Trip Preparation: Give your vehicle a thorough check-up in advance
The “Golden Week” holiday is approaching, and when it comes to self-driving travel, vehicle safety is paramount. Before setting off, conduct a comprehensive inspection of your vehicle, including checking for oil or water leaks, ensuring proper tire pressure, and confirming that the spare tire is in good condition. After starting the car, first shift into second gear and drive slowly, then press the brake pedal to check if the brakes are functioning properly. Only proceed with normal driving once everything checks out. Before hitting the road, be sure to inspect the tire surface for wear, looking for bulges, cracks, or dents caused by impacts. If any such issues are found, repairs or maintenance must be carried out before departure. While traveling, drivers should pay attention to controlling their speed. Avoid the risk of accidents caused by speeding due to overexcitement. At the same time, maintain a good mental state—do not drive continuously for more than three hours and avoid fatigued driving.
During the holiday period, many citizens will choose to go hiking, and when driving on mountain roads, it’s important to pay attention to braking techniques. When going downhill, gently press the brake pedal first, then apply more pressure—this helps prevent the front of the car from sinking too much and increases the load on the rear wheels. When the car is fully occupied, the weight distribution between the front and rear is more balanced, but the inertia also increases significantly, requiring greater braking force. Therefore, it’s important to use the throttle skillfully to control speed. As long as you maintain a safe distance, once you need to slow down, simply easing off the throttle is often enough, with light braking used as needed to better manage your speed.
Driving on the highway: Vehicle volume will increase eightfold—maintain safe following distances
During the holiday period, the majority of highway travelers will be private car users, including many novice drivers taking to the expressway for the first time. A reminder to these drivers: although highways are toll-free for small vehicles, that doesn’t mean you can drive recklessly. Always stay alert to the fact that the speed limit for small vehicles on highways is 110 km/h.
How can you prevent major highway traffic accidents? Most serious highway accidents are rear-end collisions, primarily due to failure to maintain a safe following distance. Also, remind drivers that overtaking on the highway must be preceded by using your turn signal in advance, and after overtaking, you must switch your signal again to return to the normal driving lane—never occupy the passing lane for extended periods.
If you’re traveling to another city, drivers must familiarize themselves with the route in advance. “Knowing where to get on the highway and where to get off is crucial. Based on experience, don’t fully trust your navigation system, and definitely don’t stop immediately just because you’ve passed your exit—many serious accidents happen this way. The correct approach is to continue driving and look for the next exit to leave the highway,” a police officer told reporters.