In December, roads are busier which can lead to delays and queues on some of the key routes. Planning your trip in advance can save you some time so check the roads and avoid rush hours. Friday evenings are usually busy so if you are travelling on 24th December this year, consider leaving earlier or on Saturday morning. If you still get stuck in heavy traffic practice defensive driving. Here are some tips to consider which can help make the roads a happier place for all.
9th December 2021
Driving home for Christmas – our advice
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, until you get stuck in traffic which can quickly turn off the Christmas spirit.
With Christmas fast approaching, we wanted to share a few tips to help you enjoy the journey.
Winter can be very unpredictable which can make driving difficult. The days are shorter which affects visibility and if it’s snowing or raining the roads can be slippery. Before you set off check the forecast and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. Get your speed right and don’t tailgate. Keeping a safe distance is highly recommended at any time. Always try to keep a two seconds gap between you and the vehicle in front, and at least 4 seconds in bad weather or road conditions.
Always ensure you have a good visibility on the road. Having poor visibility is not only dangerous but also illegal. Have an ice scrapper in hand and allow extra time to ensure all your windows, lights and mirrors are clean. Also consider carrying a lock de-icer to clear your lock if it gets frozen. Make sure your wipers work properly and don’t switch them on (or make sure you switch off the auto wiper control) if they are frozen on the windscreen as the wiper control fuse can break.
Check your tyres and consider switching to winter tyres. They are made from different rubber compounds and their tread pattern has more grooves which improves safety whilst driving during the winter months.
Fatigue is a major contributory factor in crashes in the UK, with too little sleep radically affecting driver attention, awareness, reaction time and ability to control the vehicle. Driving tired can be as dangerous as driving under the influence – it slows down your reaction and decreases your awareness. Some of the signs of fatigue to look for are difficulty to concentrate, dizziness, feeling your eyelids heavy, yawning. If you’re tired better stop and take a break at a safe location. If you’re going on a long journey, plan your breaks and have a good rest before the trip.
Drink driving is a serious offence so if you have a few drinks during the holidays make sure to allow enough time for the alcohol to absorb. Even a small amount of alcohol can affect your driving so the best advice is to avoid drinking if you need to get behind the wheel.