Rain demands special care for those hitting the road on holiday | Photo: PAULA HUVEN / O TEMPO
The Holy Week long weekend is an invitation to hit the road. However, to prevent days of rest and happiness from becoming a tragedy, it is necessary to be responsible in traffic, reinforce the authorities. Caution when driving is even more essential due to the forecast of rain in Minas Gerais and coastal destinations.
Travel planning, respect for traffic laws, defensive driving and maintenance and inspection of vehicles must be followed, warns Lieutenant André Muniz, from the Highway Policing Command of the Military Highway Police (PMRv).
Attention, drivers
Before traveling, planning is essential to avoid being surprised. This anticipation is also a way of getting used to the route, especially if the driver has never traveled to this destination.
The technology is available to be used. Mobility applications, such as Waze and Google Maps, according to Muniz, can help with this planning, estimating travel time and arrival time at the destination.
Defensive driving must be adopted by the driver throughout the trip. “The driver must always drive thinking about what could go wrong, such as sudden braking of the vehicle in front”, advises Lieutenant Muniz.
According to Lieutenant André Muniz, it is also important to reinforce: respect the speed limits and do not overtake in prohibited places. These two factors are among the main causes of accidents.
I’ll drive. How often should I stop?
According to Muniz, drivers are advised to stop the vehicle every two or three hours. “It’s important that they don’t spend too much time driving. Get out of the car to wake up, stretch your body”, he warns. The recommendation is even more important for anyone going on the road at night.
Car condition
In addition to tips related to trip planning and the driver’s condition, the car must be up to date with maintenance and in a condition to travel. The warning points are related to the vehicle’s mandatory equipment, such as lights, mirrors and windshield wipers.
“Take the car to a trusted mechanic. It is important to review and check mandatory equipment. In the case of windshield wipers, sometimes drivers only discover that the system is bad when they are on the road in a storm. This is very dangerous”, he warns.
How do I know if my tire is good?
Tires are another point that requires drivers’ full attention. In addition to calibration — which must be done with cold rubber —, you need to pay attention to signs of tire wear. To do this, use the so-called TWI brand, an acronym for “Tread Wear Indicator”, which translated from English to Portuguese means “tread wear indicator”.
The TWI is a small marker, in the form of protrusions or bars, located on the tread. When the tread is level with the markers, it is a clear sign that the tires need to be replaced. Driving with worn tires is even more dangerous during the rainy season, due to the risk of aquaplaning.
Interdictions
Drivers also need to pay attention to closure points. There are at least 40 stretches in Minas Gerais with restrictions. The survey is carried out by the Military Highway Police, Department of Buildings and Highways of the State of Minas Gerais (DER-MG) and Federal Highway Police (PRF).
There are three closures on federal highways and 37 partial closures on state highways. See the full list below:
Federal highways
- BR-040 – Ribeirão das Neves – km 507
Partial closure, increasing direction (DF-RJ), slipping of the shoulder and right lane.
- BR-0116 – Ponto dos Volantes – km 141
Partial ban, decreasing direction (Bahia). Part of the lane has given way and traffic is flowing in half a lane.
- BR-116 – Teófilo Otoni – km 280
Closure of the access loop to the tunnel, towards Teófilo Otoni airport.
State highways
- AMG-3225 / KM 28
- LMG-625 / KM 39
- MGC-135 / KM 28
- MGC-135 / KM 39
- MGC-122/KM 248
- MG-129 / KM 80
- MG-108/KM 229
- AMG-2985 / KM 03
- MGC-482/KM 214
- MGC-482 / KM 220
- MG-132/KM 61
- BR-494 / KM 178
- AMG-420 / KM 21
- MG-135/KM 9
- MG-452/KM 12
- MG-452/KM 15
- MG-452/KM 23
- MG-129 / KM 179
- MG-010 / KM 136
- MG-010 / KM 200
- LMG-601 / KM 60
- LMG-601/KM 58
- LMG-677/KM 7
- MG-114 / KM 40
- MG-114/KM 41
- MG-114/KM 42
- MGC-367 / KM 320
- MGC-367/KM 329
- MG-105 / KM 192
- MGC-418 / KM 35
- MG-105 / KM 35
- MGC-265 / KM 90
- BR-354 / KM 550
- MG-170 / KM 24.8
- MG-164/KM 233
- BR-116 / KM 280.9
- LMG-686/KM34
- MG-430/KM10
The map with the closures can be seen by clicking here.
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