Tag: road conditions

Essential driving tips for safe journeys this festive season

Travelling home for Christmas or out and about visiting family can be a hectic and dangerous time on our roads.

Around Christmas, conditions are normally challenging with cold and wet weather making roads treacherous.

The evenings are also darker, with a larger volume of cars. Traffic experts estimate nearly 30 million journeys take place in the UK over the Christmas holidays, as people hunt for gifts, enjoy festive nights out and celebrate with friends and family.

Experts from Tiger.co.uk have named six important steps for drivers to take when travelling over the festive period, particularly if they have kids in the car.

The calendar is normally packed full of festivities that children often need to be driven to, from visiting Santa, to pantomimes, town Christmas light switch-ons and carol services – often driving long distances or through turbulent winter weather conditions.

It’s crucial for parents or guardians to be aware of potential issues to ensure a safe and responsible driving environment for little ones.

Crucially, parents should use an appropriate car seat or seat belt for their child’s age, height, and weight and make sure it’s installed properly, regularly cleaned and is compatible with the vehicle.

According to the Highway Code, children must use a car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 cm tall, and toddlers under 15 months must be placed in a rear-facing car seat.

Failing to comply with these rules can result in a fine of up to £500 and penalty points.

The Highway Code Rule 98 also warns drivers to make sure objects are secure when loading a car. Christmas presents, juice bottles and toys need to be stored properly before setting off, to reduce the risk of them hurting people inside the car in the event of an accident.

Busy parents or caregivers are also reminded to avoid multitasking while driving and avoid driving altogether if they are too tired over the festive break.

Ian Wilson, car insurance expert and Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk said: “Driving over the holiday season can bring a whole new set of challenges given the unpredictable weather, busy roads and hectic Christmas calendar.

“It also brings unfamiliar situations as more people do late night runs as designated drivers, usual routes can suffer additional congestion due to festive events and Christmas lights and festive spectacles can make for distractions.

“It’s important for drivers to be aware of these additional hazards and safety tips in the build up to Christmas, leaving time to prepare the car, the passengers and ensure they’re not too tired to drive.

“Careless driving can see motorists handed an unlimited fine with three to nine penalty points so it’s best to be aware of the dangers and plan ahead.”

Tiger’s tips for staying safe on the roads this Christmas: 

1. Avoid distractions and ensure visibility

It’s important that the driver can see out of the vehicle properly at all times, so presents need to be packed and stored safely in the boot – and not on the parcel shelf. If the car is decorated for Christmas, you need to be careful that it’s not a distraction to the driver and they can see clearly out of all of the windows.

2. Check you’re not too tired

The Christmas period can put a lot of stress on drivers. Organising, packing, wrapping and spending time visiting lots of family members can be exhausting but you should never drive when tired. Anyone experiencing festive fatigue should swap drivers, take a rest stop to recharge or consider public transport. 

3. Beware of bulky clothes

Although the winter chill means children are likely wrapped up warm before getting into the car, bulky coats should not be worn in car seats. They leave extra space under the harness, which could lead them to slip through the straps during an accident. To keep kids warm in the car, dress them in thin layers and use a blanket over the harness. 

4. Double-check child lock

When driving with children, child locks should also be in use. Children may open the door accidentally while moving – which is incredibly dangerous and could be seen as careless driving and result in a hefty fine and points on your licence. Without a child lock, children can also try to leave the vehicle in busy areas before the parents are ready to help.  

5. Car seats are a priority 

When driving with young children under 12 years or 135 cm tall, it is crucial to follow guidelines provided by car seat manufacturers and the law, to ensure children are properly restrained. Babies under 15 months must be placed in a rear-facing car seat. Refit and clean the seats regularly to ensure they are secure and free from debris that could hinder the buckles.

6. Be wary of multitasking

Passengers, especially children, can be very excitable when travelling at Christmas time, but it is important for drivers not to get distracted. Whether you are tending to their needs or trying to calm them down in the car, these distractions could lead to accidents. It is important to stay focused on the road in order to remain in control of the vehicle. If children in the car are becoming fussy on long journeys, it is better to pull over and take a break in a safe spot before taking to the road again. 

It’s also sensible to add breakdown cover to car insurance policies this Christmas or purchase a standalone product – drivers should check with their insurer to see if they have it already as standard, to avoid paying extra.

Potholes now pose a severe risk to life, safety experts warn

Motorists have been warned that the risk to life because of potholes is now severe, as new figures reveal UK roads are in the worst condition in years.

Road safety experts at Road Angel are urging councils to fork out and repair potholes or they say road users will lose their lives.

Local authorities paid out over £32 million in compensation for 5,596 personal injury claims due to potholes between 2017 and 2021, according to a freedom of information request. 

Pothole-related breakdowns hit a five-year high in July this year, with 50,079 callouts to vehicles stranded with faults caused by potholes, an increase of nearly one-fifth from 41,790 in July 2022. 

With fewer potholes being repaired in the last financial year than any other in the past decade, there is concern that thousands more will be injured, and killed, as a direct result of badly kept roads. 

A wet summer has meant that UK roads are in a worse condition than expected as water causes greater damage and repairs are harder to carry out.

If left, potholes grow in size as traffic wears away the edges leaving greater numbers of larger holes that will cause serious damage if driven through.

Motoring organisations are reporting that these larger potholes fill up with water in the wet so are harder for motorists to spot.

Drivers run the risk of losing control of their car when they drive over potholes, especially if they don’t spot them and are moving at speed. 

Potholes can cause extensive damage to a car’s tyres which can affect steering alignment, and can also cause wheels to burst, pop or deflate while driving which could send the vehicle out of control. 

They can also cause suspension to become misaligned leading to tyres being at the wrong angle which can also lead to a loss of control. 

Over 29,000 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads last year and 11% of crashes were caused by a loss of control. 

Gary Digva, founder of Road Angel, is now pleading with local authorities to assess the risk to life if the pothole problem in the UK is not repaired. 

He said: “It is shocking to see that the pothole plague in the UK is not being taken seriously by local councils given how many people are injured because of them.

“With fewer potholes being repaired than in the last decade, it is only a matter of time before we start seeing an increase in accidents, injuries and fatalities unless something changes. 

“Potholes are incredibly dangerous for motorists as they can cause them to lose control, especially if they cause damage to the tyres of suspension, or swerve out of the way to prevent damage. 

“Almost 30,000 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads last year, and we fear these numbers could increase with the current state of the roads. 

“Potholes not only pose a threat to motorists, but they are also dangerous for cyclists because the uneven surfaces can cause the bike to lose control, leading to accidents and serious injuries.

“Pedestrians could also get caught in the crossfire of out-of-control vehicles, putting them at serious risk of harm if walking along a busy road. 

“To make matters worse, we have had an unusually wet summer this year which makes potholes harder for road users to see, meaning more people are at risk of hitting potholes and losing control.

“The best advice to motorists while the roads are in this substandard condition is to drive with caution at all times and reduce speeds when approaching a pothole.

“Motorists concerned for their safety after hitting a pothole should ensure they go to a qualified mechanic to check the vehicle for any damage.

“It is also worth noting that to make a claim in the event of injury or car damage from a pothole, evidence must be collected to show it was caused by the council’s negligence.  

“This is a tough process, but can be done using witness statements, photo or video evidence and medical records, so while the roads are neglected by the councils it may be worth investing in a dashcam to capture pothole proof.”