most of the traffic jams take place on the first and last days of holidays.
If you can, try to avoid those dates and start your trip at a different time.
Sometimes it is worth it to set your alarm clock a bit earlier in the morning,
or waiting a day or two to start your trip.
Now you’re
good to go! We hope you found these tips useful, but if you need further advice
on road trips, you can take a look at the article Ready for the Holidays on our blog. Many of our Christmas
tips could serve you well on the road this Chinese New Year.
Remember
that some of our Tayaria outlets will remain open during the holiday season.
However, you can still contact us with the help of our dealer locator.
All that
remains for us is to wish you all the best and a happy year of the rabbit for 2023!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
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