Planning a great day out?

Research reveals that we can spend the same amount of time travelling to our destination on a family day out as we do enjoying the attractions when we get there. The same survey highlighted though that we are neglecting our cars and their tyres before making these trips.

The combination of a return journey of 104 miles plus a comfort break on both legs equates to an average 3 hours 9 minutes – just short of the 3 hours 17 minutes we spend on average at the resort or attraction according to the findings.

Although many of us will spend that time travelling this weekend, doing the basic checks on our cars is not high up on the list of priorities for British families.

Seven in ten of those polled said they checked their fuel level before heading off but safety checks were much less common. Only half check their tyres are properly inflated. Around one in three (35 per cent) make sure they have screen wash and only one in four (27 per cent) make any inspection of tyre tread depth.

Tim Bailey from Continental Tyres said; “It’s important to make sure that your car is fit to do the journey, after all you don’t want to spend time broken down at the side of the road. If we are unlucky and it does rain this weekend, then families should also remember that a tread depth of anything below 3mm means longer braking distances. The risk of aquaplaning also increases as our tyre tread depth gets lower. Check your tyres before you go and save time and money in the long run.”

Of those polled, one in five had experienced a breakdown when on a family day out and another one in five had suffered a puncture.

Tim continues; “Our new 3minmax.com website shows drivers the basic safety checks for their tyres. They are quick and easy to do. Good tyre maintenance can not only make you safer on the road but also prolong the life of your tyres and help you use less fuel.”

The study also found that we each take 6 day trips a year, adding up to a staggering 104 million family days out a year. The average spend for each trip is £59, excluding fuel, meaning over £6bn a year is invested in getting some quality time with friends and family. Tyre manufacturer Continental has a website that can help save you money on those precious family experiences, visit ContiGreatDaysOut.co.uk for more information.