One in six won’t check car tyres but many will spend over half an hour choosing music
Brits holidaying by car will travel an average of 563 miles to UK destinations and 815 miles for foreign trips
British holidaymakers are being advised to ensure they prioritise their preparation before getting into their car for summer holiday journeys.
New research shows that this summer, those using their own car for UK holidays will travel an average of 563 miles, while those heading overseas in their car will typically cover 815 miles.*
The research, carried out for Kwik Fit, the UK’s leading automotive servicing and repair company, revealed how people plan to prepare for their journeys. The findings carry a warning – they show that when it comes to preparing for all those miles, many drivers are spending more time poring over Spotify or rifling through their CD collection than making vital checks on their car or planning their journey.
One in six (16%) holidaymakers travelling by car won’t check their tyre pressures – but many will still find time to prepare a travel playlist or select their snacks. Of the 4.9million Brits admitting that they won’t ensure their tyres are correctly inflated before setting off, nearly a third (30%) say they will instead spend time choosing the music for their journey, picking their tunes for an average of 36 minutes. 55% will spend an average of 22 minutes buying their sweets and snacks for the car.
Not only are tyre pressures being overlooked, other simple but essential checks are even more likely to be neglected. Despite the growing probability of high temperatures, over a quarter of holidaymakers (28%) won’t check their coolant. More than one in five (22%) won’t ensure they have sufficient oil. Almost as many (19%) won’t make sure their screen wash is topped up, while 22% won’t spend any time checking their tyre tread.
Kwik Fit’s research also found that checks which are particularly relevant to overseas car trips are being missed. A quarter (25%) of people taking their own car abroad say they won’t check the up to date driving regulations for their destination while almost as many (23%) won’t make sure that their insurance or breakdown policies cover them for the trip
Aside from looking at vehicle checks, the research found how people plan to get ready for the road. Among all those using their own cars for holiday journeys, the average time spent preparing music will be 22 minutes. The typical holidaymaker will spend the same amount of time (22 mins) choosing their sweets or snacks.
On average, holiday travellers will take 25 minutes to prepare sandwiches or a packed lunch and 22 minutes buying or preparing drinks. 28 minutes will be spent by people making sure their devices, and those of their children, are charged.
While ensuring a comfortable journey inside the car is important, it should not be at the expense of vital checks. Dan Joyce, operations director at Kwik Fit, says: “While good music can make a journey more enjoyable, even the best curated playlist isn’t going to keep a car running smoothly. We recommend holidaymakers allocate enough time to make basic checks over their cars – especially considering the likelihood of experiencing very hot weather, either across the Channel or here in the UK.
“Checking tyres and fluids – coolant, oil and screenwash – are critical when planning to cover hundreds of miles, especially in light of the fact that many cars no longer have spare wheels. If any drivers have any concern over their vehicle, they should get it checked over well ahead of departure in order to avoid any nasty surprises on the road.”
For advice on pre-travel car checks, drivers can find a wide range of information at kwik-fit.com and can also book a free vehicle health check. And to help those spending time on creating the perfect playlist, Kwik Fit has some tips here.
With most modern cars being fitted with air conditioning and/or climate control systems, a pre-check of the system, especially if it’s not used often, is also recommended. Owners can also ensure their car is ready to take on the summer heat with an air conditioning recharge. For the latest news and updates from Kwik Fit, customers can also follow the company on X(Twitter) at @kwik_fit.