Avoid the bank holiday breakdown blues
The August Bank Holiday weekend is approaching, and although the weather doesn’t look great it’s predicted that millions of cars will be out on the road. With that will inevitably come a surge of breakdowns, stressful at best and dangerous at worst.
Here are some breakdown safety tips from Richard Gladman, Chief Examiner at IAM RoadSmart, to make sure you’re prepared for the journey ahead.
Leave it to the professionals
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Don’t try to repair anything if you are not confident. Wait for your breakdown professional to arrive, especially if you’re stopped in a dangerous location such as on the hard shoulder of a motorway. It’s important to get the occupants out of the car via the nearside doors and safely away from the road – over the barrier and up the embankment is best.
Know your location
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Knowing where you are will help them find you so take a mental note of junctions and place names along your route.
Make sure you can be seen
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If you need to get out of the vehicle, put on reflective clothing if you have it, especially if it’s dark or wet.
Stay charged
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Always carry a fully charged mobile phone but if you haven’t got one then look for the nearest safe place to make a call, such as a local shop or open business. Never walk across a motorway or dual carriageway to get to an emergency phone.
Plan for unexpected emergencies
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Try to pack an emergency bag with the basics – a drink, some snacks, phone charger, and items to keep your passengers occupied. A breakdown can take time and money to fix, so a credit card will also be a useful essential item.
Richard said “Plan for the best but prepare for the worst and your journey will be far less stressful, should anything go wrong. The last thing you want is to start your Bbank holiday with a breakdown that ruins your plans and those of your passengers. Keeping up to date with routine maintenance will help prevent you from being caught out. Stay safe and enjoy the bank holiday.”
