Tag: road trip

Top tips for a safe road trip this Heritage Day

With today’s move to level 1 and Heritage Day coming up on Thursday, traffic on the roads is set to increase. Many people will be making a long weekend of it and heading off to family and friends or holiday destinations. Travellers will need to stay extra vigilant due to the increased levels of crime and the possibility of contracting Covid-19 as social distancing decreases. Make sure you get to your destination safely by heeding a few basic safety precautions.

Before heading out

  • Get at least six hours of sleep before a trip to ensure you are alert and focused.
  • Plan your route, rest and refuelling stops and double-check overnight bookings.
  • Check your lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes, tyres (including a working spare), and oil and water levels. This will reduce the chances of your vehicle breaking down and leaving you stranded on the side of the road.
  • Have your vehicle properly cleaned inside and out. CREAM’s products will help protect your vehicle’s paint from the elements. If your vehicle’s interior is cleaned and sanitized (CREAM can help with that too!), it will reduce your risk of Covid-19 infection. And, if there’s nothing lying around inside, there’s nothing to tempt criminals to break in!
  • Ensure that everyone packs a mask or two and some hand sanitizer.

On the road

  • Avoid sugary, caffeinated drinks (especially energy drinks) and stick to healthier options like juice and water. Keep some mints or mint-flavoured chewing gum handy instead. Chewing helps you to keep focused and the smell of mint has been proven to be energizing.
  • Experts recommend that the driver take a 15-minute break every 2 hours or 200 km.
  • Try not to drive between 01:00 and 05:00 as this is usually when your body is at its most restful.
  • To keep focused, chat with your passengers or set up a playlist with your favourite music or an audiobook.
  • Keep your distance at rest stops and remember to wear your mask and regularly wash your hands.
  • Have your route saved on your GPS/phone and have a car charger or power bank handy. If you’re travelling in an unfamiliar area or one that does not have great reception, be sure to download the map to avoid delays as you wait for the map to load or detours for directions.
  • Stick to major roads whenever possible, as there is a bigger likelihood of police and security patrols and roadside assistance.
  • Update friends or family of your progress or have them follow your trip with features like WhatsApp’s Live Location. They will know something is wrong and can sound the alarm if you detour from your route or stand still for too long and they can’t contact you.

In case of an accident or emergency

  • Make sure you have the relevant emergency numbers (like police, ambulance, your insurance or broker) saved on your phone.
  • Make sure you have emergency equipment in the vehicle like a first aid kit, a tow rope, jumper cables, warning triangles, a spare tyre, jack, torch or electric lamp and a fire extinguisher.
  • If you are involved in an accident, check for injuries first and only move the vehicle if it is possible and the vehicle endangers other traffic. Contact emergency services. Take pictures with your phone as evidence for the police report and your insurance. If you are able, get the names and contact information (including ID numbers and car registration) of everyone involved.

So, from CREAM, we’re wishing you a safe trip this Heritage Day weekend! We’re looking forward to giving your vehicle the CREAM treatment before you head off on a well-deserved break. Visit one of our branches and check out our Facebook page for specials, new branch openings and other exciting CREAM news!

Tips to make your weekend getaway travels more memorable

Now that travel restrictions have been lifted, people are hitting the road to visit family or for a weekend getaway. Besides visiting a CREAM beforehand to ensure your vehicle is clean and sanitized, we’ve compiled a few tips to make it a trip to remember.

Pre-trip checklist

The day or morning before heading off, it’s a good idea to check that your vehicle is set for the trip to avoid an unexpected breakdown:

  • Oil & water

Check under the hood to make sure your oil, water and windshield wiper fluid is topped up.

  • Tyres

Worn tyre tread weakens your vehicle’s grip on the road and ability to brake in case of emergencies. Check that your tyre tread is still the legally acceptable depth. If not, you may need to visit a tyre dealership.  Tyres that are incorrectly inflated negatively affects your vehicle’s stability, handling and cornering. Before heading off, stop at your nearest filling station to check the tyre pressure and have it adjusted.

  • License & license disk

Often we’re so busy that we forget to check when our driver’s license and vehicle license disks expire. Avoid an uncomfortable conversation if you get stopped by traffic officers and check your wallet and windscreen before you head off!

  • Clean your car

Make your trip a comfortable one by ensuring that your vehicle has been cleaned inside and out. CREAM can help you do that! You can even have your vehicle sanitized to help eliminate any Covid-19 germs that may have hitched a ride during your travels to work and the shops. It’s important to empty all the trash and odds and ends that have gathered in your vehicle. This will make space for the new things you’ll gather during your trip and ensure the vehicle is neat and comfortable for your passengers.

Personal checklist

Covid-19 prevention measures and regulations mean that there are several new items to put on your personal travel list and new things to keep in mind.

  • Masks

Remember to pack in two or more masks for you and each member of your family. You won’t be allowed anywhere without it.

  • Hand sanitizer

Keep germs away (and clean off those little hands after snacks and playtime) by keeping a bottle of hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes in your vehicle and handbag.

  • Plan your rest stops

To minimize possible exposure to Covid-19, you need to plan your rest stops and make sure you limit contact with surfaces, items and people. Plan your refuel stops and bathroom breaks. To make things a little easier on your budget and to limit your stops, fill a cooler bag with snacks and make your own lunch or dinner to enjoy on the road. Easy-to-eat and less-messy foods include fruit, nuts, sandwiches, wraps, salted crackers with dips and mini vetkoek.

Solo travelling tips

If you’re travelling alone, remember to pack snacks and drinks to help keep you alert. Stay away from sugary foods and caffeine-loaded energy drinks. Make your own thermos of coffee or tea to sip as you drive. Keep a pack of chewing gum handy, as chewing helps keep you alert. The smell of mint can also be energizing. You can keep a tin of mints handy or just look for a mint-scented air freshener.

Make sure your USB or phone is loaded with your favourite music or that your CDs are handy. Audiobooks can also keep you alert, without distracting you. Pick a comedy as laughter will keep you focused and feeling good.

Fun activities for the family

Nothing can make a trip more miserable than when kids are bored and hungry. Keep the hunger at bay by packing a few healthy snacks like wholewheat crackers with dips or cheese, biltong, nuts, fruit or cereal bars.

Get the kids to look up from their phones and tablets and take a few books with. There are also lots of fun games and activities that can keep them occupied:

  • I-spy

Everyone gets a turn to pick an item they spotted out of the window or in the car. They have to say with which letter the object starts and the rest of the car needs to guess what it is by asking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions like: “Is it green?” “Is it an animal?” “Is it a plant?” The first person to guess correctly gets the next turn.  The first person to five points wins.

  • Number plate game

See who can make up the most words or names (or most interesting ones) using only the letters on the number plates of passing cars

  • Photo scrapbook

Have the kids take photos of things they spot during your drive or at rest stops and load them your favourite social media platform or make them into a family scrapbook. Only the best photos will get chosen, so challenge the children to try interesting angles, poses and filters to make their photos stand out.

  • Photo scavenger hunt

For this fun, long term game you’ll need to make up a list of objects the children need to draw, take photos of or mark on a list. It can include things like well-known landmarks along the route, animals, signs or tasks they need to complete (like eating ice cream or standing on one leg next to a rest stop signpost). The first one to complete the whole list wins a little prize like a treat or their choice of activity.

  • Audiobooks

If the family all have different music tastes, why not play an audiobook the family can listen together. Choose a family-friendly title that everyone can listen together like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, short children’s stories, classics like Robin Hood and Mathilda or even the book version of a favourite Disney movie.

If all else fails, make sure you have enough data for streaming or pre-download a few movies or series for the kids to watch on their devices.

So before you head off of your next trip, remember to visit CREAM first to get your car looking great and keep it protected from the elements. Find your nearest branch or find out more about our innovative products.