Preparing for Summer Breakdowns
The British summer time is almost upon us and thousands of us will flock to the coast for UK holidays this year. Whether we are going away for the weekend or a longer break the summer months are the busiest time of the year for the UK's breakdown services.
The hotter temperatures and the increased congestion on the road through sheer weight of traffic increase breakdowns dramatically. With this in mind this article will look at a few tips if you are unfortunate enough to be one of the thousands of motorists that breakdown on the road this year.
Car Maintenance
The best way to deal with summer breakdown is to avoid breaking down at all. This may seem like an obvious statement but there are many things that you can easily check on your car to help and avoid a breakdown in the first place. Simple checks such as water level and oil levels can greatly reduce the risk of a breakdown during the summer months. By making sure that the water levels in the car at the correct level you can reduce the risk of overheating, one of the UK's biggest causes of summer breakdown.
Check the condition of your tyres before you set off. Another big cause of breakdown is flat or blown tyres. By checking that the tyres on your vehicle are in good order you can help avoid disruption to your journey because of flat or blown tyres. Another tip is to make sure that you have all the equipment necessary to change a wheel. This will mean that if you are unlucky enough to experience problems the delay could be a matter of half an hour rather than hours
Finally by making sure that the car's services are up to date you can greatly reduce the risk of breakdown on your journey this summer.
Breakdown cover
Before you set off this summer make sure that your breakdown cover is up to date. Recovery of your vehicle by an independent breakdown company can be very costly, by paying a yearly subscription to one of the UK's breakdown providers can save you huge amounts of money in the long run. It is also worth talking to your motor car insurance company as a lot of car insurance companies offer breakdown policies included in your motor insurance premium.
Useful items
To make life easier in the event of a breakdown here are a few items that you could carry in the vehicle:
Sun cream/ Sun hat - During the summer the sun can be very strong and in the event of a break down you may have to leave the car. By carrying protection from the sun you can reduce the risk of sunburn.
Food and Water - Food and especially water reduces the risk of dehydration while waiting for breakdown assistance.
Warning Triangle - Can be placed behind the car to warn approaching motorists of your presence.
Medical kit - Medical kits which include head ache tablets and insect sting sprays can make your wait more comfortable.
Torch - Very useful if you breakdown in the dark for finding items around the vehicle.
Entertainment - Entertainment for both you and the kids can pass the time while waiting for recovery and reduce the stress related with breakdown.
In closing by following the few tips in this article you may be able to avoid breakdown this summer completely. By being prepared and packing the right things in the car you can make an unfortunate breakdown less stressful.
