Somerset County Council have released a list of top tips to help you prepare if your out on the roads. The forecast for the weekend is looking great with temperatures expected to hit 21c.
Travelling on the nation’s roads during a bank holiday is at best stressful – at worst deadly.
So Somerset County Council’s road safety team have put together some helpful tips to help you reach your destination safely.
Planning:
- Check out the route – you won’t be distracted and make mistakes.
- Programme the sat-nav before you go and make sure it’s correct.
- Plan an alternative route in case of closures/delays.
- Take a road map as a fall-back.
- Follow Travel Somerset for the latest updates.
Checks:
- Check the tyre pressure and tread depth.
- Make sure your lights are working.
- Ensure fuel, water, oil and screen wash are topped up.
- Make a visual vehicle inspection to check for any other obvious issues.
- Carry an emergency kit: First aid kit, warning triangle and hi-vis vest.
Packing:
- Don’t overload your vehicle.
- Never pack any higher than the rear of the seat backs – you risk injury from items being thrown forward.
- Put heavier items at the bottom; smaller items in bags, under seats or in door pockets.
- Use a correctly fitted roof rack/ box for extra luggage.
- Be aware the extra weight means your vehicle will handle differently and you’ll need to adjust your tyre pressure.
Look after yourself:
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Don’t drink alcohol the night before – especially if it’s an early start.
- Hydrate; dehydrated drivers can make as many errors as drunk ones!
- Take regular rest breaks (we recommend a minimum 20 minute break for every 2 hours driving).
Breakdown on the motorway:
- Pull over on to the hard shoulder or as far to the left as you can.
- Get out of the car by the doors on the left-hand side of your vehicle.
- Stay behind the barriers, up the embankment and to the rear of the vehicle.
- Except in emergency situations pets should be left in the vehicle.
- Don’t put out a warning triangle or try to fix the issue yourself.
- Use one of the emergency phones situated every mile along the carriageway to request assistance.
And off the motorway:
- If it’s safe place a warning triangle at least 50 metres behind the vehicle.
- Only attempt to fix your vehicle if it’s safe.
- Keep emergency breakdown contact details somewhere handy.
Councillor John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “If you’re travelling by car this weekend follow our road safety team advice and have a great bank holiday wherever you spend it.”
For more information and advice on road safety visit: www.somersetroadsafety.org
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