How to Safely drive off-road in Namibia

The Namibian landscape lends itself to off-road, rough terrain that is could be difficult to drive on and safely navigate through. It is essential to know techniques that will ensure you can conquer this terrain without encountering major damage to both your vehicle and yourself.

As a company that is committed to securing the safety of both our customers and our vehicles, Cartrack believes that it is essential to have the tools required to safely travel off-road.

Here are some key pointers:

Drive slowly and carefully 

When driving on unknown and difficult terrain, it is critical to drive slowly and cautiously at all times and within the limits of your driving capability. If you have any doubts whatsoever, rather look for a different route or trail nearby. If none is available, then you should turn around and go back from where you came.

Survey the road before driving it 

Surveying the road beforehand will allow you to avoid any surprises before you encounter them. As such, you must ensure that there are no obstacles in your way, that the trail doesn’t suddenly end, or become a bottomless pit.

Always Drive Straight 

Driving diagonally can result in your car rolling over. Make sure that you always drive straight down steep terrain or hills and stay focused all the time while navigating these ascensions.

Reduce tyre pressure 

When driving on gravel and sand, reducing your tyre pressure will increase the traction you experience on gravel and sand. Tyre pressure of 18 to 20psi should do the trick for most 4-wheeling purposes.

Cross ditches or logs at an angle 

If your tyre drops into a crack or ditch, it can place your car in a vulnerable position. However, you can avoid this scenario by crossing these hazards so that one wheel at a time goes over the obstacle. In this way, the other three tyres will help one wheel to climb over.

It’s always better to cross rough terrain with a 4×4. These tips come in handy if you do so:

• Make sure you place your thumbs on the inside of the steering wheel, as the wheel could suddenly turn when driving over any large ruts or potholes, potentially resulting in a bad injury.
• If you face a large rock or obstacle, ensure that you drive directly over it with the lowest ground clearance point of your vehicle.
• When braking sharply to avoid an obstacle such as a pothole or rut, you should release the brake pedal just before hitting that obstacle, which will allow for more suspension

Stay safe with Cartrack 

 Cartrack can help you keep your vehicle safe even when it is far from rough terrain. Our trusted and superior fleet management and vehicle recovery services will ensure that you are always in control of your vehicle’s actions and movements.