Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. As festival season approaches, he is advising on driving to your festival of choice as safely as possible.
- Plan your route before your set off – if you know where you’re going, you’ll avoid the added stress of an unexpected detour on the day.
- Don’t overload your vehicle. Any bags you need to take with you should be packed securely into the boot to avoid obstructing your view. And don’t forget that extra weight will increase fuel consumption – do you really need that ninth pair of wellies?
- It’s likely that you’ll be joining a very long queue to get into the festival site. When you’re queuing, keep your eyes on the road and avoid passenger distraction so that you keep up with the traffic flow, however slow it may be.
- When you arrive, lock up your vehicle and put your car keys in a very secure place which you’re not likely to forget about and they won’t fall out of – your trouser pocket simply won’t cut the mustard.
- Getting home again is part of the weekend – be aware of the morning after effect. Though you may not have had anything to drink that morning, you may still be over the limit from the night before. And you’re likely to be tired, so schedule in regular rest stops for the drive back.
IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Usually, the best advice about driving to a festival is, quite simply, don’t – the drive there will involve a lot of waiting, it’s likely you’ll struggle to find a parking space, and even the least forgetful of partygoers risks losing their car keys. But if you decide that driving works best for you, there are steps you can take to ensure you get there and back in one piece. Prepare yourself and your vehicle, and then you’ll be able to do what you’re going for – enjoy your festival weekender.”
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