*Sponsored Post
After a lovely relaxing weekend in the Welsh countryside, it was time for me and Al to make the 258 mile trip back down South. Of course, with the temperatures dropping to a cool 3 degrees Celsius, poor visibility and an unfamiliar route, it came as no surprise when the dreaded orange light appeared on the dashboard and there were no petrol stations in sight. You could say this wasn’t exactly part of the plan at 1am in the morning.
However, if this whole experience has taught me anything it is: if we fail to prepare then we should prepare to fail. Whilst I haven’t passed my test yet, I think we can all benefit from a Winter essentials list for driving in colder temperatures, or simply when we set out on longer journeys. So, aside from anti-freeze, a scraper and a blanket what else should we take with us when driving home for Christmas?
Prepare Your Vehicle
- Make sure your car has been serviced.
- Test your brakes.
- Check your tyre tread.
- Make sure all of your lights are working and carry spare bulbs.
- Make sure your battery is fully charged.
- Check your wipers and wiper blades are working ok.
- Make sure all of your fluids are topped up – windscreen wash, anti-freeze and oil.
- Consider stocking up on the above essentials at the start of Winter.
Emergency Kit
- Tow rope.
- Snow shovel.
- De-icing equipment.
- A blanket to keep you warm.
- A thermos flask with a hot drink or soup.
- Wear warm clothes.
- Snacks in case you get stranded.
- A fully charged mobile phone.
- A working torch.
- A well stocked first aid kit with foil blanket.
Prepare for your journey
- Check the weather forecast before setting off on a long journey.
- Avoid making long journeys or travelling if conditions are bad.
- Keep your fuel tank near to full – We nearly learnt the hard way!
- Let someone know your route and what time you expect to arrive in case you run into difficulties.
- Consider a map in case your sat nav or phone dies on you.
These are just some of the ways you can prepare for travelling in colder weather such as snow, rain or severe wind. Of course, there are many other ways you can ensure that you and your passengers stay safe, such as ensuring you reduce your speed. If you would like more information on travelling in Winter then you can check out the ROSPA website for more tips and the AA website also sells winter kits for under £30.
Will you be making any long journeys before the New Year? How do you make sure you stay safe? I would love to hear from you all.
Not sure how to perform basic service checks on your vehicle? Check out Cars.com for further tips and advice.
Love Emma
XxXx
*La Blonde Voyage was compensated to write this post on www.lablondevoyage.co.uk.
