Being the designated driver for a group of young people on a night out on the town is a pretty big responsibility. You have to keep everyone safe as you pick them up and drive to your destination. If you’re getting a minibus hire Auckland for a night out, make sure that, as the designated driver, you keep these safety tips in mind.
Be A Responsible Driver
Even though the designated driver doesn’t drink when you and your friends go out, you can still have fun. You can enjoy the music, dance, and have a good time. However, when you’re behind the wheel of a minibus hire, you need to be responsible. While your friends are having fun in the back of the minibus, you need to concentrate and stay focused. Make sure that everyone has their seatbelt on and encourage your friends to be considerate and behave appropriately while you’re driving.
Make Sure That You’re Familiar With The Minibus
Driving a minibus is not easy, especially if you haven’t driven one before. However, it’s easy to become familiar with the vehicle, as long as you take the time to do it before you head out to your destination. Familiarise yourself with the minibus’s features, and drive it around the block a few times before everyone arrives to go to the party. You don’t want the first time that you drive the car to be when it’s full of excited people who are ready to cut loose.
Be Extra Cautious In Wet Weather
Driving in wet weather is tricky in any vehicle, which is why you need to be extra careful when you’re driving a minibus hire. The rain might not put a dampener on your night out, but it can have everything come to a crashing halt if you have an accident. Drive at a slower speed so that you can control the vehicle if the tyres slide on the wet road. Avoid braking heavily, and leave a larger gap in between your minibus and the car in front of you so that you have more time to brake safely when coming to a stop.
Leave Extra Space In Front Of You On An Incline
Not everyone can control their vehicle from rolling when they stop on an incline, which is why you should again leave a bigger space between the car in front of you and your minibus hire. The car in front might roll back when they start to drive again, and you want to avoid the most minor of accidents in a minibus rental – even a small “bumper bashing.”
When you stop on a road with a steep incline, it’s important to remember that a minibus full of people is much heavier than the average vehicle, and can also roll back from the added weight. For this reason, to protect the minibus and the car behind you, always engage the handbrake when you stop.
Give Trucks More Space To Turn
When you get a minibus hire, almost all of your focus will be on driving it safely, avoiding a speeding fine or getting into a collision. However, you also need to remember the other vehicles around you. For example, trucks need an extra-wide berth when turning corners, which means that if you get too close, they could damage your minibus. To be cautious, give other vehicles around you enough space, especially trucks. Be a courteous driver, and make sure to indicate when you’re changing lanes or turning.
Be Aware Of Cyclists And Bikers
Although people seem to hate cyclists and people on motorbikes when they’re on the road, it’s much more nerve-wracking for them. The way they ride might frustrate you, but it’s typically for their safety, and your awareness. For example, when you’re driving, and you see a cyclist come right up behind you or to the side of your vehicle, they’re not trying to annoy or disturb you – they’re making sure that they’re not in your blind spot so that you can see them! Driving in a minibus means that your blind spot is even more challenging to see, so make sure to be aware of your surroundings while you’re on the road.
Being a designated driver on a night out with friends is an important responsibility that needs to be taken seriously. If you’re also driving a minibus hire to accommodate your group of friends, you need to be extra cautious when driving on Auckland roads. Keep these tips in mind so that you and your friends can arrive at your destination safely.
