PAPER making! g FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL Volume 7, Number 3, 2021
If you’re driving a long distance then you need to take regular breaks. Some vehicles will prompt you to take breaks when travelling a long way. However, you should always take these breaks into account when planning the length of your journey and ensure that you not only add the time into your plan, but also tie it in with appropriate locations for a safe stop. Make sure your car is prepared Just like we have to prepare ourselves for the winter (swap the summer and winter wardrobes, check the heating, find the hot water bottles), it’s also vital you ensure your car is prepared for colder weather. Below are a few of the checks you should carry out to ensure that your vehicle is in good shape and ready to be driven over the colder winter months:
Fill up your tank
x x x x x x
Replace the windshield wipers Ensure all the fluids are topped up
Check the tyre pressure
Change to winter tyres if possible
Check the battery cables (for corrosion) If you don’t feel confident in carrying out these checks yourself, there are several places that offer a free winter check, including Halfords, Kwik Fit and ProTyre. The tests offered vary between five and ten key checkpoints, but they will ensure that your vehicle is prepared for winter road conditions. The checks offered will check: car lights, wiper blades, car battery, tyre tread and oil levels. There are some garages and service centres that will offer a winter service that is similar to the full service you should be getting every year, focused specifically on the areas that are important to the cold weather health of your vehicle. These services will include oil changes, a top-up of the antifreeze screen wash, tyre depth check, and starter motor check. The checks vary depending on the garage you are visiting. How to prepare for a travel emergency Accidents happen! We know it’s not something you like to think about, but, just like at any other time of year, emergencies can occur, even at Christmas. The last thing you want to be, if you breakdown or get stuck in traffic, is unprepared. It’s sensible to ensure that you have a preparedness kit with you when you go on car journeys whether they’re hundreds of miles or just somewhere you’re unfamiliar with. No, we’re not talking full -on apocalypse prepper, but enough of an emergency kit in that if you are in a situation where you are unable to get your car started, or there is a very long tailback, you aren’t going to be battling with hungry and agitated p assengers or shivering in the car when the temperature drops. So, in case of emergency, we recommend you keep the following in your vehicle – whether in a bag in your boot, or under the car seats: Blankets o Keep a few of these in the car, it can get cold when you’re not moving for a while x Winter boots o Not the best thing to drive in, but necessary to keep your feet warm if you need to change a tyre or walk somewhere if you breakdown x Gloves o Extra layers are important when it’s cold x A fully-charged mobile phone o It goes without saying that most people have their phones with them all the time, but make sure to remember it when you’re driving long -distance x Phone charger pack (plus cables) x
o Batteries do die, so as a backup, make sure you have a fully-charged battery pack for your phone (and other electronic equipment) with you. These are small, easy to find and relatively low in price, but invaluable when your phone battery starts getting low x Non-perishable food
Article 12 – Safe Driving Tips
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