Easter is also a busy time on the roads, which means an increased risk of crashes resulting in serious injuries and lives lost.

Thankfully, there weren’t any lives lost on South Australian roads during last year’s Easter weekend. This year we want to repeat that, so we’ve come up with six road safety ‘Easter eggs’ to look out for. Some are hidden and some not-so-much.

Unfortunately, they’re not the gooey milk chocolate variety, but before you get away this weekend and hunt for your own Easter eggs, find and check these six things that may be in and around your car, to help you get to your destination safely.

1. The spare tyre

Any idea what type of spare tyre is in your car? Do you even have one? Spare tyres are different from those of yesteryear. We now have run-flat tyres, designed to keep you driving for a while, even with a puncture. Some car boots only have a repair kit that’ll get you back on the road for a short time if your tyre damage is minor.

Many modern vehicles now have a space saver tyre, which is smaller, lighter, and usually has coloured rims or markings. Space saver tyres are designed for temporary use to get you out of trouble, but not much more. They also have speed and distance limitations and may need different air pressure than full-sized tyres.

If you have a spare tyre, familiarise yourself with the manufacturer’s recommendations and check the air pressure regularly. Also, know the location of another hidden Easter egg – your car’s jack, or wheel brace, and practise using it. Of course, RAA is always there to help, but if you discover a puncture on your Easter road trip, and you’re 100km from a tyre dealer, a working spare and jack will save you a headache.

2. Seatbelt height adjuster

This Easter egg is hidden in plain sight. Nowadays, putting on your seatbelt should be as natural as starting the engine, but is yours adjusted correctly? A gap at the top of your shoulder can affect your seatbelt’s performance in a crash, so if your car has a seatbelt height adjuster, slide it up or down so that the belt rests across the middle of your shoulder.

Check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to take this important, but often neglected, step to improve your safety. And if you have kids, make sure they’re correctly seated in an approved child restraint for their age and size.

3. Blind spots

Your blind spot suggests something hidden. It’s the area around your vehicle you can’t see when you’re behind the wheel. When you’re driving, particularly at higher speeds, you don’t want to miss a vehicle in your blind spot as it could result in a collision, so make sure your mirrors are adjusted correctly before you set off. And, even if your car has blind spot monitoring technology, turn your head, and use your mirrors to double-check the coast is clear when you want to change lanes.

Remember, sometimes you’re the hidden Easter egg. If you’re following a larger vehicle and you can’t see its side mirrors, then the driver probably can’t see you. Don’t forget to also make sure that you haven’t packed your luggage too high, you have a clear view of the road and traffic ahead, and you can see behind you with the rear-view mirror.

4. Wildlife

Did you know that more vehicle/animal collisions occur during autumn than in any other season? For many species, staying camouflaged or hidden (like an Easter egg) is key to survival, but unfortunately for us and our wildlife, the evolutionary process pays no mind to road safety.

If you’re in a rural area, have your headlights switched on and, especially during dusk or dawn, keep an eye out for kangaroos and other animals near the road. If it’s dark, it’ll be harder to see where animals are coming from, so adjust your speed and pay extra attention to the road. Our furry friends will thank you for it.

5. Number plates and bike racks

Here’s an Easter egg you don’t want hidden. When fitting a boot-mounted or towbar-mounted bike rack to your car, your entire number plate must always be visible. If any part of your bike rack or bike obscures your number plate, you could be up for a $527 fine and $94 Victims of Crime Levy.

You don’t want to turn your fun family Easter cycling trip into a wallet-draining washout, so purchase a bike rack number plate from Service SA. Don’t be tempted to create your own homemade number plate either. A dodgy number plate could result in a $770 fine and a $94 Victims of Crime Levy.

6. Road signs

Like Easter eggs strewn throughout the backyard, we see road signs everywhere. Yet some drivers choose to ignore many of them.

One of RAA members’ biggest driving pet peeves is slower drivers who keep adding more vehicles to the crawly, curvy road train behind them instead of pulling into the slow vehicle turnouts to let other motorists pass. Road signs and slow turnouts are there for a reason, and to attentive drivers, they’re as obvious as a shiny, foil-covered chocolate rabbit.