Driving safety
Your personal safety is very important to Arval. It is our task to make sure your car is in optimum shape so that it is safe for you to take to the road. However, as a driver you also play an important role in this area. Arval recommends that you observe the following tips, to ensure that you have a safe journey and that the chances of a collision – with possible bodily injury as a result – are kept to a minimum.
Regularly check your tyre pressure
If your tyres are under-inflated, your car has less grip on the road. This results in an extended brake path and increased risk of skidding. Therefore, you should check your tyre pressure at least once a month. Furthermore, you save considerably on fuel if your car’s tyres have the correct pressure.
Plan your itinerary
Determining your itinerary before you leave will prevent you from having to focus your attention on finding the right route. This means you will pay more attention to the traffic around you and you won’t have to make any unforeseen manoeuvres.
Avoid telephone conversations in your car
Nowadays, many cars are fitted with a car kit. However, making hands-free calls is not without its dangers either. When you talk on the phone you have less attention for the traffic around you. You should preferably have your telephone conversations at home or at work.
Keep enough distance
Maintain a safe following distance to the vehicle in front of you. This allows you to respond quickly to the manoeuvres of the car in front of you – when it suddenly brakes, for instance. For the correct following distance, stick to the two-second rule.
Adjust your driving style to the weather conditions
In the event of mist, heavy rain or other conditions that lead to minimal visibility, be sure to reduce your speed and double your following distance to the vehicle in front of you. Do not brake abruptly, but gradually reduce your speed. Keep to the right as much as possible. In the event of an emergency you can move onto the hard shoulder or the verge.
Keep an eye on special signage
Signs located above or along the side of the road can call your attention to extraordinary conditions. Examples include a short slip road, the possibility to filter in turn or a local change to the speed limit. If you see such a sign, immediately anticipate the revised traffic situation.
Don’t put any loose items on the rear shelf
Many drivers use the rear shelf as a storage area for various items – an umbrella, an A-to-Z or a bottle of soft drink. If there is a collision or the driver needs to break suddenly, these seemingly harmless items can be propelled with such force that they can cause serious injuries.
Always wear your safety belt
It may seem obvious that you need to wear a safety belt. However, a large number of drivers indicate that they regularly drive without a safety belt. Wearing a safety belt ensures that you stay in your chair in the event of a collision and limits the risk of your becoming injured.
Make sure that you have an emergency hammer on board
Most cars have electronically operated windows. These often jam if the car ends up in the water. This is why Arval recommends that you fit your vehicle with an emergency hammer. In emergencies, you can use this hammer to break the window and safely escape from your vehicle.