Research from AXA shows that one in ten of us has had a prang while driving either to or from a holiday destination in the UK, while 7% more have had a bump on the way to or from their UK airport, railway station or ferry port on the way to their holidays.
The research showed that while the biggest factor in these accidents is other drivers, 19% of drivers put it down to tiredness, a further 18% blamed unfamiliar roads while 10% felt that in-car distractions such as children or excess baggage were to blame.
Here are some tips from AXA for safe holiday driving:
· Plan your route. Unfamiliar roads were sited as one of the biggest distractions for holiday drivers and while you may not know the roads, if you have a good idea of where you’re heading and the route you’ll be taking it will help you drive more confidently and safely. Nearly a quarter of us (24%) head off without checking the route out in advance.
· Once you know your route, use a traffic information provider to check that there are no major problems along the way – only 31% of drivers will specifically check out any traffic problems in advance.
· Factor in somewhere to stop en route. Tiredness is a big cause of accidents and the heat of the summer, the stress of unfamiliar roads and a packed car full of arguing kids can increase fatigue.
· Make sure your car is safe to drive. Only half (54%) of us check oil and water levels before setting out on a long journey and a similar number (50%) check tyre pressure. 39% check that we have enough windscreen wash.
· Pack something to keep the kids occupied – only 21% do this so we really only have ourselves to blame when they ask for the hundredth time “are we there yet?”
· Make sure you have snacks and drinks in the car. Dehydration and low blood sugar are not good for anyone but behind the wheel they can have very serious consequences.
· Check you have breakdown cover in place and you have the numbers to call if you do grind to a halt.
· If you can be flexible on the day you travel then try and avoid the very worst days especially Friday.
· Make sure you have a hands free kit for your mobile phone or ensure you pull over at a designated place to use your phone.
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