IAM advice for safe Christmas driving

THE INSTITUTE OF Advanced Motorists (IAM) is offering roadsafety advice to drivers heading out on the roads over the festive season. Someof it may be familiar, but good advice bears repeating.

By David Motton
Published: December 18, 2012

Peter Rodger, the IAM’s chief examiner, said: “Although

motorways are our safest roads, darkness brings with it additional challenges

which increase the risk of fatal accidents. Plan your journey from beginning to

end and take necessary precautions to keep yourself and your family safe this

Christmas.”

Here are Rodger’s tips in full:

Driving in the dark can
cause fatigue – plan your journey, scheduling at least one stop every two

hours.
Don’t ignore warning signs
of fatigue. In extreme cases, have a caffeine drink and sleep for 20

minutes while it takes effect. You can only do this once per journey; it

won’t have the same effect if you do it more than once.
Share the driving if
possible.
Many stretches of motorway
are not lit during hours of darkness. To improve your view as far as

possible, keep your lights, mirrors and windscreen clean.
Watch for tell-tale brake
lights up ahead to foresee any changes in traffic speed or queues which

you may be joining.
Make sure you can stop
safely within the distance you can see to be clear.
If you break down, pull over
on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as you can, pointing

your wheels in towards the kerb.
When stopped on the hard
shoulder, leave your vehicle and get as far away from the road as

possible, behind the crash barrier, and up the bank if there is one.