Holiday drivers should use travellers checks

New Kwik-Fit research reveals that of the 20 million drivers who will be setting off on UK holidays this year, four million (one fifth) will not perform any pre-travel checks.

The research shows that the average family on a domestic holiday expects to cover 400 miles on their summer break.  However, despite knowing they have all those miles ahead of them, many drivers are risking holiday hell by ignoring basic checks before they set off.

Three million holidaying motorists (15%) are due to travel over 750 miles this year, with high temperatures, busy roads and heavy loads combining to put cars under strain. Those motorists neglecting to make checks should look at the figures from last year for a cautionary tale – half a million motorists admit to breaking down whilst holidaying within the UK in 2009 and 400,000 suffered a puncture.

Indeed Kwik-Fit’s research shows that half (48%) of motorists don’t check their tyre tread – the legal minimum is 1.6mm – and one in five fails to check the pressure.  And nearly two thirds (63%) of motorists say they don’t check their spare tyre before hitting the road.

Despite the prospect of overheating in traffic jams, 55% don’t inspect their coolant levels and 62% do not make sure their brake fluid is at the right level.  Screen wash and oil levels both go unchecked by a quarter of drivers.

When it comes to clocking up the holiday miles, the Scots are out in front with an average mileage of 442 miles.  Motorists staying closest to home are those in the North East, whose average round trip is 313 miles.

Ian Fraser, chief executive at Kwik-Fit, commented: “The summer months can be a demanding time for cars, often fully-laden and expected to travel long distances.

“We encourage holiday makers to bring their cars into Kwik-Fit for a free check, so they can set off relaxed, safe in the knowledge that they’ve done all they can to ensure their holiday goes without a hitch.

“There are very real safety implications involved as well ­– worryingly, brakes are one of the pre-travel checks most neglected by holidaymakers.  And the importance of the spare tyre shouldn’t be underestimated, as a full car on worn out rubber could spell disaster.”