Weekend trips are set to increase this weekend as schools in England and Wales start to break up for the summer holidays. This means there’s going to be an increased number of vehicles and traffic on the road. RAC estimates that there are to be 12.6 million car getaway trips this coming weekend. AutoLyne are here to give you three top tips on how to make your summer getaway run a little bit smoother and settle your mind.
Plan Ahead
This one may be a given for some people, but planning is key to ensuring your journey runs as smooth as possible. Plan your route in advance so you know where you’re heading, check the motorways you will be driving on, so it gives you an idea of where you’ll be heading to ensure you’re confident when setting off. Using an app like Google Maps or Waze can be extremely helpful on route planning and checking your route before you set off ensuring you don’t encounter any traffic that may have been building up before you set off. Sat-Navs and map apps are extremely helpful, and we suggest you invest in or download one.
Check your vehicle
This is a common mistake that many people make when they set off on a long journey on holiday is that they do not check their vehicle. Although regular servicing and an MOT may seem like your vehicle would be safe to use, this isn’t always the case. You must check your tyres, oil levels and coolant before you set off on a long journey. Cars overheating and blowing out tyres can be a very common problem when motorway driving, so you must make sure your tyres are safe and all the coolant and oil is at the correct levels. Breaks and lights must be tested before setting off on your journey, having a blown bulb in your headlights or breaks can have a huge impact on the vision in your car if you’re driving at night or other car’s vision of you with missing break lights. If your breaks feel spongy or slack there may be an issue with them, these must be checked regularly, let alone when you’re about to set off on a long trip.
Documents
Ensuring you have your important documents with you is extremely important. You never know what may happen when you’re out driving, and no body wants to think of the worst-case scenario, but you need to be prepared for it. Having your insurance documents and driving licence on you is vital in case you have an accident, whether it may be your fault or not. Having your breakdown contact number saved in your phone is also extremely important, as you never know if you may need it. Having all of this information at hand, just in case, makes everything run much smoother if something were to happen.
Preparing for your summer get-away journey may sound tedious, but it is important as it will make your journey a lot smoother and prevent any interruptions along the way. Our fourth and final tip is, don’t forget to bring snacks and some water, treat yourself, it’s summer!
AutoLyne can get you where you need to be this summer, with rental and leasing options to suit you. Give us a call on 01179 690970 or email us on hello@autolyne.co.uk
