Three tips for holiday drivers
With millions of people setting off on their summer holidays, the roads of Britain are jam packed with cars. Some are headed to airports, others to ferry ports, and yet others to UK holiday destinations.
Many of these drivers will have their normal day-to-day routine thrown out the window by their holiday and find themselves having to get up at an ungodly hour to catch a flight or a channel crossing.
However, the fact that these travellers have to get up even earlier than when they usually do for work is forgotten. The excitement of going away on holiday with their family is enough to put all cares out of the window.
The tiredness from the early start, the missed meals and the excited holiday spirit all add up to one thing: very distracted drivers.
Keep your eyes on the road, don't let them close
Many people who choose to holiday in the UK will be making potentially long journeys to destinations such as Cornwall,
Skegness, Blackpool and Eastbourne. Each holidaymaking family is likely to travel hundreds of miles to get to their chosen
destination, as most do not choose to holiday close to home.
A large proportion of those who go abroad on holiday will also be doing a lot of driving. Whilst some will get a ferry and then drive across France, others will take an aeroplane abroad and then rent a car for their holiday.
Most people have experienced the fatigue that goes with travelling long distances but do not consider that they might be a danger behind the wheel when driving in this state. After all, they are on holiday, what could possibly go wrong?
Unfortunately, a lot can, and many families experience the shock of a car accident on holiday because the driver has nodded off or simply lost concentration. Even if the holidaymakers are unhurt in the accident, a crunch can mean a costly car insurance claim and substantial inconvenience.
Keep your hands on the wheel, don't have a meal
Skipping meals is something typical of many people who are just setting out on holiday. Breakfast might be foregone in order to
get an early start, whilst lunchtime can slip by while making good progress up the motorway.
Snacking is the easy option for holidaying drivers who just want to get on with the journey. Lots will make a quick stop at McDonalds for a breakfast platter and a cup of coffee, whilst others who aren't yet hungry will pop into a garage to buy a sandwich for later on in the journey.
In order to get some more miles under their belt, some drivers will eat the bulk of their meal at the motorway services but will take their coffee with them to cool down in the car. The potential for injury is clear and each year there are a number of unfortunate drivers who will have a sudden end to their summer holiday after spilling hot coffee while driving.
Most people wouldn't think twice about taking a sip from a bottle of Coke or a bite from a sandwich whilst driving. However, eating or drinking these innocent-looking foodstuffs while in control of a car has been found to double the chance of having a car accident.
And even if you don't crash, you may end up losing your right to cheap car insurance if you have to make a claim for an unsightly coffee-stained interior.
Keep your mind on the job, not on the mob
Most people going on holiday will be accompanied by friends, partners or children, who are likely to be in a very excitable mood. If
all is going to plan, there may well be lots of singing, playing games and being generally exuberant in order to pass the time on
the road quicker. If things aren't going so well, the car may be filled with the sounds of crying children and arguments.
All this is very distracting for the driver, who has to split their attention between the road and, depending on the in-car atmosphere, either joining in with the excitement or preventing war from breaking out in the back seat.
For many people going on holiday with their family, getting in the car is usually a bit of a squash. Having a full complement of passengers plus luggage can prove extremely distracting for a driver, especially if they have to change their natural driving position in order to create more space for other occupants. If belongings are not properly secured, drivers also run the risk of getting distracted by items rolling into the footwell.
All these possible disruptions can put drivers at risk of losing their cheap car insurance deal due to an accident that could have been avoided had they been fully concentrating.
Happy holidays
If you are off on holiday this summer and you are taking your car, duck2water Car Insurance Services wishes you a good time
and offers three tips to keep you safe:
- Keep your eyes on the road
- Keep your hands on the wheel
- Keep your mind on the job
Author: Alex Gubbins, Duck2Water Car Insurance
Duck2water Car Insurance Services are experts in cheap car insurance and can provide fast, free quotes in a matter of seconds: just go to http://www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk or call 0333 123 1308.