Follow these essential tips and you may come home from your daily commute with your sanity intact!
Whether heading into the office, doing the school run or rushing to after work/school activities, driving at this time of year can really get to the best of us so we've collated some tips to help you keep your cool out on the roads.
Prepare for congestion
Commuting equals traffic so just be prepared for it, leave as early as you can to help alleviate stress and maybe pop on a podcast to help ease the frustration. Watch out for impatient drivers showing signs of road rage as well as school buses, children and more pedestrians in general.
Be patient with young drivers
Schools back so that means more young drivers on the road maybe even for the first time. Also be mindful of the fact R drivers in particular are inexperienced and still learning so keep a watchful eye out, remember you were a new driver once too.
Check your tyres
Fluctuations in temperature at this time can impact your tyre pressure. Heat causes air to expand and if there's too much pressure, tyres can blow out so do keep an eye on thread levels and tyre pressure.
Monitor fluid levels
It's always important to regularly maintain your car to ensure safe driving at any time of the year. Simple things like making sure you've enough fuel to reach your destination - you can easily be caught out by the side of the motorway if you come across an accident and you're sitting in a long tailback. If you're driving an electric car know where your nearest charging point is too.
Don't forget to top up your washer fluid as well. Heavy downpours can make it super difficult to clearly see through especially when the leaves blow and deposit streaks all over your screen. Engine coolant checks are also a must so your car doesn't overheat.
The weather at this time of year can change quickly so ensure you're not caught out by a frosty morning and have some antifreeze to hand.
Prepare for night driving
It's getting darker earlier now so remember that driving in the dark can be a different experience especially when you are out on country roads.
Use your lights
Between darker evenings and heavy downpours you may need to use your headlights more than usual if they aren't automatic. Make sure to check your headlights and brake lights as they all need to be working properly to keep you safe.
