Ford
Motor Company has offered Nigerians heading for Easter holidays some safety
tips as the season gains momentum, especially in the south-eastern Nigeria,
reports ITRealms.
According
to officials of Ford, Nigerians love to travel home for the holidays, noting
that family is what is valued most. Whether you are driving to Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna,
Jos, Port Harcourt, Kano or Benin City, in-car bickering is not what you should
be hearing when you are on the road.
“It
only spoils your trip, and wreaks havoc on relationships. Whether stuck in
traffic or riding for hours Easter travels can potentially turn family fun into
a family feud,” they cautioned
In
order to help ease the stress this Easter, ITRealms reports that Ford Motor
Company has offered some good travelling advice for a fun and safe driving
experience.
This
is in addition to some simple car courtesies and safe driving practices which
could make travel more enjoyable for both the driver and the passengers;
comprising polite passenger etiquette to considerate use of new vehicle
technologies.
Travel
Etiquette and Safety Tips:
Visit
a Quick Lane.
Lagos residents can visit the Yaba Quick Lane before starting their Easter
journeys around Nigeria. It provides quick vehicle maintenance and light
repairs. If you are not a resident of Lagos, visit the Quick Lane as a stop
during or at the end of your journey. You do not have to drive a Ford vehicle
to benefit from this service. Ford and Coscharis Motors will open more Quick
Lanes around Nigeria in 2016.
Chivalry’s
not dead.
It just looks
different nowadays. Holding the door open for someone will never go out of
style, but with automated keyless entry and remote ignition, modern protocol
can prove puzzling.
Let
the grand tour begin.
Your passengers may not be all that familiar with your ride. Put them at ease.
Just like you would show a guest at your home where the bathroom is, let
passengers know about the controls they have for entertainment systems, seats
and windows. Identify power sources for phones and electronics, like the
smart-charging Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports in the rear of the vehicle. Make sure all of your
passengers have what they need before your trip begins.
Contentment
beats boredom.
When stuck in heavy holiday traffic, a little preparation can go a long way.
Before hopping behind the wheel, curate your upcoming road trip with
sing-alongs, podcasts and audiobooks you can even upload some online classes.
Build a playlist. With in-car entertainment and communication systems like Ford
SYNC® it’s easier than ever to bring a world
of content along for the ride.
If
the driver is host, the passenger is the guest. Don’t forget to thank the driver for
bearing the stress of high-pressure holiday driving, lighten the load by taking
on some responsibilities of your own. Offer to help pay for fuel, fetch snacks
and drinks, and pack the car. Also consider bringing some treats or a gift.
Traveling
with family.
Avoid the stress of the incessant “are we there yet?” conversations by building
an itinerary and communicating your plans. Talk about stops for food and
restroom breaks so everyone knows what to expect. Kids can follow along, track
progress, and anticipate their favourite spots – even figure out arrival times
on their own.
Don’t
play the passive passenger.
If you’re lucky enough to be sitting in the front passenger seat on a long
journey, assist your driver through helpful communication. Be sure to stay
alert and keep an eye out for road signs (do try to refrain from tweeting too
often or refreshing your Instagram feed every five seconds.). Above all, avoid
all comments on how your chauffeur is driving – no one likes a back seat
driver, especially when road conditions turn stressful!
Control
distractions.
We all want to hear our favourite karaoke number on a long road trip, but a
distracted driver is a safety hazard. As a polite passenger, defer to your
chauffeur and offer to play DJ or navigate the control screen to make their job
easier. If the kids in the back have their own entertainment setup, make sure
they keep “The Wheels on the Bus” at a noise level that doesn’t distract the
driver.
Be
kind, respect the lines.
We all know not to fight over precious parking spaces, but it goes further than
that. In a crowded parking lot at Easter time, no one likes the Grinch who
straddles two spots. Selfish behaviour is never in style, but careless parking
is especially frowned upon during in holiday times when parking bays are needed
more than usual. Show respect to other drivers by staying between the lines –
and if you’re not a master manipulator in reverse, no one has to know! Let
advanced, semi-automated technologies like Active Park assist help you squeeze
in and out of that tight spot.
Do
not speed. Do not drink and drive. According to the most recent statistics from the
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 30 per cent of road accidents are caused by
drunk driving and speeding. The World Health Organisation’s 2015 Global Status
Report on Road Safety also reports that Nigeria accounts for the highest
fatalities with 33.7 percent per 100 000 of the population every year on road
traffic deaths in selected African countries. This means it has the second
worst traffic fatalities in the world.
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