Driving On An Expressway? Here Are Some Tips You Must Follow

The Indian road infrastructure has been improving a lot in the past few years and this includes new, world class expressways. For example, the Delhi - Meerut expressway or the upcoming Mumbai - Nagpur stretch. These expressway not only help a lot in cutting down on travel time, they also help save fuel and reduce the chances of accidents. Here are a few tips that you can follow that will further enhance your experience while driving down an expressway in India.

Stick to the middle lane

Most expressways in India have three or four lanes. While the right most lane is reserved for overtaking, the left one is for slower moving commercial traffic. For most of us, it is the middle lane that is of importance. Ensure that you stick to this lane at a comfortable speed. As we understand, on most expressways, you will be able to hold an easy 90-100 km/h while being in this (middle) lane in a safe manner.

Use indicators

This practice is not only important and necessary during urban runs, but also needs to be followed on open roads. For example, if you need to overtake slower moving traffic, always give an indicator before moving into the right lane. Likewise, once the overtaking manoeuvre is done, use the left indicator before coming back into the lane. This should be an idle practice and should be followed even if no other traffic is around.

Don't block others

Always plan your overtaking manoeuvre. If you see a (much) faster vehicle approaching in the right lane, hold your horses and don't initiate anything. It makes no sense to block other road users, even if they are fast and over the legal speed limit. Initiate the overtaking manoeuvre only when you know the right lane is completely empty and you will not be coming in the way of any other road user.

Cruise at ease

Most modern day cars come with this feature in the higher end version. While driving down an expressway, use this feature to let your right foot relax and let the system control irrespective of the elevation changes. Some cars like the MG Astor also come with adaptive cruise control which means your car will slow down incase any slower moving cars come in front of the radar. Once that car moves away or you change your lane, you will go back to the described speed. Cruise control is one of the many features that adds to the convenience factor during a long trip.

Correct pressure & fuel levels

Most modern day expressways go through secluded areas which means pit stops with fuel stops and puncture shops are far and rare. This is why you should ensure that the tyres are not only in good shape and health, but also have the correct pressure. You don't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a flat or a burst tyre, right? Likewise, always keep ample fuel in your vehicle so as not to get stranded on a fast moving road. There are expressway stretches in India that don't have a fuel stop for as long as 75-100km. Hence, always plan safe.

Don't get distracted

Some expressways in India can be boring and this is true for the ones in North India. For instance, the Meerut to Delhi or Delhi to Agra run is devoid of hills and any views around and this can make the driver lose concentration. Lot of drivers might also get tempted into reading a message or making a call, assuming that taking taking a second off the road will be safe. However, we strongly suggest that you never do so as safety can take a hit at any point of time.

Verdict

While the current breed of and upcoming expressways are surely a boon for long distance driving, one must understand the issues that need to be addressed. In the end, you should strive to be not only a safe driver but also a good road user for the benefit of others.