One of the best things about driving is the freedom it gives you to travel across the country independently. Many of our former pupils who passed their driving tests earlier this year will be making the most of this during the summer months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those of you driving to a music festival, it\u2019s one of the first chances to savour your new found independence. Although some of the advice in this article may seem obvious to an experienced driver, new drivers are often unaware of the risks of long distance driving, so we\u2019ve put this together to ensure you\u2019re properly prepared before hitting the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Before setting off on a long journey, you need to make sure your vehicle is well prepared. Does it have enough oil, are the tyres in good condition and is there sufficient water in the car\u2019s radiator are all key questions you should be asking yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unsurprisingly, it\u2019s also a good idea to plan your journey; do you know how to get there? There really is no excuse for getting lost now-a-days with the help of a Sat Nav! If you\u2019re sticking to the tried and tested road atlas, make sure you have a co-pilot to map read for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important you have number of \u2018essentials\u2019 with you before you leave for a long journey. For example, a first aid kit, water bottles and sun cream are all necessities. However, preparing for unlikely eventualities is important too. A spade wouldn\u2019t be the first item that springs to mind when packing your festival bag, but you will be grateful for it if the weather takes a turn for the worse and you need to dig your car out of a muddy field!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most common problems among new drivers taking on big journeys is overloading the vehicle. Trying to squeeze five rugby-playing lads and their camping gear into a tiny hatchback simply won\u2019t work! Overloading a car is not only impractical and uncomfortable, it\u2019s dangerous too as the extra weight can dramatically affect the handling and breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many inexperienced drivers are also unaware of the energy required for driving long distances. It goes without saying that driving for hours without having had a good night\u2019s sleep or proper breaks is dangerous to you and other road users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is particularly paramount when driving home from a festival. As the nominated driver, make sure you plan ahead to ensure you are fit and capable to drive you and your passengers home safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure you\u2019ve had a good night\u2019s sleep the night before you drive home and have refrained from drinking alcohol. As well as being dangerous and irresponsible, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, even from the night before, could result in a fine, a ban and even potential imprisonment if stopped by the police. Did you know that one in five convicted drink drivers are actually caught the \u2018morning after the night before\u2019? Don\u2019t be one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The return journey from a festival is often the most dangerous as everyone is usually jaded and less prepared after the weekend\u2019s activities. Make sure you\u2019re alert and crucially, that you anticipate other road users\u2019 actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take regular breaks and stop for a nap if you feel tired. If travelling in a group you need to make sure someone else is awake to keep you company. This person can read directions and chat to help keep you engaged. Similarly, keeping the windows open to provide a supply of fresh air and playing music will certainly keep you responsive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having the independence and freedom to take ourselves off for weekends away with our friends is one of the main reasons most of us started driving in the first place. For new drivers the sense adventure is part of the appeal of driving and should be cherished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, at the same time it\u2019s essential you\u2019re aware of the extra steps you can take to be safe on the road especially during long journeys.\u00a0 As a leading, national driving school and\u00a0instructor training college<\/a>, we have a responsibility to pass on our knowledge and insight, irrespective of how obvious it may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RED Driving School offers a Pass Plus course for newly qualified drivers to help build on the skills and knowledge already gathered as part of the learning to drive process. For more information on our Pass Plus course, please visit our website<\/a> or contact us on 0330 332 2680.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the best things about driving is the freedom it gives you to travel across the country independently. Many…<\/p>\n