Ah, it is the most wonderful time of the year and time for the Trust A Garage team to provide you with some top safety tips to get you to and from Christmas parties and other festive occasions safely. The roads face more challenges at this time of year than any other, from heavy traffic to limited daylight and extreme weather conditions. We take a look at what you can do to ensure the safety of yourself and other road users.
Plan ahead
The roads are going to be busy and there are some key times, such as end of term, Fridays after 4 p.m., that will be especially busy. Add to that fading light, and the journey can be especially stressful. Plan to leave plenty of time and mentally prepare yourself by telling yourself that the journey will take a good couple of hours longer than it should. Alternatively, instead of leaving at 4 p.m. on a Friday, set your alarm and leave early on the Saturday. You won’t lose much time from your weekend, but you will save a lot of stress. Plan your route and stick to roads you know well, especially if you are tired, or it is dark. Also factor in rest stops for a warm drink and refresh – you are better off arriving an hour later than planned if it means that you drive safely.
Prep your vehicle
Check your tyre pressures, lights, oil, windscreen wash and antifreeze levels. Top up on fuel while you are at it, just in case. If you are in any doubt, pop to your local garage and ask them to give your car a quick check before you hit the road.
Be prepared
While the best way to travel without incident is to plan ahead, sometimes we get caught out – that is just life. And there are few things more miserable than being caught out in the dark, freezing cold, with snow or rain and the wind howling. Get your winter emergency kit prepared and keep it in your boot – just in case. The kit should include as a minimum:
- A can of de-icer and an ice scraper
- A phone battery pack
- Warm clothes
- Bottles of water and pre-packaged snacks
- Hi-vis
- Torch
- Blanket
- Jump leads
- First aid kit.
Be careful the night before
If you enjoy a festive tipple (or two) then be careful the night before. Everyone metabolises alcohol at a different rate, but it is easy to be caught out and still be over the limit the next morning. As a general rule, if you find yourself asking if you – or the person driving – is ok to drive, you (or they) probably aren’t. if it’s an issue, stock up on breathalyser tests online.
Take a look at the weather forecast before you go and decide how important your trip is. If the forecast is terrible, it may be worth leaving earlier than planned, before the weather hits, or delaying your trip. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more information about winter driving.