Summer driving tips: Is your car prepared for the weather?

EVERYTHING’S packed for your much-anticipated getaway with the kids. Perhaps you’re setting off to the Lake District, going on a city break to London, or catching the ferry to see Ireland in all its glory.

Usually, ‘staycations’ will involve a substantial bit of driving, and, according to some breakdown services, failing to prepare family-friendly estate cars, performance convertibles, or any other vehicle for a long-haul drive in hot temperatures can throw your dream getaway into chaos, not to mention the risk of remaining on the hard shoulder for hours as assistance tries to wade through heavy traffic on a bank holiday.

So, what are the most recommended tips for preparing your vehicle?

Well, one of the main recommendations is to ensure that you take regular breaks at service stations dotted across motorways. Not only will this allow the kids to stretch their legs, have something to drink and give the driver a well-deserved rest, but it will prevent the engine from overheating and becoming damaged.

It is also recommended that you get in touch with a mechanic to check whether your car has all of the essentials for a long trip, such as sufficient levels of oil, plenty of liquid for those windscreen wipers and brake fluid to keep the family safe. When relying on the car for your escape, it’s worth spending an hour or two at the garage to ensure that everything is running smoothly.

Now, you may think that this sounds like quite a costly measure to prevent unwanted hiccups with your car, yet many drivers don’t realise that they are unwittingly pouring money down the drain themselves. Fuel economy isn’t something that we think about enough, and this is despite petrol prices currently standing at an unprecedented high. For example, the wife and daughter may want to pack three suitcases full of make-up, clothes, straighteners and hairdryers, but the heavier your car is, the more fuel it will consume in its effort to get you to your destination.

Even though hybrid cars may seem the ideal way to go green and save Pounds, there are still plenty more ways for those of us lumbered with conventional cars to save energy. Beginning the journey to your chosen holiday destination as soon as school breaks for the summer may seem like an excellent idea, but with traffic swelling and millions of extra cars on the road, the continuous stopping and starting as you crawl through traffic on major motorways can waste considerable amounts of fuel.

After this challenge, there’s also the issue of drivers who accelerate quickly and brake suddenly instead of accelerating and decelerating gradually, as recommended by many motoring groups such as the AA. On motorways, being gentler on the pedals could mean the same tank of petrol will take you a third of the distance further, keeping more cash in your wallet.

When Britain goes through the rare chaos of snowy weather, with some roads blocked and cars trapped, it’s common knowledge among drivers and passengers alike that a car battery can be susceptible to failure when the mercury drops down to negative digits. However, scorching temperatures can be just as hazardous, and this is why you should bring all of the equipment necessary to restart your battery just in case something goes wrong. In contrast, the owners of hybrids should contact a mechanic and ask them to check the positioning and quality of your battery when a heat-wave is forecast, especially if you’re planning to hit the motorway.

To kill two birds with one stone, make sure that you inflate your tyres to satisfactory levels. Striking the right balance will prevent the excessive friction caused when semi-flat tyres come into contact with surfaces that are already hot and ensure steering is smooth and safe. And of course, air conditioning is one way to achieve bliss on the road. When cool air’s blasting and the radio’s booming, it’s easy to begin to feel like the summer is on its way.