The Easter weekend is approaching and many holidaymakers will be hitting the road to see friends and family all across the UK.
Driving during peak holiday periods can be stressful and will need a lot of planning and preparation to make sure that you and your family arrive at your destinations safely and on time.
Heavy traffic, poor weather and breakdowns can all cause stress levels to skyrocket over a holiday driving period, but they can all be helped by having plans in place.
Here’s our guide to planning your Easter weekend car journeys so that everything can remain as hassle-free as possible.
Car maintenance
Before setting off for the Easter weekend, check all the fluid levels are topped up. For example, ensure that the oil is topped up to the correct levels and do the same for the windscreen washer fluid too. You may want to check your coolant levels as well. All these are vital components in making your vehicle start, stop and run smoothly.
If you are planning a long-distance journey this weekend, make sure your car is fully serviced. If your car is due one, then book it in preferably before you plan to go away – or if you are good at self-car maintenance, change the oil and filter yourself.
Also, look at its latest MOT certificate for any advisories or minor defects. Even though at the time of the test, your vehicle is legal and safe to use, any advisories may have progressively worsened – which could lead to your vehicle being dangerous and putting you, your family and other road users at risk.
Timekeeping and traffic
If you are planning on a journey that will take hours and you have small children, it might be an idea to leave earlier, so you can stop off occasionally to allow your children to stretch their legs. Remember that if you’re travelling with pets you’ll need to stop routinely to let them have a walk around as well.
Food and drink
Breakdown cover
By making sure that you’ve got cover, you’re ensuring that if your car does let you down, you’ll be able to get on your way again with help – or at least get moved to a safer location than the side of the road.
Weather
Check the tyres on your car, and make sure they have an ample amount of tread. The legal limit for tyre tread is 1.6mm – anything lower than that can be dangerous and be an MOT failure. Check the tyre pressures and check the tyre condition for perishing, cracks, cuts and nails.
Also, check if all the lights are working, especially if you plan to drive at night, or leave for your journey in the early hours of the morning. Look at your main, side, dipped and high beam, fog lights, indicators, reverse lights and brake lights. If you can’t check your brake lights on your own, a tip would be to get a family member or friend to check for you – or reverse up to a wall and look at the reflection of the lights to see if they are all working.
Get plenty of sleep before you travel
Having enough sleep makes you more alert and your concentration levels are a lot better, making you a safer driver and puts you, your family and other road users at less risk of accidents.
Route planning
