Travelling by car at Christmas and New Year

Christmas is not just about eating, drinking and spending in excess; it’s also a time for family and friends. For some of us, our loved ones are literally around the corner. But for many people, a lot of the Christmas holidays are spent in the car. Inevitably, this means having to share the roads with thousands of other families on their way to spend Christmas Day with parents, Boxing Day with the in-laws and New Years Eve with old friends.

If you know you’re going to be doing some significant miles in the car this Christmas, don’t stress. Do a little preparation now and although you won’t be able to do much about congested roads, you will be safe in the knowledge that your car is ready to go when you are.

Fill up first

Make sure you have plenty of fuel. We recommending filling your tank a few days before Christmas. Otherwise you may end up in a massive queue at the garage – not the best way to start a journey!

Check your levels

Check your oil, water land anti-freeze levels, ensure you have plenty of de-icer and fill up with windscreen wash.

If you are going to be packing the car with luggage and presents, remember to check your car’s tyre pressures accordingly.

What’s the weather like?

Check the weather forecast a couple of days before your journey. Most five day forecasts are pretty reliable and by using the Met Office website, you can also get details about visibility. If snow or ice are a definite possibility, you may want to reschedule your trip. Seeing your loved ones over the Christmas holidays is important, but not to the point where you should put your family’s safety at risk.

Have you packed your essential winter driving kit? It may be mild where you live but if you are travelling a decent distance, the weather could be very different once you reach your destination. Have you got your phone charger? A torch and a pair of sturdy boots? Warm clothing? You can find out more about M&BM Motors’ recommended winter driving kit.

Get ahead of the traffic

Even if it’s a route you’ve done many times, plan your journey in advance and take advantage of the various websites available that provide up-to-date information about any roadworks, accidents and traffic jams that may impact your trip. Highways England and the AA’s traffic news section are both highly recommended sources of information.

There might be the ‘usual’ way of getting from A to B but if everyone else has had the same idea, it’s always worth knowing a couple of alternative routes so you can try to escape any queuing traffic.

Try to avoid rush hour. If that means leaving first thing in the morning or late at night to make good time, it’s still better than sitting in traffic for half the day. Just make sure that you’ve had plenty of sleep – don’t attempt to drive at 11pm if you haven’t had the chance to rest first.

Stay safe and sensible

It goes without saying that you should never drink and drive. Not only are the police extra vigilant over the Christmas and New Year period, but you are risking your life, the lives of your passengers and the lives of other road users and pedestrians.

If you have one two many the night before, give yourself plenty of time to recover and for the alcohol to wear off before you get behind the wheel.

Merry Christmas!

Here at M&MB Motors, we’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2016!