![]( "car journey")
Essential tips to plan a successful car journey.
From sat navs to apps, there are a host of things you can do to ensure your car journey goes without a hitch.
From packing up the car to deciding on the best route, planning and partaking in a long car journey can be a stressful time for any motorist. With car insurance premiums and petrol prices close to all time highs, getting to your location in the fastest possible time has never been so important.
Whether you’re a fan of modern technology like sat navs or you prefer a good old fashioned route map, there are a range of things you can do to ensure your journey goes as smoothly as possible and you don’t end up spending the majority of your day stuck in five mile tailback on the M6.
The first thing to do when planning any car journey is to check out the government’s free Journey Planner – this invaluable site can help with all aspects of your journey from the original route to finding a secure car park. It will also keep you up to date with the latest traffic news so it’s a good idea to check it just before you leave the house.
When going on a long car journey it’s also a good idea to subscribe to the Highway Agency‘s live traffic updates via RSS feed or email. This will give you details on planned roadworks and can be checked by your passenger for any traffic announcements. A similar iPhone app is also available.
If you’re planning on using your satnav, make sure you have the right power cable and that you’ve updated your machine. Similarly, if you’re relying on maps, ensure that your map is the latest version – you don’t want to plan a journey only to find that a certain road doesn’t exist anymore!
The next thing to do is check the weather forecast. Check for any sign of severe weather and adjust your planned route as necessary. If you’re travelling in the winter, make sure you take emergency warm clothes and blankets just incase your vehicle breaks down.
Lastly before you partake in any long car journeys it’s a good idea to do a few simple checks. Before you set off always ensure your vehicle is roadworthy, has enough fuel for your journey and has a spare tyre which is in a good condition.