Tips for a safe trip on vacation

• Watch out for fake sales platforms that offer products for prepayment that do not actually exist.
• Check sellers carefully, for example by researching via search engines or the portals of consumer advice centers.
• Use secure payment methods such as payment by invoice and never pay in advance.
• Secure your home by asking friends or neighbors to empty the letterbox regularly and not to leave any signs of your absence.
• Make copies of your ID documents before you leave and keep them in a safe place.
• Make a note of the 116 116 emergency number or save it in your cell phone.
   

• Before setting off on your journey, carry out an all-round check of your vehicle (oil level, operating fluids, air pressure, lighting, etc.) and, if necessary, the trailer/caravan.
• Caravans in particular can easily be incorrectly loaded or overloaded. If you are unsure about the payload, carry out a check weighing in advance.

• Are the warning triangle, first-aid kit and high-visibility vests in the correct condition and in sufficient quantity? Have you complied with the regulations for a possible trip abroad? Check in good time whether all the necessary equipment is available so that you are well equipped in an emergency.
• Do the other items of equipment (such as roof box or rear carrier) comply with the regulations? When transporting pedelecs and e-bikes, pay attention to the payload of the bike carrier!

• Put your sat nav or cell phone in the holder and set it to your destination before setting off on your journey.
• Inform yourself in good time about the volume of traffic on the planned route, think about roadworks and increased risk of traffic jams on your route and keep the traffic warning radio switched on.
• Plan sufficient breaks and, if you are traveling with children or pets, find out in advance about rest areas with secure areas for playing and exercising.

• Secure all persons and pets properly: It is the responsibility of the parents or the driver to properly secure a child in the vehicle.
• When loading, secure all objects so that nothing can slip or fall during the journey. Remember that even supposedly light objects can become projectiles in the event of emergency braking or an accident and injure your loved ones.
• Pack the suitcases tightly and, if necessary, secure the load with a net between the luggage compartment and the passenger compartments.
• Items that are needed in the event of a traffic accident, such as the warning triangle, first aid kit and high-visibility vests, should always be to hand.

• Focus on the traffic: Any distraction increases the risk of an accident. Keep your hands off your cell phone while driving. No message or call is so important that it should put your own life and that of your family at risk!
• Adjust your speed to the volume of traffic. The recommended speed of 130 km/h is an optimum cruising speed on open stretches of road and in good weather conditions.
• Drive with foresight and remain calm even in stressful situations.
• Keep a sufficient distance from the vehicles in front of you to avoid accidents.
• Observe the regulations on forming a rescue lane if a traffic jam forms or traffic comes to a standstill in order to clear the way for emergency services to reach the scene of the accident.
• In the event of a breakdown or accident, secure your vehicle and move behind the crash barrier with all vehicle occupants. Wait there for the breakdown service or emergency services to arrive. 
   

• Carry your valuables such as means of payment, ID cards and tickets in various locked inside pockets of your clothing as close to your body as possible.
• Always lock your vehicle or motorhome even if you are away for a short time and do not leave any valuables in the vehicle.
• Be vigilant if you are approached by strangers.
• It is best to leave your valuables in a safe or with the hotel or campsite management for safekeeping.
• Only take as much cash and payment cards with you when you are on the road as you need.

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