Travelling during the festive period is often stressful, especially for people driving long distances. With the worry of bad weather and traffic delays, car owners are being warned to take extra care when travelling over the Christmas break.
To help motorists navigate the roads during the festive period, Tim Rodie, Motorpoint’s resident driving expert, has shared six useful tips to make travelling as stress-free as possible this Christmas.
Switch drivers every two hours
“When driving longer distances, it’s normal for motorists to become tired and restless after a few hours on the road, making it difficult to concentrate. ‘Driving fatigue’ can be impacted by several factors, such as time of day, stress and how long you have been behind the wheel. With up to 20% of all crashes attributed to driver fatigue, it’s really important to make sure you’re planning regular breaks throughout your journey.”1
“If possible, it’s a good idea to split the driving when making long journeys, giving you time to rest. If it’s not possible to split the driving with another motorist, The Highway Code recommends taking a 15-minute break every two hours to ensure that you’re as refreshed as possible when driving.”2
Be strategic about when you travel
“There’s nothing worse than being stuck in traffic. That’s why I’d always suggest being flexible about the time of day you travel to avoid the roads while they’re at their busiest.
“According to data from the RAC, roads will be busiest between 12pm to 2pm throughout the festive period, so drivers may want to avoid lunchtime journeys. Motorists wanting to avoid traffic, should travel before 11am or after 6pm on the days leading up to Christmas.3
“No matter what day you’re planning to travel, I’d suggest trying to set off as early or as late as possible to avoid as much Christmas congestion as you can.”
Use this trick for motorway driving
“If you’re taking on long motorway drives over Christmas, try lowering your hands on the steering wheel to help reduce shoulder tension. Typically, you should hold a wheel at the nine and three clock face positions but, when on a long, straight piece of motorway, try moving them down to around eight and four.
“This trick is popular with chauffeurs and will reduce the weight you carry through your shoulders – helping you stay comfortable on long drives. Just remember to return your hands to the nine and three positions when you leave the motorway.”
Check for road works
“Road works can play a big part in how smooth your journey is because the last thing you want are additional delays caused by road maintenance. Before you set off, map out your route and check online for live reports of roadworks that could add extra time to help you find the most efficient route. With some forward planning, you might be able to easily adjust your route and avoid further delays.”
Build in extra time
“We all tend to be working to tight timelines over the festive period so it’s worth building an extra 30 to 45 minutes into any long drives to act as a buffer.
“Whether it’s used to account for traffic, to pick up a last-minute gift or card, or just as a chance to stretch your legs, having some extra time can take the pressure off and make you feel much more relaxed.”
If you aren’t sure if you should drive, then don’t
“Christmas can be exhausting so try to rest before getting behind the wheel. It’s a good idea to make sure you stop regularly to stretch your legs and get some fresh air.
“If you’re feeling tired when driving, you should always pull over as soon and stretch your legs. Before getting back in the driver’s seat, it’s important to have a break or swap drivers until you’re feeling alert again.
“Similarly, while it goes without saying that you should never drink and drive, motorists need to be mindful of how long alcohol can stay in their system. That’s particularly true over Christmas when we all tend to drink a little more. If you don’t feel 100% confident driving, then it’s always best to wait. After all, it’s much better to change your plans than put yourself and other road users at risk.”
For more information or to find out what cars Motorpoint would recommend for long distance driving, visit: https://www.motorpoint.co.uk/best/cars-for-long-distance-driving
