If you’re about to take the family off on a road trip around the UK, you don’t want to risk a breakdown spoiling your journey. Here are five car safety tips you should bear in mind before you go on an adventure this summer.
Check the weather
While long-term weather forecasts aren’t all that reliable, it is possible to find surprisingly accurate predictions for up to a month or so ahead. This will allow you to tweak your trip to ensure that you hit each new destination when the weather will be good for you to explore the destination without getting soaked, or not being able to enjoy the views.
Plan your route
If your road trip is going to take you far and wide across the UK, take a moment (a couple of hours) to work out your best routes, preferably a back-up route or two, and also do a quick search for any interesting places and landmarks along the way.
There is little more gutting than getting back home, only to find out that you passed within a mile or so of a must-see attraction without knowing anything about it.
Check your tyres
Your tyres are your car’s only point of contact with the road and they are going to be extremely busy as you travel here and there. Make sure your tyres are in great shape before you subject them to all that extra work. Check the tread depth, ensure the inflation levels are within the manufacturer’s recommended range, and visually assure yourself that there is no sign of damage to the sidewall.
If you see anything that worries you, or if your tyres are getting on a bit, perhaps take steps to replace them before you set off. Let’s say you are in West Yorkshire and you want to upgrade your driving experience, then it is best advised to invest in your tyres’ health without any procrastination. Consider having a professional inspection to ensure your tyres are road worthy. If you’re thinking of upgrading your tyres, Reg Greenwood offers tyres in Pontefract; they have a strong local presence and you can choose them for your peace of mind.
Up-to-date service
Before you commit to the long hours of driving, check your car’s service record. If your last service was more than six months ago, it might be prudent to book an interim service to bring all your consumables up to date and make sure there are no unpleasant surprises brewing in the engine that might derail your itinerary. If your annual service will be due fairly soon, simply bring it forward a little. The minor inconvenience you will face will be more than made up by the peace of mind you will experience.
How’s the paperwork?
Remembering your legal obligations is just as important when you’re away from home – if not even more so, considering how much more time you’re spending on the roads. If your car is older than three years old, it should have had an MOT within the last year, and it should be insured. Cars cannot be insured without a valid MOT, and if your car fails its MOT while the insurance policy is still ongoing, the MOT failure will invalidate your insurance.
If you’ve considered all these factors and have taken steps to ensure that your car is in great condition, there is only one thing left to do. Enjoy your travels!
