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Tips for travellers – for successful travel

2021 12 23

When December is nearing the end, is exactly the time when we celebrate Merry Christmas and the New Year, perhaps the most anticipated holidays of the year. Many tend to take advantage of the days between these two holidays for relaxation, visiting their relatives. The State Enterprise Lithuanian Road Administration (hereinafter – the Road Administration) reminds how to prepare and ensure that our travels are safe and as smooth as possible.

First, the car must be technically sound: winter tires suitable for the use, properly adjusted, clean and functioning lights, the car must be completely cleared of snow, the windscreen wipers must be functioning, the tank must contain winter windscreen washer fluid (suitable for the temperatures up to -25°C), the car battery must be charged. A few more aspects that are worth noting – coolant, the brake system, lubricants that must be changed on time. Maintaining as higher as possible level of fuel in the tank in winter is recommended. It is additionally recommended to lubricate the door locks with a special antifreeze grease, to lubricate the car door and trunk rubbers with silicone. More information about preparing your car for winter can be found here.

Before travelling, it is important to take proper care of passenger safety. Drivers and passengers are already well aware of the rule that seat belts must be worn while driving, and that children must travel in car seats adapted to their height and weight. However, people still forget to take care of the safety of their pets while travelling. Since people usually travel with dogs, they are safest to transport attached with special braces, which are specifically designed for car travel, and not for guiding the dog outdoors. Such braces are attached to the seat belts of the car, they have several points for attaching, which are activated during braking. It is important to note that the braces must be certified and must have passed security tests successfully.

During long trips, it is worth considering the use of another alternative – a special travel box or cage for your pet. Such a box is secured with seat belts or can be placed in the car trunk. This way of traveling not only safely restricts the dog movement around the passenger compartment, but also allows the pet to lie down or change its position, which is especially important if the trip is longer. This box is suitable for transporting not only dogs but also cats and other smaller pets.

Attention should be paid to the items in the car not only when travelling longer distances, but also during the usual trip.

The Road Administration recommends putting as many items in the trunk as possible, rather than somewhere in the passenger compartment, as this is much safer. Any items placed in the wrong place, for example, a thermos, a flask, an umbrella or even a telephone, may cause an accident – during an abrupt braking, such an item can not only break the glass but also hit the car passengers with great force and injure them. During a sudden braking, the items, that are disorderly placed in the passenger compartment, may slip under the brake pedal and pose a fatal hazard, as it will be impossible to stop the car. For this reason, each item in the car must be placed securely.

Sometimes drivers place very heavy items on the roof of their car. It is not safe. It is advisable to read instructions for the aerodynamic luggage compartment or roof rails, and not exceed the specified norm. In addition, the improperly secured load may also pose danger to other road users. There are cases when, during the travel, part of an improperly secured load gets loose and is a real threat is posed to the cars driving behind.

Due to rapidly changing weather and traffic conditions, trips in the winter are more complicated. Therefore, the Road Administration reminds that it is always necessary to assess the traffic conditions and drive at a safe speed, which is lower than the maximum permitted speed. Throughout the trip, the driver should be fully focused on driving – do not use mobile devices while driving. Sometimes, attention may also be distracted by loud music.

When the car unexpectedly gets on a slippery road surface, to prevent an accident sudden manoeuvres and excessively abrupt braking, if not needed, should be avoided. Abrupt braking and sudden turning of the steering wheel when on ice can provoke a car slip. Therefore, if possible, the driver should try to gradually reduce the speed.

If you have to drive on the road covered with snow, you should also avoid sudden manoeuvres and assess the depth of the ruts. In some cases, the ruts can not only complicate overtaking, but also passing side by side with another car. In such cases, it is advisable to drive quietly behind the preceding vehicle until it can be safely overtaken.

The Road Administration notes that it is better to refrain from unnecessary travel when the traffic conditions are complicated. But if you need to travel, we advise you to find out information about the state of the roads and weather conditions, which is constantly updated and published on the website of the Road Administration www.eismoinfo.lt. Please also inform the operators of the Information Department of the Road Administration about slippery (unsafe) road sections by calling the telephone number 8 5 232 9600 or the short telephone number 1871.