Tips from Ford Motor Company for a safe and polite drive this Easter

• Enjoy travelling without tension, with simple car courtesies and safe driving practices for driver and passengers alike.
• Have a no-stress holiday, as Ford Motor Company offers you travelling advice for a fun and safe driving experience.
• Ford has valuable advice to ensure you reach your destination safely and in good spirits this Easter.

LAGOS, Nigeria, March 2015 – Nigerians love to travel home for the holidays. Family is what is valued most. Whether you are driving to Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Jos, Port Harcourt, Kano  or Benin City, in-car bickering is not what you should be hearing when you are on the road – it only spoils your trip, and wreaks havoc on relationships. Whether stuck in traffic or riding for hours Easter travels can potentially turn family fun into a family feud.

To help ease the stress this Easter, Ford Motor Company is offering some good travelling advice for a fun and safe driving experience. Some simple car courtesies and safe driving practices can make travel more enjoyable for both the driver and the passengers. From polite passenger etiquette to considerate use of new vehicle technologies, these easy tips will have families road-tripping happily this season.

Travel Etiquette and Safety Tips:

Visit a Quick Lane. Lagos residents can visit the Yaba Quick Lane before starting their Easter journeys around Nigeria. It provides quick vehicle maintenance and light repairs. If you are not a resident of Lagos, visit the Quick Lane as a stop during or at the end of your journey. You do not have to drive a Ford vehicle to benefit from this service. Ford and Coscharis Motors will open more Quick Lanes around Nigeria in 2016.

Chivalry’s not dead. It just looks different nowadays. Holding the door open for someone will never go out of style, but with automated keyless entry and remote ignition, modern protocol can prove puzzling.

Let the grand tour begin. Your passengers may not be all that familiar with your ride. Put them at ease. Just like you would show a guest at your home where the bathroom is, let passengers know about the controls they have for entertainment systems, seats and windows. Identify power sources for phones and electronics, like the smart-charging USB ports in the rear of the vehicle. Make sure all of your passengers have what they need before your trip begins.

Contentment beats boredom. When stuck in heavy holiday traffic, a little preparation can go a long way. Before hopping behind the wheel, curate your upcoming road trip with sing-alongs, podcasts and audiobooks you can even upload some online classes. Build a playlist. With in-car entertainment and communication systems like Ford SYNC® it’s easier than ever to bring a world of content along for the ride.

If the driver is host, the passenger is the guest. Don’t forget to thank the driver for bearing the stress of high-pressure holiday driving, lighten the load by taking on some responsibilities of your own. Offer to help pay for fuel, fetch snacks and drinks, and pack the car. Also consider bringing some treats or a gift.

Traveling with family. Avoid the stress of the incessant “are we there yet?” conversations by building an itinerary and communicating your plans. Talk about stops for food and restroom breaks so everyone knows what to expect. Kids can follow along, track progress, and anticipate their favourite spots – even figure out arrival times on their own.

Don’t play the passive passenger. If you’re lucky enough to be sitting in the front passenger seat on a long journey, assist your driver through helpful communication. Be sure to stay alert and keep an eye out for road signs (do try to refrain from tweeting too often or refreshing your Instagram feed every five seconds.). Above all, avoid all comments on how your chauffeur is driving – no one likes a back seat driver, especially when road conditions turn stressful!

Control distractions. We all want to hear our favourite karaoke number on a long road trip, but a distracted driver is a safety hazard. As a polite passenger, defer to your chauffeur and offer to play DJ or navigate the control screen to make their job easier. If the kids in the back have their own entertainment setup, make sure they keep “The Wheels on the Bus” at a noise level that doesn’t distract the driver.

Be kind, respect the lines. We all know not to fight over precious parking spaces, but it goes further than that. In a crowded parking lot at Easter time, no one likes the Grinch who straddles two spots. Selfish behaviour is never in style, but careless parking is especially frowned upon during in holiday times when parking bays are needed more than usual. Show respect to other drivers by staying between the lines – and if you’re not a master manipulator in reverse, no one has to know! Let advanced, semi-automated technologies like Active Park assist help you squeeze in and out of that tight spot.

Do not speed. Do not drink and drive. According to the most recent statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 30% of road accidents are caused by drunk driving and speeding. The World Health Organisation’s 2015 Global Status Report on Road Safety also reports that Nigeria accounts for the highest fatalities with 33.7 percent per 100 000 of the population every year on road traffic deaths in selected African countries. This means it has the second worst traffic fatalities in the world.

Be safe this holiday season!