Technology

Driving home for Christmas: top tips for staying safe

You’ve submitted that final essay and said goodbye – albeit a temporary one – to your housemates. The first semester of university is over and all you have to concern yourself with is relaxing and putting on a few pounds by feasting on your mum’s home cooking!

Trains and planes are expensive, especially during the festive season, so it’s often more effective to drive yourself home for the Christmas holidays. That said, if you’re from the south and elected to go to university in a northern party city (or vice versa), that five hour drive can be something of a hassle. This is not to mention the worry that it will cause your mum and dad, anxiously waiting for you to arrive home.

Take a look at these top tips for staying safe on the road when you head home this Christmas.

 

Make sure the car is in top shape

You might not be able to afford that Porsche on your student loan, but there’s no excuse for your car to not be roadworthy. Maintaining a car and making sure that it’s safe for long journeys doesn’t take a lot of time, effort or money, but it’s essential if you’re driving long distances.

Here’s what you need to be checking before you leave:

  • Tyre pressure – this is a biggie and is especially important if you’re driving at a time of year when there could be ice on the road. The recommended tyre pressure differs depending on the model of your car, the weight you’re carrying and of course, the time of year. If, like most people, you’ve lost the manual for your car, you can find this information online using a search engine.
  • Tyre tread – this is equally important, especially for winter driving. According to an article by Auto Express, the majority of drivers wait until the tread on their tyres is classed as illegal before they replace them – an offence punishable by a £2,500 fine per tyre! The same article indicates that your breaking distances significantly increasingly, so it’s dangerous too.
  • Oil and water levels – you should be checking your levels before you set off on any big journey. You may not remember, but you were actually shown how to do this in those long forgotten days of your driving lessons! If you need a bit of a refresher, this handy YouTube video takes you through all of the steps to checking your levels, including opening the bonnet of the car – something which a surprising number of drivers don’t know how to do!
  • Windscreen wash – it may seem trivial, but a dirty smeared windscreen is the easiest way of causing an accident. Travelling without windscreen wash in your car is reckless, especially during winter. When temperatures plummet, use undiluted screen wash to prevent it from freezing overnight.

 

It’s better to be safe than sorry, so it’s a good idea to treat your car to a service before you head home. Companies like Tyre and Auto Centre Group have locations throughout the north east, including their car servicing facility in Darlington, so they’re handy if you’re heading back to the south for the Christmas holidays. A quickly Google search will come up with garages in your local area that provide servicing, so there’s no excuse for not taking care of this before you set off!

 

Stay alert

The National Sleep Foundation found that one-third of drivers admit to falling asleep while driving! This is a staggering statistic and reveals the impact of driver fatigue on the sheer number of accidents on the road.

Driving when you’re feeling tired puts you and other drivers in danger. It’s not just the risk of falling to sleep which could cause an accident; when you’re feeling tired, your reaction times are greatly reduced and your inhibitions are lowered – so it’s a lot like being drunk!

Take regular breaks at safe, secure stops like service stations and drink coffee to stay alert. Listen to music to stimulate you and avoid having the inside of the car too warm, as this will make you feel drowsy. If you can bear the biting winter chills, having the window open for just a few minutes will invigorate you and do wonders for your concentration.

Click to comment
To Top