Road Trips: Preparing for a long car journey

Long road trips can be taxing enough without having to spend a couple of hours at the side of the road waiting for a recovery van. Motoring journalists Paul Walton, Luke Wood, Chris Pollitt and Mark Dishman tell us what maintenance and mechanical checks will help avoid any driving drama.

Tip one - check the consumables
You can lessen the risk of any problems on your road trip by checking the consumables. These include the fluid levels (oil and water) and tyres, the latter for both pressure and their road worthiness. Don't forget, tyres are the only part of the car that actually touch the road and so need to be in tip-top condition, especially when they're about to do long distances at high speeds.
Paul Walton

Tip two - check your lights
Check that all your lights are working, especially the brake lights. This is easy to do - use reflections or do it after dark if no one's about to help you. Along with the obvious safety benefits, this also keeps the boys in blue happy.
Mark Dishman

Tip three - keep clean
In the winter, the most important thing to remember, whatever the age of your car, is to make sure you have enough screen wash and that your headlights are free of road grime, snow or ice.
Luke Wood

Tip four - if in doubt, don't drive
If you're even slightly apprehensive about your car completing the journey, then maybe you shouldn't ask it to. A hire car is a lot cheaper than recovering your perhaps unsuitable car all the way back home.
Chris Pollitt

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