Well it's nearly here, August Bank Holiday, one of the busiest times on our roads with everyone scrabbling to take in the last of the summer (what summer I hear you ask).
According to Kwik-Fit who have carried out a survey into holiday makers that have decided to stay in the UK this year that ''6.6 million holiday makers will jump in their cars to Brit Hop this year. Between them they'll cover up to a whopping 6 billion miles at an average of 385 Miles per round trip'' The pressure on the roads is obvious, according to Kwik-Fit ''That's one tenth of the total mileage that Brits will cover in their cars during July,August and September 2009.''
So what can we do to have a great break with out the misery of endless queuing and even worse breaking down?
Here are some top tips to help you on your way.
1 Give your car a health check- Does it need a service, when was one last carried out? If in doubt get it booked in. I see that Kwik-Fit are offering a pre-holiday car check which covers items such as Oil and Tyre checking.
2 If you are able to why not do your own checking- check Oil level, obvious but often neglected, Fluid levels such as water in the Radiator, Windscreen Washer, Brake and Power Steering Fluids.
3 Tyres always neglected but critical for you safety and also fuel consumption. Under inflated tyres not only can be dangerous but will also increase your fuel consumption, in some cases by up to 10%. If you are carrying a lot of extra weight most manufacturers will recommend a higher pressure than normal, again there are many outlets such as supplying dealer or tyre specialists such as Kwik-Fit that can advise on this.
4 Bulbs and battery, get a member of your family to check all your lights with you, nothing worse than having a brush with an officer of the law because one of your lights is faulty.
5 Have you got a warning triangle and a high visibility jacket, you will need both if you break down. Both these items may sound a bit dull but could help save your life, dark lane in Devon trying to change a tyre and no high visibility jacket being worn, I will leave your imagination to the potential consequences.
6 Mobile phone, charged and with sufficient credit, again we often forget to fully charge our phones or check credit if you have pay as you go. No use to you if you can't make outgoing calls, I don't mean to your friends but the emergency services.
7 Have you got, or is your membership to a breakdown service still current. Have you got their number with you?
So those are some of the more obvious things to check and sort out, you have a week left to resolve any of those issues.
What else can we do to make life a bit easier?
1 Plan your journey in advance, you might want to consider alternatives to the Motorway especially if you are travelling at peak times. Every year there are the normal hot spots on these major arteries so why not take an alternative. If you have time, by taking the A and B roads you will actually see more areas of interest and may even give you new ideas of where you might want to holiday or visit in the future. Get the map book out or check sat nav well in advance, you may want to write some notes about which roads you need.
2 Give yourself plenty of time, there is nothing more stressful than arranging to be somewhere, leaving at the last minute then getting held up.
Why not consider leaving early or later so avoiding the main rush times, makes the journey more pleasant and will probably save you fuel into the bargain.
3 Consider taking food and drink with you for the journey (don't forget the animals as well if you are taking them. I don't mean the kids). You can then stop when ever you want as opposed to having to find service areas, again you will save yourself money at the same time.
4 Fill up your vehicle locally where you know the prices are at their best, traditionally Motorway fuel is more expensive than in town, or Supermarket filling stations.
5 Make sure you pull in to take regular breaks, to coin a motorway expression 'Tiredness kills take a break''
6 If you decide you are going to hit the continent and your car is on Contract Hire or a Lease you should ensure you notify the Leasing company in advance, they will need to raise the necessary paperwork to prevent any hassle on the other side. You should also check that your warranty and maintenance cover is sufficient for the country you are visiting. Don't leave this call to the last minute or you may find the leasing company has insufficient time to sort out the paperwork.
These are just a few ideas to help you on your way, the best advice is check your car, plan the journey in advance and try to enjoy the experience!!
On the other hand if you decide not to bother hitting the roads why not spend some time on the web looking at the great offers on the National Automotive website. We have brought together a selection of the best quality car finance brokers in the UK ,and have great Car and Van Leasing offers all in one place. Whether you are looking for your next Company Car or a Personal Contract Hire Agreement you won't do better than to visit National Automotive.
If you join the rest of throng then I hope you have a great break
