Toll road is a favorite road chosen by drivers for traveling long distance. It connects not only inner city and between city but also connecting provinces, especially in Java island. Driving car on toll road cuts long time traveling from one city to another city. No doubt the road is useful for users, but driving on highway in Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia is not as easy as people might think. Driving safely on it need experiences, good skills, and proper knowledge. Here are some essential tips for drivers to drive good on toll road.
1. Carry Your Driving Licence and STNK
STNK is vehicle registration certificate. You must bring this wherever you go with the car.
2. Bring A Toll Card (e-toll card) with Enough Balance
Most toll gates in Java island only receive payment using a toll card. This special card is called e-toll card. E-toll cards are issued by BCA bank (Flazz), Mandiri bank (e-Money), BRI bank (Brizzi), Indomaret, etc. Make sure you have enough balance before entering toll gate. Do a small research about the costs for tolls you will use and top up your e-toll card up more than you need at ATM or convenient stores.
3. Your Car and Your Condition Must be Fit
Make sure everything is working good, especially these parts: brake, battery, signs, lamps for driving at night, radiator coolant, tires, and electrical components.
Plan the trip and take a good rest before the trip. You must see and hear clearly. To increase your overall health, doing physical exercise regularly is very recommended. Physical exercise could include running, walking fastly, biking, swimming, or other exercise.
4. Pray Before Start
Do your best but don’t forget to pray, ask God to give you a safety journey.
5. Pay Attention to Road Lane Markings
Lane markings help driver to stay safely on current lane. Broken white line means you are allowed to cross this mark if you want to move to the other lane which is empty or want to overtake another vehicle in front of you. But it must be careful if the road is two-way.
Solid white line means you must stay within your lane. It is also used for marking the emergency lane and shoulder lane.
6. Do Not Throw Anything to the Highway
Scattered garbage is dangerous on highway. It can interfere driver’s concentration and trigger an accident.
Provide a trash can in the car. If you don’t have one, you can use any plastic bag to save garbage. After arriving at your destination or while resting in the rest area, then throw it in the bin provided.
7. Keep the Safe Distance
If you can keep the safe following distance, your chance of a collision with the vehicle in front of you is being smaller. Ideally stay at least 3 seconds behind any vehicle that is directly in front of you. When visibility is low such as rain, dark, or foggy, you should double the safe distance.
8. Check Rearview Mirror Periodically
Why you must check it? Because you must keep aware of anything going around you. If there is ambulance want to pass you, you can let it go first. If there is another risky vehicle near you, move away from it is better.
9. Don’t Use Hazard Light in the Rain
Do not use hazard lights, both during rain and in the tunnel because other vehicles will have difficulty detecting the direction of your car. Turn on your vehicle head lamp is enough.
10. Let the Tailgater to Pass You
What is a tailgater? Tailgater is another car/driver follows you, very close behind you without safety distance. It’s very annoying and disturb you, right? It is also risky. But don’t be panic and don’t brake your car. If you brake your car, the car behind will slam into your car. You need to be calm, and see the left lane. If the left lane is empty, give signal to pull over and let the tailgater pass you.