This August bank holiday weekend many people will be ‘gearing’ up to hit the roads, with the average driver spending a total of 251 minutes in the car travelling to and from their destination, with the most popular hot spots being Cornwall, Devon and the Lake District. However, research from car insurance provider 1ST CENTRAL has revealed that two thirds of Brits suffer from road-trip-phobia and dread spending long periods of time in the car.
When it comes to what sets off road-trip-phobia, the biggest triggers were found to be heavy traffic, tiresome drives and being uncomfortable in the car. Back seat driving puts a tenth of motorists off longer journeys, and a quarter of drivers can’t survive long road-trips without 4G or a Wi-Fi signal, especially social savvy people under 30, saying this is essential for a good trip.
While some might find long car journeys daunting, it needn’t drive road‑trippers round the bend. There are simple steps drivers can take such as checking their breakdown cover, which will give peace of mind that you have roadside assistance should you come into difficulty on the journey.
By following these simple hacks you can take the stress out of your journey, leaving you and your friends with more time to simply get on with what matters and enjoy the views and your time together!
1. Get a breath of fresh air
Stuffy cars are the worst, especially on long car journeys, which is why it’s important to have air conditioning on or the windows open to circulate air within the car. Not only will this help motorists drive with a clear head, but passengers are also less likely to feel nauseous and uncomfortable on the journey.
2. Check your breakdown cover
There’s nothing worse than setting off on a road trip and coming into car trouble. Before setting off, check your level of breakdown cover. If you’re travelling far, will you be provided with accommodation if needed, will you be provided with an alternative car to continue our journey? Make sure to check ahead of time so that you’re not left in the lurch should you come into difficulty.
3. You won’t like them when they’re ‘hangry’
Ensure you have a sufficient number of snacks and drinks in the car so no one gets ‘hangry’ on the way. Obviously, think practically about what food and drink will travels best – you wouldn’t want to have a messy car by the time you reach your destination. So, drinks in cartons or cans and dry snacks tend to work best. You may also want to avoid snacks high in sugar so that kids aren’t sent into a craze in the car.
4. Check how many service stations there are along your route
While you don’t want to incur the wrath of ‘hangry’ passengers and will want to keep them hydrated, be mindful that they will need to relieve themselves along the way. So, Google how many service stations or restroom opportunities there are along your route to ensure you stick to your schedule and accommodate the needs of those who you’re travelling with.
5. Check your tech
There is nothing more frustrating than finding out your sat nav doesn’t work, or your phone battery dies mid-journey. Check your technology works the night before you travel and ensure you have a power bank or charging cable in the car to keep you on track.
6. Keep your friends/family entertained while keeping your sanity
With so many portable gadgets now available to buy, you can easily find some in-car entertainment tech to suit every budget. While these are great to keep the little ones entertained on long car journeys, more traditional car games like eye-spy can also do the trick and singing songs can help to make the journey fly by.
Top 10 road trip destinations
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Lake District
- Blackpool
- Edinburgh
- Yorkshire
- Scottish Highlands
- Snowdonia
- Glasgow
- Isle of Wight
