Travel is the biggest cause of Christmas tension
As 13 million of the UK’s drivers take to the roads this Christmas, leading used car website Trusted Dealers, in partnership with the NFDA (National Franchised Dealers Association) has revealed the annual Christmas getaway is one of the biggest cause of stress for families over the festive period.
Forget ‘turkey tension’ and ‘panic presents’, the survey of 1,000 UK motorists found that driving home for Christmas to visit family and the in-laws was the cause of most arguments during the festive break.
Almost half (45 per cent) of all motorists surveyed said remembering to pack presents was the biggest cause of quarrels, followed by fitting everything into the car (37 per cent) and getting everyone out of the house on time (25 per cent).
For men, just over a third (36 per cent) said spending time with their in-laws was also a real source of stress, fuelling arguments during the drive.
In the midst of the festive foray, almost one in five of us (19 per cent) admitted to having previously left the children’s Christmas presents at home, whilst more than a quarter (26%) had forgotten clothes and over a third (36%) left their toothbrush. A further 2% even admitted to leaving the family pet at home during the car-packing chaos.
Trends from the last few years indicate Friday 19th December is set to be the busiest day for getaway traffic, with millions of drivers taking to the roads between 2-5pm as they venture across the country, travelling an average of 63 miles to visit loved ones.
In a move to help relieve some of the festive travel stress, Trusted Dealers has put together a Christmas checklist to remind motorists to undertake essential vehicle maintenance checks prior to getting on the road, alongside a packing list to ensure those all-important Christmas presents, car snacks and family pets don’t get left behind.
Trusted Dealers managing director, Neil Addley, said: “Research shows journeys could take up to three times longer over Christmas as roads become more and more congested. Whilst most families are keen to get on the road as fast as possible, taking a few minutes to check your oil levels, tyre tread and pressure will help keep you and your family safe, plus could also save time in the long run.”
Trusted Dealers recommends drivers undertake the following three checks before embarking on a long journey:
1. Tyre Pressure: The correct tyre pressure depends on the make and model of your vehicle. It can usually be found in the manual, printed on the inside ledge of the driver’s door or inside the petrol cap and will alter based on the weight the vehicle is carrying. To check the pressure, take off the dust cap on the valve, fix on the pressure gauge and take a note of the result. Then inflate to the required pressure and reconnect the dust cap.
2. Tyre Tread Depth: By law your car tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in a continuous band around the central three quarters of the tyre. Although 1.6mm is the minimum, most garages will recommend replacing tyres once the tread depth is below 3mm. We have produced a handy credit card sized guide to measure tread depth which you can request by visiting trusteddealers.co.uk/tyres
3. Oil Level: Ensure the engine is cold and take out the oil dipstick before wiping it on a lint-free cloth. Put the dipstick fully back into the pipe and then take it out again, noting where the oil reaches on the gauge. Add or change the oil as required.