Prepare yourself and your family!

It’s not only engines that get overheated in the summer … It’s drivers too! Take at look at the SmartDriving advice for avoiding road rage.

If your job does not involve driving you might find that you do a lot more motorway driving or long journeys in the summer. Plan your driving to include plenty of breaks – especially if you have children in the car. Do you know all the motorway rules and regulations if you are not sure read about motorway driving.

Some people start their holiday with a night time journey to avoid traffic jams; this is a great idea, however, you must remember that tiredness is very dangerous behind the wheel. It’s easy to become tired, especially at night when driving abroad in a warm climate. Many accidents happen between 1am and 5am.

If travelling in the day make sure you get a good night’s sleep before setting out. It’s also advisable to avoid heavy meals before driving, and of course, drinking alcohol and driving is a stupid idea at any time of year.

Taking breaks every couple of hours keeps the driver alert by promoting blood circulation, makes the trip more pleasant for passengers and lets the vehicle cool down.  If you do get tired ALWAYS take a break – even if you are near your destination. Arrive alive!

If you have kids in the car make sure that they have something to keep them occupied and that they are comfortable. It’s also a good idea to have drinks and snack handy in the car. Make a rule that says ‘Don’t distract the driver’. Generally the accident risk increases when you are carrying passengers. And under no circumstances should you allow passengers of any age to travel without a seat belt or appropriate restraint.

When parking in the summer  NEVER leave animals or children alone in the car. The temperature can rise rapidly and this has sadly led to the deaths of young children and animals in cars. LEAVING THE WINDOWS HALF OPEN IS NOT ENOUGH!  Stationary cars do not have enough air circulation to keep the temperature down.

Are you dressed to kill?  Loose fitting sandals or bare feet will affect your ability to control the car, especially in an emergency. Don’t put fashion first when choosing sunglasses for driving – fashionable sunglasses might be fine, but make sure that they allow you to see OK; for example, some glasses that darken in strong light might not be suitable.

Did you know that many hay fever and other medications can drastically affect your ability to drive.  Check with your doctor first.

If you are planning to drive abroad ...

Make sure that you inform your car insurance company and that you know the basic rules and requirements – take a look at http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/ for info (external web site). Some countries require that you carry certain items by law, for example, warning triangles, first aid kit, spare spectacles or lenses, etc.

Click the forward arrow to for mor information about summer driving ..