While Singaporeans have always been fond of driving across the border for holidays, we sometimes get news about road mishaps involving Singapore-registered cars. Here are some tips to ensure a safe road trip:

Make it a point to check your vehicle before the trip so that you have time to get problems fixed. The money spent is well worth the peace of mind, knowing that your car is in tip-top condition.

Long-distance driving can easily lead to driver fatigue. Get a good night's sleep before setting off. As a general rule, plan a stop every two hours during your journey, or once you feel tired. Rotate drivers if you can.

On the North-South Highway, rest stops with basic facilities are located every 25 to 50 km along the expressway. Rest and Service Areas, which are larger and have more amenities, are located every 80 to 100 kilometres.

Avoid night driving as far as possible. Reduced visibility and drowsiness combined with blinding bright headlights are common night driving problems. Safety tip: Use the lights of oncoming vehicles and the vehicles ahead of you as valuable clues to the layout of the road, like curves and bends ahead.

Do some research on Malaysian driving conditions. Get clued-up about the local safety signs, signals and speed limits before embarking on your holiday as most are written in Malay.

In Malaysia, many drivers communicate using their cars. When overtaking a slow vehicle, don’t flash your high beam as the locals may not understand your intention and think you are being antagonistic. Switch on your right indicator instead.

Try to find out in advance if there is any unusual terrain along the route that you are taking. Uneven surfaces and potholes are common on Malaysian trunk roads. Don’t be distracted by the scenery. Obtain a reliable, updated map and plan your route in advance.

Malaysia experiences frequent torrential tropical thunderstorms which present a driving challenge. In a downpour, always turn on your headlights and windshield wipers. Reduce speed to give yourself more time to react to hazards. Let your speed drop gradually. Keep a lookout for falling tree branches, landslides and big sprays of water from puddles.

The North-South Highway is frequently exposed to crosswinds. Warning signs in the form of wind-socks are usually found at places prone to strong crosswinds. If there are no wind-socks, check how violently the trees are swaying for a good indication of the strength of the wind.

Don’t do anything that will frustrate other road users or cause them to react adversely.
If you encounter bad motorists, stay calm and don’t overeact.