Road trips are a Kiwi summer tradition – taking the friends or family to the beach or the lake to get away from it and bask in the warm weather. But it’s also a time when our road toll reaches its peak, as more of us take to the road and try to cover long distances in a single day.

When you drive in New Zealand, you may also encounter some unusual driving hazards. Escaped livestock, horse riders, unexpected weather events and roadslips can all take you by surprise when you’re navigating our backroads.

That’s why it’s important to take every road trip seriously. That means getting yourself and your car ready to go, and then driving defensively and safely to your destination – with plenty of breaks along the way.

Before you leave

• Start by making sure you know where you’re going and what route you’ll take. Have a strategy for where you’ll stop for a snack or to stretch your legs – rest breaks are essential for staying focused when you’re driving all day.
• Make sure you have enough fuel before you leave, and you plan out where you’ll refuel enroute. If you’re driving a battery electric vehicle, where will you recharge? Waka Kotahi has a trip planner to help EV owners find and plan around the national charging network.
• Is your car safe to set off? Check your tyres, your lights, indicators, windscreen and wipers are all in good condition. You’ll need a current Warrant of Fitness and registration.
• Have you checked the weather report? If the forecast is for bad weather, you’ll need to leave yourself more time for your journey.
• Grab your sunglasses. Glare can be a problem, and sunglasses can help. Having a clean windscreen also helps because a dirty windscreen will often amplify glare.
• Remove distractions. Anything that takes even a fraction of your attention away from driving could be a problem. Tell your passenger it’s their job to be the DJ, put your phone somewhere out of reach, and make sure the kids have each packed some toys or games to entertain themselves.

On the road

• Be patient; it’s better to arrive late than have an accident. Your holiday has already started, so make the most of it! Don’t be in a hurry to reach your destination, take your time and drive carefully.
• Drive to the conditions – that means adjusting for the weather, the road condition, the light and the traffic. Remember that the speed limits apply to dry roads with not too much traffic. Increase your following distance and reduce your speed whenever conditions are less than ideal.
• Pay attention to what’s happening around you. Check your mirrors and watch the action unfolding further up the road. By keeping your eyes moving, you can avoid all the surprises that pop up on our summer roads, whether that’s bad driving, kids on bikes, horse riders or escaped sheep.
• Nose-to-tail collisions are the most common type of car accident. That means the car you’re most likely to hit is the one in front of you, so always maintain a safe following distance. Use the old ‘two second rule’: when the car in front of you passes a fixed point, it should be at least two seconds before you pass the same point.
• Take regular breaks to stay alert. If you feel drowsy, pull over at the next rest stop and take a nap.
• If the kids are distracting you, pull over to talk to them or hand them a different toy. Don’t try to sort them out while you’re driving.
• It should go without saying that you should always drive sober and wear your seatbelt. However, alcohol, drugs, and failing to wear a seatbelt are still factors in many crashes. For instance, between 2017 and 2019, alcohol and drugs were a factor in four out of 10 fatal crashes. And our research has found that despite having high national rates of seatbelt wearing, non-seat belt fatalities accounted for 19 - 30% of overall motor vehicle occupant road deaths between 2006 and 2016.

Once you do reach your holiday destination, rest up before heading off on another drive. Have a fantastic summer holiday and keep yourself safe on the roads throughout the festive period.

Looking to brush up on your driving skills this summer?

Whether you’ve just started driving or you’re hoping to sharpen your skills, AA can provide the training you need. AA is New Zealand’s leading driving school, and our professional coaches offer lessons for learners, defensive driving, and senior drivers’ courses for those aged 65+ and 75+. You can find out more here.