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Holiday Driving
If you are about to drive a long distance to your holiday
destination or drive as part of your holiday, the following
advice will help you to ensure that your holiday is not ruined
by an easily preventable road accident.
1. PREPARE YOURSELF
Almost every road accident is caused or partly caused by human
error. So it is vital to take time to prepare yourself for
the journey. First of all, make sure you are in good health
and well enough to undertake the journey. There is nothing
worse than feeling under the weather and being faced by a
long, hot drive in heavy traffic.
Ask yourself some questions ... and be honest with the
answers.
• Am I well enough for this drive, or should someone
else do it?
• Am I taking any medication which advises me not to
drive because of its effects?
• Am I undergoing some form of treatment during which
the doctor has said I shouldn't drive?
• Am I well rested and ready for the drive?
Falling asleep at the wheel
Driving for more than a couple of hours at the end of a normal
day's (7-8 hours) work significantly increases the risk of
being involved in a road traffic accident.
Risk factors:
• driving when you would normally be asleep - especially
in the early hours of the morning
• driving in the dark
• driving in the early afternoon, especially after eating
a moderate to heavy meal
• driving after drinking ANY alcohol.
Even if you don't think you will fall asleep, tiredness will
slow your reactions and affect your judgement, significantly
increasing the chances of crashing. Singing, turning the radio
up; opening a window, using air-conditioning will not keep
you awake. At best, they will give you a few extra minutes
to find somewhere safe to stop. If you're that tired, you
will fall asleep - even if you are driving.
2. PREPARE YOUR ROUTE
It is amazing how few drivers take the time and trouble to
plan out their route in advance, and yet it can save hours
and help avoid risky situations.
Route-planning checklist
The main issues are:
• Always plan your route, and check the travel news for
places where hold-ups may occur.
• Plan alternative routes in advance so you can use them
if there's a traffic problem on your journey.
• Build-in an extra time buffer so you don't feel hassled.
(As a general rule allow at least a quarter more time than
you think it might take.)
• Plan where you will stop for rest and refreshment breaks.
Remember not to drive for longer than 2 hours without a break
of at least 20 minutes.
3. PREPARE YOUR VEHICLE
Check your vehicle thoroughly before you even think of setting
out. If you don't know what to check or how to check it, get
someone who knows what they're doing to check it for you.
Safety checklist
Brakes
Lights
Tyres (wear and pressures)
Steering
Suspension
Screen washers and wipers
Avoiding breakdowns
It will also pay to check those things which most often
cause breakdowns:
Oil
Coolant
Drive belts
Ignition system
Sufficient fuel
Other things to check
• luggage storage - don't obstruct your view - store
it safely (ideally in the boot) - strap it down - you don't
want things flying about in the vehicle if you crash or brake
very sharply.
• if you use a roof rack - make sure it's securely fixed
to your vehicle and that the luggage is well strapped down.
• if you use a luggage trailer, make sure that it is
safe, legal and not overloaded and that it is covered by your
driving licence - if in doubt, check it out with someone who
knows.
• Remember you cannot use the right hand lane of a motorway
with three or more lanes when towing a trailer, and outside
built-up areas different speed limits apply, 50mph on single
carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
• Remember, a roof rack or trailer will affect the handling
of your vehicle, so take this into consideration.
4. PREPARE YOUR PASSENGERS
Passengers, especially fractious children, may sometimes be
distracting. You may find it helpful to prepare them for the
journey by:
Telling them about the journey showing them the map and explaining
where you'll be stopping off making sure they have plenty
of sleep making certain they have enough things to keep them
occupied having some snacks and drinks inside the car in case
they become hungry or thirsty.
Seat Belts and Child Restraints
It is crucial for everyone's safety, that all passengers are
wearing their seat belt or are using an appropriate child
restraint. For further advice, see our policies on seat
belts and child restraints.
Driving Abroad
If driving abroad, make sure that you have all the necessary
documentation and insurance, and check the rules of the road
as they are likely to be quite different from the UK.
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