At Christmas time many of us undertake longer journeys than we usually do, perhaps on a run to the airport to pick up friends or on a motorway drive to spend the festive season with family members.
Because many motorists who take to the road in late December are not used to longer drives, the road network can sometimes be a bit difficult to judge. Jams and – unfortunately – accidents occur at odd times of the day and not necessarily in the usual rush hour. Inclement weather is another important factor to take into consideration on a Christmas road trip.
As a result, you should always ensure you have plenty of fuel on board, even enough to keep you going for several hours in the event of an unexpected tailback. In addition, a car blanket and some provisions are also well worth keeping on the back seat in case of emergencies. Keep these things where you can reach them, rather than in the boot.
In freezing weather your engine block can seize up because of the lack of flow of coolant. According to motoring organisations, like the AA, the simple addition of anti-freeze will overcome this problem, but you need to check which sort your car’s cooling system uses, the normal or long-life version. Some cars require their anti-freeze to be replaced as regularly as every two years.
Another crucial thing to do is to double check the condition of your tyres. If you are expecting to travel through snow and ice, then winter tyres can be a big help and keep you going when otherwise you might have to turn back. In the event that you need to change a wheel - because one of your tyres has gone flat - you should always consider safety first. To keep going, you need to find a safe place to jack your car up, away from traffic. According to tire experts, Point S, for tyres in London, you should lay the removed tire under your car, when fitting the new one, so that if the jack slips your car is not damaged by hitting the tarmac.
One thing that motorists who don’t drive regularly in the winter find is that their battery comes under pressure. This is especially so if you only tend to drive your car for a few minutes at a time – to the shops and back, for example. When embarking on a longer journey, often with the lights, windscreen wipers and heater on, your battery may run out of juice midway on the drive. An overnight trickle charge before the trip can help with this problem and mean that your Christmas journey is undertaken without worrying about the electrical power failing.