Now summer’s almost upon us, it’s a good idea to spend a little time checking your vehicle is in good order. The temperature and jam packed roads can put more demands on both driver and vehicle. With many families now opting for ‘stay-cation’ and holidaying at home, the prospect of several stressful hours in traffic jams with children squabbling in the back seat is bad enough, without worrying if your vehicle is going to make it to your final destination.
So what sort of things should you be looking out for?  Well, tyres are always the first port of call as high temperatures can cause problems to existing areas such as weak spots leading to possible puncture- nightmare!
Overheating can also be a problem with high temperatures causing problems to cooling systems. There isn’t a motorist in the country who doesn’t start to get hot under the collar when you hit those long queues and the sound of the fan begins to whir. Check the fan by allowing the car to run to normal temperature, then allowing the engine to stay idle for 10 minutes- the cooling fan should cut in automatically.
Many of us who are outnumbered by children are also forced to carry extra luggage on the car roof. Try to keep your luggage as low as possible, better still on a roof rack to prevent drag. Remember to remove the roof rack once you arrive on holiday to reduce fuel costs. Increase tyre pressure if you’re carrying extra luggage including passengers. Never start your air conditioning with doors or windows open.
Just as important as any of the other summer driving tips is your own condition. Always take a 20 minute break every 3 hours, with longer breaks on longer journeys. More short stops are always better than one long break. Try to avoid heavy meals when driving long distances and NEVER drink alcohol before or during a journey.
One final tip is for hay-fever suffers. If you’re a little like me, hay-fever is always worse during the summer. It’s a fact that if you sneeze at 70-mph, you lose your vision for as much as 100 metres. Slow down and drop back if you know you’re about to sneeze. Wear sunglasses, close windows and air vents to reduce pollen in the car and keep those tissues close to hand-yuck!
Enoy your summer and happy, safe motoring.
Elliott Ramsey