Simple checks to steer clear of triple bank holiday trouble

GEM says levels of traffic on motorways and holiday routes are sure to be high, as families and groups make the most of the extra day off work created by the coronation of HM King Charles III

Simple maintenance checks reduce the likelihood of a breakdown, and help drivers avoid the delay, misery – and risk – that can go with being stuck at the roadside.

GEM chief executive Neil Worth comments: “We’re all looking forward to the Coronation weekend – and the two other bank holidays in May.

“If we’re blessed with good weather then you can expect extra congestion on all the usual motorway and popular holiday routes. So let’s minimise the risk of being stranded with a broken down car by ensuring we’ve carried out some basic maintenance checks before we set off on a day out or a weekend away. These checks can reduce the chance of something going wrong.”

Check the basics:

Breakdown cover: if something goes wrong, make sure you can get the emergency assistance you need 24 hours a day. GEM’s nationwide network of friendly recovery operators will be on hand to help when you need them.

Tyres: check pressures and adjust if necessary to take heavy loads into account. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre. Check out our video on how to check your tyres.

Fuel: set off with a full tank of fuel, or full battery charge if you’re driving an electric car. Plan where you’ll stop to recharge or refuel. By doing so, you won’t be one of the estimated 800,000 vehicles that get stuck at the roadside every year because they ran out of fuel1.

Batteries: battery failures are a year-round cause of vehicle malfunction. The summer load on your car’s electrics can be greatly increased if you’re in stop-start traffic on a hot day with everyone needing to keep their mobile devices charged. A visit to your local service centre can put your mind at rest when it comes to battery health… and if it needs replacing, then you can get it done before it lets you down.

Fluids: many breakdowns could be avoided through simple and quick checks of the fluids your car needs. Consult your car owner’s manual to see what checks you can make and how to do them. Engine oil level checks are vital for your car to run smoothly.

Warning lights: don’t be tempted to ignore any warning lights that appear on your car dashboard. Yellow warning lights mean you need to take action to have a fault put right. Red warning lights mean you must stop the car as soon as it’s safe.

Screens and screenwash: expect a build-up of dead insects on your windscreen and front lights. Make a point of manually cleaning the windscreen and windows regularly; don’t rely on wipers and washer fluid to clear away everything. Do also check your windscreen washer bottle is full before you set off.

Car health check tips to complete before a long holiday drive

Watch GEM’s easy-to-follow short explainer videos, covering most of the car maintenance basics.

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GEM Motoring Assist is a members’ motoring and road safety organisation in the UK. Our aim is to keep our members on the move… whether that’s through our breakdown recovery service or our motoring and road safety expertise.

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