Road safety charity the IAM is offering motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. As the bank holiday weekend and half term holiday approaches, many people are choosing to holiday in the UK this year, Peter is advising on planning to stay safe on long journeys.
- Share the driving if possible. It makes more sense to spread the load of the different aspects of a journey. If there are two adults, it’s the passenger’s job to look after the kids, not the driver’s. That way both the kids and the driving get proper attention.
- Include regular rest stops, preferably at least once every two hours. Make sure you eat sensibly, and drink enough fluid, especially if the summer turns out warm – dehydration destroys concentration quickly. And get out of the car and walk around when you make the stop – it makes a real difference.
- Plan your fuel stops in advance, especially if traffic is likely to be heavy. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a traffic queue with the fuel warning light glowing. If budget is an issue try and plan to buy away from the motorway – service area prices tend to be higher, but running out on the motorway is both dangerous and can be very expensive.
- Make sure you get enough sleep the night before a long journey. If you feel tired, stop somewhere safe – this does not include the hard shoulder of the motorway. If you feel really tired, have a coffee and a 20 minute nap to give the caffeine time to take effect. If there’s a long way to go, stop for a proper sleep.
- Be sure to take something for the kids to eat, drink, look at and do. When the inevitable request for one or more of these occurs, you’ll immediately have something to hand to prevent a distraction occurring. Pack the car so that the kids can see of out the windows, and so that the passengers feel they can move their limbs – it helps keep the mood cheerful.
IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Getting away on holiday is great fun, but it can also be hugely stressful, especially if you have the whole family with you. Make sure you prepare yourself, your car and your route beforehand, for a trip that’ll has everyone smiling from start to finish. Enjoy your holiday.”
Leave a Reply