Indian cricket team’s wicketkeeper and batsman Rishabh Pant recently narrowly escaped a horrific accident. CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts revealed the magnitude of the accident. Luckily for the cricketer, he was traveling in one of the safest cars globally – a Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe that costs over Rs 1.5 crore. The car is loaded with safety features like 9 airbags along with other technology which helps it avoid a fatal accident. The incident happened barely three months after former Tata group chairman and businessman Cyrus Mistry lost his life in another Mercedes-Benz vehicle. Both cars collided with the divider, resulting in a fatality in one accident, and a nearly fatality in the other.
While many blamed German carmaker Mercedes-Benz for Mistry’s death, initial reports said he was not wearing a seat belt. In fact, both the people sitting in the front row came out of the accident unhurt, which proves the safety net of the vehicle. If the cars were safe in both the cases, then why are we seeing so many accidents? Both the car accidents took place on the highway when the vehicles were moving at high speed. Driving on the highway is not as easy as it looks and has its own set of challenges. Here is a look at the factors that can reduce the risk of an accident when traveling by car on a highway:
sleep well before driving
When one sets out on a cross country trip, it is common practice to hit the highway at six in the morning. It’s like catching an early morning flight where you can’t sleep the previous night and end up dozing off as soon as the plane takes off. It’s not a good idea to get up at 4 in the morning, especially when you’re driving. A better option would be to start around 8 or 9 in the morning after a good night’s sleep.
take regular breaks
After every 200 km, take rest at a dhaba along the way. Eat something light. A few winks in the car will do wonders before resuming your journey. Our brain is not designed to be alert for five hours at a stretch. Try sitting in a chair at home for more than an hour and you’ll know! Get out of the car and stretch your legs every now and then. I always keep reminding myself that this is not a Grand Prix where I have to clear laps and stay ahead of the pack.
drive slow
Time is at my disposal and safety is prioritized above everything else. If you are driving a high end car like BMW/Mercedes, you must understand that Indian roads are not ‘autobahns’ to drive 130 kms. There is no light on the divider at many places. You should make your adjustments and drive as per the recommendations of NHAI.