If you’re heading away on a road trip this summer, make sure you know the rules. While road trips are a fabulous holiday and a summer tradition, they can also be full of financial pitfalls due to the road rules. Flouting these laws accidentally could see you thousands of pounds out of pocket.
The experts at Yell spoke to Mark Hayes from HG Evans Garage Ltd, who has 44 years of experience in garage services, about some of the lesser-known rules that could catch out holidaymakers this summer. The number one mistake people make is not checking their tire PSI.
You must check your tyres before any summer getaway, making sure your tread depth is above the legal limit of 1.6mm to avoid a £10,000 fine.
You also need to ensure that the rubber is in good condition and that your tyre pressure is the correct PSI as well as checking your brakes to avoid three points on your license and a £2,500 fine.
Make sure the brake fluid levels are correct before setting off. If you fear they are faulty for any reason, contact your local garage or servicing centre for assistance before your journey.
If you’ve decided to go on a proper road trip and are towing a caravan or trailer then you must double check your car has the right towing capacity.
It’s also crucial you know where you’re driving. Make sure to familiarise yourself with the route and local roads, and keep an eye on your clutch.
If you’ve driven between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, it’s time to get your clutch checked to ensure it won’t fail. Hilly areas are particularly dangerous for this.
Hot weather can also cause issues for your car battery. If you know your battery is ageing, consider replacing it before any long journey.
Three-year replacement cycles are recommended and Hayes recommends being careful about taking lots of short journeys in the summer, especially if you have multiple devices plugged in as this will drain your battery far more rapidly.
Make sure to check your car battery around once a week in hot weather, especially if it is around three years old.