Originally published at: https://www.pakwheels.com/blog/drive-safely-mountains-need-know/
Learning how to drive safely through the mountains is vital to avoid any road accidents or mishaps that can be fatal in nature. There are certain measures that you should undertake before embarking upon a mountainous journey and make sure that your vehicle is on optimal condition. While driving through the mountains, make sure you are well-rested and not lethargic. Since the margin of error is very low when you are driving through the mountains, it is extremely essential that you put all of your attention on the road. Moreover, avoid overtaking vehicles at the blind corners.
Since mountainous roads require your utmost attention on the road, using of mobile phone while driving must be discouraged. Instead of using the mobile phone yourself, ask your fellow passenger to do the job for you. Unnecessary acceleration and braking must be avoided as these activities put undue pressure on your vehicle.
Essential driving trips to follow:
- A rule of thumb is that the speed at which you have climbed the mountain, you should always keep the same speed when driving down that road. This will prevent you from overspeeding while travelling down the mountain and will put less pressure on the brakes.
- Moreover, avoid accelerating the car too much while driving down a mountain and let the vehicle go on its own. This helps in braking the vehicle quickly if it goes out of control.
- Another thing to keep in mind is to refuel your vehicle whenever you find a refuelling station if you are venturing into mountainous areas that are remote.
- Do not pour water on hot brake pads as they can bend when cooling down quickly.
- Furthermore, avoid using brakes too often as this will make the brake pads and the brake fluid hot which in turn reduces the braking ability of your vehicle.
- Try to use the gears to reduce the speed of your vehicle as this puts less pressure on the brakes. Always use the right gear for the speed at which your vehicle is travelling.
- By keeping the vehicle in a lower gear, the vehicle cannot accelerate beyond a certain limit which ultimately aids in slowing down the vehicle.
- Also, make sure that you park your car on a plain surface whenever possible. Stopping your vehicle helps in cooling down the brakes and helps you in relax and remove fatigue.
- Use the handbrake/parking brake when parking your vehicle and always put it in gear.
- Another helpful tip is to keep a certain amount of distance between your vehicle and the vehicle you are following. A rule of thumb dictates that for every 20km/h of speed, you must keep the distance of one vehicle’s length. If you are tailing a car with a very small distance, chances are that you will hit that car if it brakes abruptly.
Essential parts to check before the journey
The braking system of your car and specifically brake pads are essential items to stop your car in case of an emergency. These must be in optimal condition so that the braking distance of your vehicle is as minimum as possible. Check the windscreen wipers to ensure that the visibility is not compromised in any case. Also, check all the essential fluids of your car which will reduce the chances of your vehicle breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Washer fluid for your windscreen must also be full of water.
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