Freshers’ week is beginning for many, and students are going to be making their way north, south, east and west to begin their higher education. For some this will be the longest journey they’ve ever driven, to a new area, with a car fully laden with all their worldly goods. Here are some driving tips for those packing their bags up for the big trip to university from IAM RoadSmart’s communications manager Caroline Holmes.

• Try to reduce your distractions. Turning the music lower and giving yourself plenty of time, will help you maintain greater focus. If you need to arrive at a hall of residence or flat at a certain time give yourself plenty of leeway to reduce stress

• Thumbs are for driving, not for texting. Pull over in a safe place if you need to contact anyone

• Plan your route. Assuming you have never been to the destination before it’s always good to know where to stop for a spot of tea or a snack during your journey

• Practice before you set out on the motorway. If you’ve only recently passed your driving test, one of the biggest challenges is motorway driving. It can often be daunting so we recommend getting some advice from an experienced driver.  Make sure that you and the car are in tip top condition for a long journey

   

• Try to avoid driving at night, especially if you’re concerned about finding your location or do not feel confident

   

• Pack the car safely to ensure you can still see out.  Loose items can be a distraction and if you have to brake suddenly you don’t want a wave of cases, books and DVDs hitting the back of your head

Caroline said: “The temptation to overload a car that is only used for short journeys and head out on the motorway can be overwhelming. But breaking down at the side of the motorway is not a great start to your academic career. Taking the time to load properly, doing some basic mechanical checks and planning your trip will get you off to a flying start.”