DRIVE HOME SAFELY

New generation cars are teamed with innovative and advanced technology to include wider options on safety. The key factors contributing to the increasing number of fatalities on roads are high speed, overtaking and alcoholism. The best way to add more number of years to life is to follow the traffic rules, road regulations and safe driving tips. The increasing number of vehicles in the country has catapulted the importance of safety. While we can’t do much about the circumstances we all are in, here are a few tips to keep you safe on road:

• Always follow lane while driving and avoid jumping lanes.
• Always stay within the speed limits.
• Look for road signs and give due importance to them.
• Don’t honk unnecessarily as it causes noise pollution.
• While pulling out a parked car, always look for other vehicles in the rear view mirror and then move forward slowly.
• Use indicators while turning the vehicle left or right and put the indicators on at least 30 meters before turning the way you want.
• Be extra careful while reversing and look for pedestrians and other obstacles.
• Overtake when it’s absolutely necessary and keep optimum distance from the vehicle which you are trying to overtake.
• Don’t speed past a bus which has just stopped to disembark passengers as people trying to cross the road will be blinded due to the stationary vehicle.
• Always park your car in a zone allotted for it.
• Don’t park at the corners of roads and always keep optimum distance from another car.
• Avoid speeding and leave for your destination a little early to avoid over speeding during the journey.
• Don’t stop abruptly. Slow down before stopping to give enough warning to the vehicles behind you.
• Drive slowly during the rainy season, brake repeatedly after you have come out of water logged patch.
• While driving at night make sure that all lights (head and tail) are working. Make sure to drive at night with the headlight in low beam to avoid bedazzling drivers of vehicles coming from the opposite direction.
• While driving on the highways make sure you maintain proper distances from heavy vehicles as they might not be able to stop at a short notice.
• Take adequate rest while going for long drives to prevent fatigue and exhaustion.

If these points are kept in mind when you taking your car out, chances are there that you will reach home safe and sound to be with your loved ones.

Fuel Saving Tips

• Ensure that Tyre pressures are maintained as per manufacturer specifications. Over or under inflated tyres would mean better mileage or better handling respectively but will drastically reduce the Tyre life.
• Adjust Tyre pressure when the Tyre is hot, i.e when the vehicle has run for 15 to 20 km. Hot air expands if Tyre pressure is regulated, when cold you will mostly have excess air in the tyres.
  
• Try to fill fuel in the mornings, as specific gravity of fuel is high in the morning.
  
• Try to keep the fuel tank above the half mark in city driving conditions so that a proper pressure is maintained. Also this will ensure that the fuel lines are always clean and are not clogged by the gum like residue of slow flowing fuel. The Fuel tank too will not catch rust.
• Get the vehicle serviced at regular intervals from authorized service centers to ensure that the vehicle is in proper tune at all times.
  
• Use recommended fuel additives to keep the fuel system clean. (Please note these additives have recommended instructions and applications.)
• Higher octane fuels as X-tra Premium (91 octane), Speed 93 and Power 93 (both 93 octane) are recommended for cars with engines having higher compression ratios, viz., C segment and above. This results in improved mileage as well as enhanced performance. No additives need be used with these fuels.
  
• Drive your vehicle smoothly and avoid sudden acceleration or braking. Anticipate stops to avoid harsh braking.
• Try shifting to higher gears at lower speeds, especially in city driving to get the maximum mileage out of your car. Ideally, one should be in 5th gear or the highest possible gear at speeds above 50-60 km/h.
• Switch off your vehicle if you need to stop for more than three minutes.
  
• Avoid clutch riding i.e. make sure that your foot is not resting on the clutch pedal while driving. Clutch driving will reduce clutch life and mileage.
  
• While cruising at high speeds, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal just enough to maintain the speed while not keeping the accelerator pedal on the floor. This will ensure that excess fuel is not being burnt unnecessarily.