It’s the season to be jolly, but it’s also the season of traffic jams and delays, congestion and road accidents. It’s not a nice thing to consider, but when people are on the road and driving home for Christmas, they do it faster than usual. The promise of a family Christmas is enough for some to get on the road and forget their driving manners – and this is not the position that you want to be in when it comes time for you to leave.
Surviving the drive home for Christmas starts with making sure that your car is in the best possible condition to be on the road for a long journey. So, before you start whistling those festive tunes and lining up the playlist for the drive, let’s talk about some of the things that you need to do to get ready for it.
A Christmas Tune-Up
Christmas tunes to one side, you need to get your car to a garage. Those diesel repair services are going to make a big difference to your car and the way that it drives. Be it brand-spanking new tyres or replacement windows, you need to make sure that your car is going to keep you and others safe on the road. So, knowing it’s in the best possible condition is vital for road safety.
Fuel It
While you’re checking your brake pads and tyre pressure, consider making sure that you’re filling your tank. Don’t let it dip below the half-full option, and remember to keep a spare can in the back of the car. You may think you’ll be driving home for Christmas with no issues, but when you’re sitting in traffic, you’re far more likely to consume more diesel than ever. There’s nothing festive about stalling because you didn’t fill up properly!
…And You!
You’ve fuelled your car, so now you must fuel you, too! You’re on a potentially very long drive, and road safety is never more important than in the winter, when people are busy trying to get home. So, consider getting a flask made up and kept in the car so that you know you have coffee on hand when you need it. Staying awake at the wheel is so important, but if you think that this will be a problem, then make sure that you have slept well before you drive and that you are aware of your own exhaustion. Pull over at any time you feel you could fall asleep at the wheel.
Make That Playlist
Speaking of falling asleep at the wheel, you need to start thinking about putting together that playlist that we mentioned earlier. This playlist needs to be enough to keep you awake and ready to stop you from driving into oncoming traffic. So, load up those Christmas tunes and start on your way!
Driving home for Christmas should be an exciting time as you can get to see family when you get to the other side. Drive safely!
