Whether you’re driving home to see friends or family, towing a caravan to your festive getaway, or touring in your trusty motorhome, make sure you’re staying safe on the roads this Christmas.
Dark nights, cold and wet conditions, and a sense of urgency to get to your destination all contribute to accidents at this time of year, so take precautions to minimise the risk.
With 16.1 million car journeys predicted by the AA to take place on December 22nd alone, Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, has put together some advice.
Plan your journey
A few days before your festive getaway, it’s a good idea to plan your route and check for any scheduled roadworks or closures.
Always have an alternative route in mind in case conditions change and take another look the day before travelling so you can use it if necessary.
When you set off, make sure your radio has been set for traffic alerts to inform you of any issues along the way.
Check the weather forecast
There’s still a chance there might be a white Christmas in the UK this year and even if there isn’t, wet and icy conditions are likely.
Always drive with care in the winter, even when roads have been treated and maintain a good distance with the vehicle in front, as stopping distances can be greater on wet roads.
Don’t drive too fast and if you’re towing a caravan, take turns particularly slowly to ensure you remain in control.
Make sure your vehicles are road-worthy
Checking the road-worthiness of your vehicles before you set off is key to giving yourself the best chance of getting to your destination safely.
This means both the towcar and caravan if you’re towing or the motorhome or campervan if you’re driving this type of leisure vehicle.
Among the safety checks you should be making are filling up your tank, ensuring the fluids are topped up, monitoring your tyre pressure, replacing the windshield wipers and inspecting the battery cables.
Don’t keep gifts on show
Stopping off along the journey is an important part of road safety, as it’s vital the driver remains rested and alert.
Don’t leave Christmas presents on display in the vehicle, as this could lead to a break in and delay arriving at your destination.
And once you do get to your destination, unpack the gifts and hide them or make sure they’re tucked away in your motorhome ready for Christmas Day.
Pack an emergency kit
Nobody wants to have issues on the road and hopefully careful preparation will decrease the risks, but it’s always good to be prepared, just in case.
Put an emergency kit in your car, caravan, motorhome or campervan with the essentials should you find yourself waiting for assistance.
This should include some blankets, water, food, a torch and a battery pack to charge your mobile phone.
Photo credit: Pexels/Erik Mclean
