Below is a short, but very important list compiled by road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist, which motorists are encouraged to follow before heading off on long drives for your holidays.
These are some checks you should consider completing:
Batteries: battery failures are a year-round cause of vehicle malfunction. The summer load on your car’s electrics can be greatly increased if you’re in stop-start traffic on a hot day with everyone needing to keep their mobile devices charged. A visit to your local service centre can put your mind at rest when it comes to battery health… and if it needs replacing, then you’ll want to get it done before it has the chance to let you down.
Fluids: many breakdowns could be avoided through simple and quick checks of the fluids your car needs. Consult your car owner’s manual to see what checks you can make and how to do them. And while you have the bonnet up, check your windscreen washer bottle is full.
Lights: it only takes a few minutes for you and a companion to check all your vehicle lights are working. OK, so a non-functioning light may not cause you to break down, but you could be reported by a police officer.
Tyres: check the pressures and adjust if necessary to take heavy loads into account. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre. Take a look at our video on how to check your tyres.
Fuel: set off with a full tank of fuel, or full battery charge if you’re driving an electric car. Plan where you’ll stop to recharge or refuel. By doing so, you won’t be one of the thousands of vehicles stuck at the roadside every year because they ran out of fuel.
Finally, enjoy your trip - safe driving and you’ll arrive safe!
