Drivers urged to plan journeys as Cornwall's Easter holiday getaway gets underway
We are being advised to check our vehicles before making journeys too
Drivers are being urged to check their vehicles and plan their journeys as the big Easter holiday getaway gets underway in Cornwall.
Research commissioned by National Highways shows that only one in six drivers check their tyres before setting off on a long journey, meaning some could be taking to the road with a potentially serious vehicle defect.
To underline the risks, separate figures show that a fifth of motorway breakdowns are caused by worn or incorrectly inflated tyres.
National Highways is now urging motorists to carry out some basic vehicle checks before setting off on journeys ahead of the Easter bank holiday with more than 1,000 miles of roadworks being lifted to help drivers. It will mean that around 98 per cent of Englandâs major A-roads and motorway network will be free from roadworks.
DaveâŻHarford, Traffic Officer forâŻNational Highways, who patrols the M5, M42, M50 and other major routes said:âŻâThis is the first bank holiday of the year, so we expect the roads to be busy with people looking to make the most of a long weekend.
âThe last thing anybody wantsâŻon the way to their destinationâŻis to have a vehicle breakdown.âŻThatâs why itâsâŻreally important people spend a few minutes checking the condition of their tyres before setting off.ââŻâŻ
The advice fromâŻNational HighwaysâŻis simple: check your tyre pressure, tread depth and tyre age including the spare, before you set off on a long journey.âŻ
Look out for cuts or wear over the full width of the tyre and donât forget to check the side of the tyre wall.âŻ
Dave added: âAlthough the legal limit for tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, we recommend you donât let the tread get that low. Changing the tyre at 2mm in summer and 3mm in winter is good practice and maintains overall good tyre performance in all conditions. To check your tyre pressure, visit most fuel and service station forecourts, which have an air machine for checking and inflating your tyre pressure.ââŻ
If you are stopped by the police and found with illegal tyres, you could receive a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre.âŻ
National HighwaysâŻsays simple checks are a way to make sure the vehicle is roadworthy.
Things to consider are:
Tyres: Ensure tyre pressures are suitable for the load and check the condition of tyres, including the spare. Look out for cuts or wear across the whole tyre including sidewall.âŻ
Engine oil: Check oil levels regularly and top up if needed. Take your car back to the garage if youâre topping up more than usual.
Water: Always keep your screen wash topped up with a good ratio of water and screen wash to maximise the cleaning efficiency so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen easily.âŻ
Lights: If your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself and your family at risk. In addition, your vehicle may fail itsâŻMoT.
Fuel: Before setting out make sure you have enough fuel to get to your destination. Running out of fuel can put you, your family and other road users at risk unnecessarily.âŻ
If you experience problems with your vehicle and you canât leave the motorway you should always try to go left - to an emergency area, a hard shoulder, motorway services or slip road hard shoulder.âŻâŻ
If that is not possible and you have stopped in a live lane or feel your life is in danger you must stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt and hazard lights on and call 999 immediately.âŻâŻ
Drivers should also take a few minutes to plan their journeys in advance. Live updates on traffic flow can be found atâŻhttp://www.trafficengland.com/.âŻ