Vehicle checklist and guide for the CNY season

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The festive season is upon us once again, and the coming Chinese New Year period means that many are set to take to the roads for the journey home or to visit friends and relatives across the country.

Holidays are of course a source of joy, with plenty of revelry and merriment, but there’s the getting there bit to contend with. As always, there’s bound to be the usual congestion and frayed nerves – patience and sensibility goes a long way in getting through it all.

Honda CR-Z

As we get ready to usher in the Year of the Horse, here’s our vehicle checklist and guide for a smooth and fuss-free journey – the guide will be familiar to regular readers, no doubt, and hopefully invaluable to our newer ones!

Like in editions past, do feel free to chip in with any additional tips, suggestions and advice you may have – valuable info is always welcome!

BEFORE THE JOURNEY

1) Check your vehicle’s:

  • General running condition
  • Fluids – brake, battery, coolant, power steering, motor oil, gearbox and windscreen washer
  • Lights – including signal lamps and the third brake light
  • Gauges and instruments
  • Wipers – blades not split or worn
  • Handbrake
  • Tyre tread, correct tyre pressure
  • Fuel level (good idea to fill up before you set off)

2) Check that you have in your vehicle:

  • Spare wheel (inflated to correct pressure), jack, tyre repair kit and any other related equipment
  • Warning triangle
  • Jumper cable
  • First-aid kit

3) Pack any cabin supplies you might need – umbrella, tissues or napkins, pillows and blankets, food, water, GPS, mobile handsfree kit and charger ,and so on. Items in the boot should be safely secured so that they don’t move around as you drive.

4) Plan your journey – departure and estimated arrival times, alternative routes to avoid delays.

5) Ensure you have funds in your SmartTAG or Touch ‘n Go, and that your SmartTAG has a healthy battery.

6) Rest well beforehand.

 

DURING THE JOURNEY

1) Drive patiently and responsibly – remember, you have your family with you. Maintain a safe distance from the car in front – remember, your car will be loaded, so you’ll need a greater stopping distance – and indicate before changing lane.

Keep left if not overtaking and stay within the national speed limit. Turn your headlamps on in rain or fog to improve yours as well as others’ visibility.

Only in cases of emergency should you stop your vehicle on the emergency lane. Be courteous to pedestrians as well as other motorists, and always obey the rules of the road.

2) Take breaks every two hours or so to recharge. It’s a good idea to share the driving if you aren’t the only one in the group who can drive.

3) To stay alert and awake on the move, chew on snacks, listen to music or chat with your fellow passengers.

 

IN CASE OF A BREAKDOWN/EMERGENCY

1) Get your vehicle off the road if possible and activate hazard lights. It’s best to exit the highway and find a safer place to stop if you can, rather than stopping on the emergency lane.

2) Stop as far to the left as possible and turn wheels to the left. Exit the vehicle (your passengers too) and call for help. Attempting repairs on your own can be dangerous, especially on the highway, so it’s best to wait for help.

3) Keep well clear of oncoming traffic and do not stand anywhere close to your vehicle. Make sure your passengers do the same.

Lastly, all of us at paultan.org would like to take this opportunity to wish our Chinese readers Gong Xi Fa Cai and for everyone else, happy holidays! Wherever you’re heading, we wish you a safe and comfortable drive to your destination and a 2014 filled with health and wealth ahead!

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • sebelum memulakan perjalanan kita hendaklah tekan minyak sampai abis selama 10 minit kemudian lepas…tgk bar minyak ada kurang x klu kurang oky, klu x makna kereta perlu servis..hahaha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 26
  • Krell on Jan 29, 2014 at 7:52 am

    Happy CNY to staff members of Paultan ! Drive safely for all.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 0
  • nobody on Jan 29, 2014 at 9:23 am

    Happy CNY and happy holiday to all Paultan crews

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • rubbernmetal on Jan 29, 2014 at 9:23 am

    I hope everyone travelling for the next few days will bear in mind their role, as drivers, affecting the safety of other travellers from their actions.

    Please drive safe and share the road, so we all reach our destinations in one piece. Happy holidays everyone! Safe travels!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Thanks for the great tips, Anthony. May I know why must turn wheels to the left ?

    2) Stop as far to the left as possible and turn wheels to the left.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • junbecks on Jan 29, 2014 at 9:58 am

      I’m not Anthony. But i”m guessing if something hits your car from behind, at least the car would move to the left thanks to the direction of the wheels. Better than moving to the right.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Most importantly don’t drive like a douchebag and overtake people at 500kph. Leave early or don’t leave at all.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • das auto on Jan 29, 2014 at 3:53 pm

      Also pls don’t hog the road and drive at 15kmh on the right lane. No stopping your cars anywhere you like. Toyota and myvi drivers please take note of that you guys are always guilty of that.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 3
  • farizY on Jan 29, 2014 at 10:10 am

    Happy Chinese New Year!

    One important thing forgot to mention, make full use of the rear view and side view mirrors and also check your blind spots after giving the turn signal to make sure it is safe to change lane, etc.
    Yes, the bane of Malaysian drivers, using the mirrors and using the turn signals.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • niaulong on Jan 29, 2014 at 10:30 am

    Happy Chinese New Year to u all.

    Drive back kampung safely.

    Huat ah~

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Zapruder on Jan 29, 2014 at 10:32 am

    Happy Chinese new year for all my Chinese friends.
    Drive safely and enjoy your holiday. Gong Xi Gong Xi. :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • azizi on Jan 29, 2014 at 11:26 am

    one more. Please use signal whenever change lane or way. Dont skip queue. Be patient. Typical malaysian driver love to skip queues.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • sudonano on Jan 29, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    1.Oh and don’t use your hazards in the rain. if equipped use the rear foglight instead.

    2.Update your GPS from your GPS manufacturers website.

    3.Bring back the mandarin oranges (very important!) :P

    Happy CNY! Drive safe!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Denaihati on Jan 29, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Happy Chinese New Year to paultan team and reader. must check our vehicle thoroughly before driving, especially for a long trip.
    pandu cermat jiwa selamat.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • DKBOSS on Jan 29, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    Gong Xi Fa Cai to Paul Tan, crew and all readers celebrating. Please drive home safely those balik kampong and be safe always on the road :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • WHat a boring CNY!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!

    Remember before driving long journey, have enough rest / sleep the day before!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Archangel on Feb 04, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    Happy Chinese New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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