Honda Helpful Hints: Prepare yourself for long distance driving

Summer seems incomplete without hitting the beach! Be it the white sand beaches in Pagudpud or wakeboarding in Camarines Sur, whichever adventure you prefer, be sure to prepare your vehicle for a long drive. Honda Cars Philippines gives you some helpful tips in getting ready for your fun-filled, long distance journeys.

Driver’s preparation

One must be physically healthy and mentally alert. Stamina, concentration and decisiveness are also required. Before rolling down the road on a long trip, check out the following list to see whether you are really up to the mark.

• Did you have a restful night prior to the trip – that is, at least six hours of sound sleep, and wake up without a trace of fatigue? Make sure you did not take any medication that might cause drowsiness later on. Strictly avoid taking tranquilizers.
• You should feel fresh, and not too hungry or too full. Persons suffering from epilepsy or intestinal disorders should resign themselves to passenger seats. Extremely shortsighted driver should also do likewise. Are you mentally alert? Let others drive if you are drunk or still struggling against hangover. Also, do not drive if you are in an angry or depressed mood, deeply worried about certain things, or perhaps want to reach your destination in a rush.
• Your attire must be sufficiently comfortable. Ladies should avoid wearing high-heels while driving. Shoes with good ventilation are recommended.
• Avoid clothes that are too tight. Pants are probably best for ladies.
• Take along sunglasses that are not too dark, just in case you have to drive through an extremely bright period of the day.

Prepare your car

Take a close look at the following items:

• Under the hood: Check the radiator coolant in the reserve tank, engine oil level, as well as the brake and clutch oil. Make sure that they are at the proper level.
• Outside: Check air pressure of all tires, including spare tire. Follow the tire information label on the driver’s doorrjam. Also check if all lights and horn are in order.
• Arrange the luggage, if any, in an orderly fashion. Those that are moveable while the car is in motion should be secured firmly in place.
• Too much weight could cause serious damage as a result, for instance:

  Damage to the car – the engine has to work harder, thus requiring more fuel and most probably will wear out sooner. The car’s suspension system will also yield sooner as well;

  Car handling – it will take longer distance and more time to bring the car to a complete stop. Its stability will also be adversely affected. If the loads are in the back, the car’s front will lift up and at night throw its headlight beams at cars passing in the opposite direction, which could be fatal. Besides, a car in this condition is difficult to control. It can only move slowly uphill, while its speed downhill can be dangerously too fast.

To feel more confident, we recommend that you take the car to Honda Cars Batangas and ask for a thorough long distance check-up. Have a very pleasant long distance trip.