4x4 driving tips

 

How to become a good nighttime driver and why you should be extra alert when driving in the city?

1. Routinely check your tyres.

Make sure you do the following routine maintenance:

Keep your tyres properly inflated. The correct air pressure for your tyres is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and can be found on the vehicle door edge, door-post, and glove box door or fuel door. It is also listed in the owner's manual. The number listed on the side of the tire is not the recommended air pressure for your tyre – it is the maximum air pressure for the tyre. You should check your tyre's air pressure at least once a month.

Check the tyres tread depth. Proper tread depth will help prevent skids, aquaplaning and blowouts.

2. Slow down.

Going too slow can be hazardous, but whenever you find yourself in difficult conditions like fog, rain, snow or glare, reduce your speed. Don't rush or lose patience.

3. Become a good night time driver.

Night driving can be a pleasure if you are aware of the special alertness demanded by low visibility. A few fundamentals: Keep your headlights and tail lights on for the entire period between sunset and sunrise. Put your headlights on low-beam when another vehicle is within 200 metres, also when driving behind another vehicle. If your car breaks down at night, make sure other drivers can see your car and stop in time. Turn on the hazard warning lights. If possible, pull off the road. Avoid stopping just over a hill or just around a curve. Take good notice of roadside reflectors and any other helpful visual signals to stay on the road at night.

4. Be aware of your physical condition.

You need good vision and good hearing, and you must be alert and responsive. Never drive when:

• You have been drinking alcohol
• You have taken any prescription or over-the-counter medicine that can cause drowsiness
• You are under the influence of any drug that may affect your performance or perception
• You are very tired
• You are emotionally upset – this can cause you to become careless.

5. Pay attention to the special requirements of different seasons.

You must prepare your car and tyres well in advance for Winter, but also for the other seasons. Fog, excessive rainfall, snow and ice, and glare and heat all bring specific kinds of adjustments and maintenance. Look at our Winter driving tips and the 'Maintaining a tyre' section here in the site for more information. And consult your Goodyear dealer, too.

6. Be extra alert when driving in the city.

Cities and urban areas have the highest concentrations and varieties of traffic, from pedestrians, trams and bicycles to utility vehicles like street sweepers and garbage trucks. There is twice as much to watch out for. You have to pay great attention to what is going on in front, to the sides and behind your vehicle.

http://www.goodyear.eu/uk_en/tire-advice/safe-driving/driving-tips/4x4-driving-tips.jsp