For the unprepared driver, the summer holidays bring traffic, hot days, and the stress of navigating to unknown places. Here are a few simple tips to help you avoid a holiday breakdown disaster and make sure your summer holidays run as smoothly as your car.

Thing to check to prevent summer breakdowns:

Clutch

Summer is known for long road trips to new places. Driving in start-stop traffic and on unexpected hilly roads can all take their toll on your clutch. So, make sure to get it checked out - especially if you’ve noticed your biting point has changed. Another cause of clutch failure is towing an overloaded caravan or trailer.

If you’re towing, make sure that your caravan or trailer isn’t too heavy, and that your car can safely tow that amount of weight. All of these factors combined could be a recipe for disaster, so always check your clutch and never overload your car.

If your car has the auto engine stop-start feature, make sure it’s activated as it can help to save fuel because the vehicle isn’t idling in traffic. 

Battery

Sitting in that summer start-stop traffic or taking short journeys can mean that your car isn’t replenishing its battery life properly. Also, if you have a car full of kids ready for a long journey, all of the electronic devices being plugged in can drain the battery severely.

If the battery isn’t being replenished while you’re stuck in traffic, this could lead to a battery failure. Replacing your battery every three years is an effective way to help prevent this. What’s more, activating your car’s auto engine start-stop feature can help to reduce idling time, improving your battery’s performance and lifespan.

If you’re driving short distances frequently - especially with multiple devices plugged in – it might be worth removing your battery to charge it once a week.

Tyres

It’s easy to forget to check your tyres before a journey. However, cracked or bulging rubber can easily break during the strain of a long drive, leading to blowouts. If you have a spare tyre, you can easily replace this on the go. If more than one tyre goes, this could be more costly.

Check for cracks, bulges, or aged-looking tyres before setting out. Also, be sure to check your tyre pressure. Your driver’s manual will tell you what your tyre pressure should be, so make sure it matches up.

Fluids

We’ve all been told to keep drinking our liquids in hot weather – and this applies to your car too. Checking that your car has the correct amount of oil and engine coolant will help to prevent your car from overheating. You might have seen it in films, but it’s true – if steam starts to come out from under your bonnet, pull over, as the problem may be serious.

Air conditioning

Checking that your air conditioning works won’t prevent a breakdown, but it’ll definitely make your journey more enjoyable. Air con systems run on gas, and if the pressure drops, it will start to fail. Go to your local garage to get the gas checked if you’re worried, and you can have it re-gassed ready for your trip. You’ll thank us later.

What to carry in your car in case of a summer breakdown:

Bottled water

Make sure you have plenty of water for everyone in the car so that nobody gets dehydrated if you break down – or if you get lost on your way!

Fully charged mobile phone

Make sure your phone is charged and pack an in-car charger just in case. Google Maps is helpful in case you get lost. Just make sure you pull over to set your route or get your passenger to do it. 

Fuel

Check that you have enough fuel for the journey. Cars use more fuel when stuck in traffic so, if you’re driving a busy route, such as to a festival or to the airport, take this into account – it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Sunscreen

Keep sun cream in your car in warmer weather. It’ll help if you break down and end up standing in the sun for a long time. It’s also handy if you’re out and realise you’ve forgotten to put it on!

Sunglasses

It’s never fun trying to drive when the sun is blinding you, but it’s a common issue that comes with summer driving. Keep a pair of sunglasses in your car for when the sun becomes too bright. Putting them on will help you to keep your eyes on the road and make driving more comfortable. If you’re still struggling to see, remember to pull over in a safe place and wait for the brightness to pass.

Medication

If you’re driving far away, you might not be able to get extra supplies of medication. So, make sure you stock up and take plenty with you. Antihistamines might be a good idea during allergy season. There’s nothing worse than trying to drive while dealing with the symptoms of hay fever!

Wherever you go this summer, remember to stay safe. Even though the weather is better, there are still risks out on the road. So, make sure you’re prepared for whatever may happen.

Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore WiseDriving cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.

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