Pro Tips to Drive Safe in a Tunnel

Remember how as kids we'd get scared whenever the vehicle we were in entered a tunnel? We grew out of that fear eventually but turns out tunnels indeed are dangerous if certain driving rules are not followed. Reckless driving of others is something that every driver in India should learn to cope with, however, there are certain pro tips to drive safe in a tunnel that should also be remembered if a pleasant ride is to be ensured. Here they are.

Use your lights

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Turning on the headlamps is a no-brainer. Not only do they give you a good look at the road ahead but the fact that they also light up the taillamps makes sure that the people driving behind you are aware of your presence. In tunnels that are not lit up, headlamps are absolutely necessary but in those that are sufficiently lit, merely turning on your parking lamps as a safety precaution is a good practice.

Keep your distance

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Sudden braking in the dark can be hard to cope with. Keeping that in mind, always ensure that there's a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you. Five to six metres is preferred as it allows you to apply the brakes slowly and steadily if need be.

Avoid switching lanes

Tunnel or not, switching lanes for no reason is a practice that's always discouraged. Staying in the same lane forms sort of a discipline for you and the cars around you. Unnecessarily swaying between them disturbs this order. It can also be dangerous because of the blind spots that aren't visible on your rearview mirrors.

Do not stop inside tunnels

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Tunnels are a dangerous spot to stop your vehicles in because people drive at high speeds as they don't expect stationary vehicles inside them. Stopping inside tunnels is an absolute no-no but if your car ever happens to breaks down in a tunnel, make sure to switch your hazard lights on and park on the absolute sidelines of the road.

Follow the signboards

Another one among our pro tips to drive safe in a tunnel is following signboards. They usually have important messages posted on them with respect to the kind of terrain that the tunnel has. They may warn you about under-construction areas, slippery roads, and other such conditions that might impede your safe driving, so keep an eye out for them when you're inside tunnels.

Respect the speed limit

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Every big highway allows you to cruise at high speeds but there is always a speed limit that's decided by keeping in mind the various turns and terrains that greet you along the way. The same goes for tunnels. Hence, they always have a set speed limit that you must abide by to keep yourself away from danger.

Those are all the pro tips to drive safe in a tunnel that you need to remember the next time you hit the highway.