Driving home for the three-day Seollal holiday, which starts today, is likely to take longer than usual, so those who drive should take special precautions. A civic group that promotes safe driving has come up with "10 commandments" for travelers, ranging from taking regular breaks to picking a less congested time for departure.
"The Citizen's Organization for Driving Cars for 10 Years" said the Seollal holiday lasts for only three days this year and those who will drive home will have to be prepared for the long drive and need proper rest during the journey.
Those who will leave at dawn or in the middle of the night to avoid traffic congestion should be cautious about dozing off at the wheel.
"The possibility of falling asleep while driving is four times higher from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. than during the day," an official of the organization said. The civic group suggests the drivers should avoid blowing hot air directly onto the face and maintain the temperature inside the car at around 22 Celsius degrees.
They also suggests putting the driver's seat in the upright position and taking a 10 minute break after driving for two hours to reduce the danger of accidents.
Before starting the trip, the drivers should inspect their cars if they have to travel a long distance. Major checkpoints are brakes, tire pressure, coolant and motor oil.
Filling up the car is a good idea since gas mileage is lower in cold winter weather and drivers might find it hard to get more gas due to the congestion.