Many of us are starting to think about our summer holidays. Some of us are flying to exotic locations and beachside retreats. But, others are staying a little closer to home. You might be heading on holiday, or visiting family in this country. This can be a great way to have a wonderful holiday, see more of your own country and save a lot of money in the process.
For most people, a holiday in the same country comes with a relatively long drive. Certainly a bit longer than you might drive day to day, with work commutes, school runs and trips to your local shops. Some people drive long distance regularly, but some of us rarely spend extended periods in our cars. So, let’s take a look at some ways to prepare for a long drive this summer.
Check Your Car
The last thing that you should do is just get into the car and drive. First, it’s crucial that you make sure your vehicle is ready. If you are ready for a new car, check out Motor Connect for some great deals. If you are happy with the one that you’ve got, make sure you take it in for a service or at least check things like tyre pressure, fluid levels, brakes and lights. It’s also worth checking that your insurance and MOT are in date and that you have appropriate breakdown cover.
Get Some Practice
If you’ve only ever driven short distances on smaller roads, suddenly driving across the country can be a shock to the system. You might be driving on much larger roads, and if you are uncomfortable and nervous, it’s easy to panic or make mistakes. You might even find that you spend the first few days of your breaks with achy shoulders from the tension of your first big drive.
So, get some practice first. Go for a few longer drives, and try to get in a little motorway experience. It might also make you feel more comfortable if you study maps and look at your route on Google street view.
Pack Sensibly
On the long drive, you don’t want everything that you need for the trip at the bottom of your suitcase in the back on the car. Make sure you’ve got things like snacks, drinks, wipes and some light layers close to hand.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
You never know what might happen on the road. Make sure you are armed with water, a torch, loose change, a map, layers, a phone charger and emergency contact numbers, just in case.
Plan to Take Your Time
Don’t make the mistake of leaving too late and having to rush. If you’ve got a five-hour journey ahead of you, make sure you leave in plenty of time, so that you can take breaks when you need to, even if it’s just to stretch your legs and go to the toilet. If you aren’t used to long drives, your body might need more breaks than you’d expect. Look on the map before you leave for good places to stop, even if you don’t end up using them, it’s good to be prepared.