Simple solutions for smoother journeys

Reducing congestion and improving safety on our roads are big challenges, especially in our cities. While they require some equally big solutions, not every change needs to be complicated. Here are five simple tips to make your drive less stressful, help ease congestion, and keep people safe.?

Use your indicators??

Signalling for at least three seconds before you turn or change lanes lets everyone around you know what you’re planning. It gives others more time to give you some space, whereas a quick flick as you move doesn’t give them that opportunity and can result in reactions like heavy braking that add to congestion. Good signalling makes driving less stressful for everyone.

Merge like a zip

When people merge like a zip, traffic moves much more efficiently. Merging at random creates multiple entry points—that means more people needing to brake which adds to congestion and results in longer journeys for everyone. If you’re merging, get up to the right traffic speed, align yourself with a gap between others vehicles, and merge with them towards the end of the lane. If you’re in a lane that people are merging into, leave room for them. It’s not a race and you don’t lose anything by letting someone merge in front of you.

Watch your following distance?

Tailgating puts people at risk of crashing and serious harm, yet people still do it because they think it’ll means a quicker journey. Actually, it doesn’t—it makes everyone’s journeys longer. When someone follows a vehicle too closely, they end up braking more often. That can cause a ripple effect of braking among the people following them, which slows everyone down. Leave a two-second gap between you and the person ahead of you, or a four-second gap in poor conditions—it’s safer, less stressful, and helps keep traffic flowing.

Turn your lights on?

You already need to have your lights on in the hours of darkness, so popping them on whenever you’re driving is a great habit to get into. If visibility is poor, your headlights helps you see and helps others see you. When you’re concentrating hard in poor conditions, being able to spot others through spray or dim light makes a huge difference in reducing the chance of crashes, and ensures a less stressful drive for everyone.

Be courteous and considerate?

Being a courteous and considerate driver doesn’t just extend to your behaviour behind the wheel. How about sharing your commute with someone else? Every day a huge number of people hit the roads alone in their vehicle, which takes up a lot of road space. Whiles buses and trains are excellent congestion busters, public transport isn’t always an option for some people. Adding a passenger or two on your daily commute helps ease congestion, reduce emissions, and offers some good company on your journey!?

Check our website for the latest road conditions: journeys.nzta.govt.nz