5 Tips to Help You Drive Safely to a Pickleball Event

With its immense popularity and big names like Tom Brady and Lebron James making huge investments in the sport, it’s safe to say that pickleball has become the new basketball. 

And if you’re a pickleball fan like most Australians, you know that going to sporting events is a must. Now if you’re taking your car to these pickleball events, here are some driving tips that you’ll surely find useful:

• Make sure your car is ready for the road. Your tickets are secured, and your outfit is ready. But before you head out, make sure that your car is ready for the road first. Aside from checking the tyres, fuel, and other important parts of your car, you should also invest in some good sun shades for car to make sure that the harsh sunlight won’t come inside your car as you’re driving, especially for daytime events. 

• Plan your trip ahead. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving a few minutes away from your house or to a different city for a pickleball event. You need to be prepared for your trip ahead of time. First order of business—know the exact time of the event. Then, make sure that you leave the house at least two hours before the event, so you won’t get caught in traffic. It’s also good to scout the venue and plan your route and parking spot, so you won’t be scrambling on the day off the event.

• Practice distraction-free driving. We know you’re excited to get into the venue and scream your heart out for your favourite pickleball players. But before you get all giddy and hyped up, it’s very important to make sure that you arrive safely to the venue first. These events usually attract a huge crowd, so you can expect a lot of cars to be on the road at the same time. This is why it pays to practise distraction-free driving. Put your mobile phone on “Do Not Disturb” or “Airplane” mode, keep your car volume low, and avoid having conversations inside the car if you can. Focus on navigating your way to the venue while making sure that everyone—you and the pedestrians—are both safe.

• Be mindful of your surroundings when you park.

Once you arrive at the venue, you’ll see that a lot of people are in the parking lot trying to find a spot and getting out of their cars. This is why it’s very important to be mindful of your surroundings as you park your own car. Watch out for children running around or adults riding e-bikes to avoid hitting anyone.

Finally, make sure that your car is locked and that you’re bringing all your valuables with you. A lot of thieves attack these sporting events because of the crowd. So, if you don’t want to lose anything, bring only what’s essential for the event and leave all your other valuables at home so you can have some peace of mind.