With many of us about to embark on long journeys home for the Christmas period, it’s important to remember the key things you need to do before going on a long journey. With the rush of buying Christmas presents and sometimes having to work right up until the big day, these essentials can often get forgotten causing delays on your journey. Here are the top 5 things you should do before setting out on a long journey:
1) Check your Oil Level
Checking you oil before setting off on a long journey is essential, especially if your vehicle is a little bit older and uses more oil as a result. To check your oil make sure that it is parked on level ground, the engine is cold before you begin. Use the dipstick to check whether the oil level is between the recommended lines and top up the oil is necessary before you set off.
2) Set up Your Sat Nav
One of the most distracting things a driver can do when on the road is try to adjust and programme their sat nav. Taking your eyes off of the road even just for a few seconds can be hugely dangerous. At First Response, you can find all the info you need about how sat navs work and the science behind them to make sure you’re using the right one for you.
3) Check your Tyres
Tyre pressure is an essential thing to check and can be extremely dangerous if it is too low. Checking your tyre pressure is vital before setting out on a long journey and it’s easy to pump your tyres up if they are low, using the pumps at your local petrol garage.
4) Fill Up the Tank
Running out of petrol on the motorway is a criminal offence, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Always fill up your fuel tank before setting off on a long journey and remember to stop to re-fuel on route if you’re running low.
5) Check Everything is safe
If you’ve got a lot of things in the car, from Christmas presents to kids toys and all of your luggage, doing one final check to make sure that everything is packed in safe and secure before you set off is important so there’s no dangers of things moving around whilst you’re in transit.
Once you’ve done all the key things, all that’s left to do is grab some snacks for the journey and make sure everyone’s nipped to the loo before you get on the road.
