For many households in the UK, having a car or access to one is nothing short of indispensable. According to the 2021 National Travel Survey, 78% of households possessed at least one car or van, leaving a little over a fifth of UK homes without a car to speak of.
As driving continues to dominate as a mode of transport, more and more of us will find ourselves relying on them. You may yourself be new to the roads, having just learnt to drive for your commute or your family. Having that private transport option makes a lot of things much easier – including holidays, for which organising travel can often be difficult.
But if you’re embarking on a long trip for the first time, you might be missing some essential things. Here, we’ll go over some key checks you should be making before you start a long drive – including maintenance checks and crucial things to pack, just in case. With these checks in place, you can feel safer and more comfortable in your trip.
Safety and Maintenance
For starters, there are some essential checks you should be doing before you set off driving. These include checking the air pressure of your tyres and re-inflating them accordingly, and checking your car’s fluids for any signs that they may need replenishment or replacement. Going a long time without an oil change can damage the engine, and increase the risk of breakdown during your trip.
For Longer Trips
If you are driving a number of people cross-country, or embarking on a multi-stop road trip, bearing the burden of driving the whole time can be exhausting – and can also be dangerous. If you find yourself getting tired on the road, the risk of an accident is much higher.
With this in mind, having another passenger take out one-day car insurance for a leg of your trip can ensure that driving responsibilities are shared – keeping you all safe as a result. On top of this, adopting safe driving habits in time for the trip can improve safety in general; drive gently, try not to rev the engine, and gin up on the new Highway Code before you leave.
What to Pack
Finally, we come to the kit you should be packing alongside any luggage. Your car should always have some form of emergency kit packed into the boot; this kit would include some tools, spare batteries for charging devices, torches for low light conditions and a reflective hazard sign in case of a breakdown. As well as this, you might benefit from packing some long-life foodstuffs, and blankets in case of colder weather or an overnight stay.