Have you ever looked at a lorry driver as you’ve overtaken them on the motorway and wondered just how they manage to drive all day long? Well, if you have then you’d be wrong to think they spend every waking hour behind the wheel, that would just be dangerous and against the law!
Lorry drivers are subject to very strict rules not just in the UK but in Europe as well so, if you’re about to embark on a long journey don’t think it’s as easy as the average “trucker” makes it look. Following are some very important tips on what you should do prior to and during your journey.
Check Your Vehicle
Now, this doesn’t matter if your trip is just a few hours up the motorway or, you’re going abroad. The same applies for everyone:
- Check the tyre pressure and don’t be afraid to get the manual out for accurate readings.
- Check the oil levels.
- Make sure things like your lights and wipers are all working correctly.
- Your car should be clean – this is important, if you happen to come across the police on the road and they can’t read your number plate, you could be stopped and given a good telling off!
- For longer journeys, consider putting your car in for a full service.
- If you’re going abroad, it’s wise to ensure you have the correct insurance paperwork and any other credentials required of you in other countries.
Planning Your Route
OK, so you might be thinking “I have a Sat-Nav, what’s the problem?” Sure, these gadgets are great (most of the time) but, we’ve all heard the odd horror story so, if you are going to use a device like this take a map with you as well. If you’re going abroad, make sure you have the latest software and it really is wise not to depend solely on your Sat-Nav system.
If there is more than one driver, make a plan of who will drive at what intervals and, for how long. One very important piece of advice here is not to over estimate how long you can safely stay behind the wheel.
For excessively long distances, budget for an overnight stay somewhere. This isn’t a race! Safety is hugely important and driving on the roads abroad will seem very different to the UK. This means more concentration and probably shorter driving times for each of you.
During Your Trip
Keep plenty of water and various snacks in the car with you. It’s not a foregone conclusion that you won’t breakdown so having some essentials close to hand will come in useful. You should also ensure you make plenty of stops and that doesn’t mean just when you need to re-fuel.
Motorway service areas are not just there for petrol, food and toilet stops. They’re called “rest areas” in various parts of the world for a reason! When you do make a stop, stretch your legs and take a little walk. This will stop your muscles from becoming stiff which can affect your ability to drive.
Above all, remember that taking a long distance drive should be fun for everyone but, safety is something you really cannot forget.
