Student safety guide: Have a stress-free road trip to university
Are you driving to university this September?
You may be travelling into the unknown, with a new course to start and new people to meet.
But it’s still possible to make your car journey to university as stress-free as possible, if you follow this handy advice from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).
Turn your tunes down
You may be tempted to crank the volume up – who doesn’t like some bangin’ beats on a road trip? But loud music can be distracting.
So by all means, have it on, but keep it down. This will help you to stay focused on the road.
Steer clear of phones
Put your mobile in your glove compartment, or invest in a hands-free kit.
Shockingly, one in six motorists admit to using their mobile phone illegally while driving.
But new, harsher rules could soon come into place and anyone found using a mobile while driving could face being made to take their test again if they passed within two years prior to the offence. So don’t risk it.
Plan your journey
Keep your road trip stress-free by planning out your route in advance. Even if you have a sat-nav, this is still advisable. Make sure you know where the best places are for a bathroom break or to grab a coffee.
Knowing alternative routes to take if there’s lots of traffic is also useful.
Practice makes perfect
Getting some practice in on the motorway is another way to prepare for a long journey, especially if you’re not used to travelling at higher speeds.
If you’re about to drive on the motorway for the first time, you might be feeling a little daunted.
You might even want to consider taking some extra driving lessons to help you feel more confident on the motorway.
But don’t worry, practice makes perfect – the more you drive, the more confident you’ll become.
Avoid overloading
It’s easy to get carried away when loading the car up for university. However, breaking down on the side of the road won’t be the best start to freshers’ week.
Between bags, textbooks and booze, you’ve got a lot to cram in. So take the time to pack the car properly – and make sure it’s not too heavy!
Excess weight can cause your wheels to bulge out and heat up, increasing the risk of a blowout and it can also put your suspension under stress.
Follow these tips and you’ll be set to have best possible start to your new life at university.
