Heading Home For Raya? Here’s A Checklist To Make Sure You Balik Kampung Safely!

Hari Raya is a time where everyone is in a joyful mood, with fun times with family, friends and food. To make sure you have a great balik kampung trip, here’s a simple checklist for you to make sure that you won’t forget anything in the Raya rush back home.

1. Check your fluids

No, we’re not talking about drinks for Raya. Rather, we’re referring to your vehicle fluids, which include engine oil, transmission, power steering, brakes and washing fluids. You can make sure that your car’s oil levels are at their optimum level to prevent any breakdowns on the road. Also, make sure to check and service your radiator and to top it up with coolant. It’s also good to have some spare distilled water to refill the radiator in case of overheating. In case of anything, you can always bring your car to a workshop to get everything up and ready before your trip.

2. Check your tyres

One of the most important parts of your car are your tyres. Make sure that your tyres are not balding, and have enough grip on the road for a safer drive. Also make sure that your tyres are properly inflated because under-inflated tyres are one of the main cause for higher fuel consumption due to the increased rolling resistance. It’s important to also check the air pressure of your tyres, and to make sure that you don’t simply cram as many people into the car as you can. Sure, it’s going to be a great balik kampung trip with all your family in the car, but your poor tyres will definitely have too much of a load going.

Finally, remember to also check if you have the tools to change your tyre if there is a (touch wood) flat tyre. You should also make sure that your spare tyre is properly inflated too!

3. Light up your way

There will be moments in your balik kampung when you decide that a jam is not worth it and you want to travel in the middle of the night to avoid everyone else. See, that’s smart thinking. But if you want to be safe on the dark, dark highways, you better make sure that your car’s headlights and tail lights are in perfect working order. Driving in the dark is scarier when you can’t really see what’s in front of you. Also, remember to flick the indicator signal and see if it’s in working order.

4. Miscellaneous Items

There are some other things which are vital to making your balik kampung journey a fantastic one. Remember that music is very important. Blasting and singing together not only makes the family bond better, it also helps the driver to stay focused on the road, as well as provide entertainment in moments when traffic is at a standstill.

Speaking of jams, having a steady supply of food is also important. Be sure to stock up on snacks, finger food and drinking water, because the rest stops will also be packed with people lining up to buy food. It’s good that you’ll be able to have a snack in the car, and at the same time save money and time when buying from the rest stops.

Like the boy scouts always say, always be ready for any emergency that may happen. Make sure you have a first aid kit, basic emergency tools, road assistance numbers ready with you to ward off any problems you may have.

Finally, always have your gadgets on standby. Whether it’s to blast music, or check on the latest traffic conditions with apps like Waze or Google Maps, it will definitely make your balik kampung journey so much more easy.

So there you have it. Remember to keep your balik kampung checklist handy and don’t forget anything to have a memorable Raya! Selamat Hari Raya to all!