June 20^th 2016 marked the first day of summer for us Brits. With lighter nights and warm weather (fingers crossed!!), it’s only natural for us to make the most of it and get out and about. Festivals, trips to the beach, journeys to the airport and barbeques are amongst the summer delights that get us up and out of our homes over the summer period, so we’ve compiled a list of tips to make sure you’re safe on our motorways all summer long!

Plan ahead

Being stuck in a hot, stuffy car is a nightmare at the best of times. The kids are arguing and someone in the car feels sick… if there’s anything you could do without right now, it’s standstill traffic on the motorway. To avoid getting caught up in the rush, plan your route in advance! There are plenty of route planners and motorway traffic cameras online to help you plan your journey and keep stress levels to a minimum, making it a safer and much easier journey for everyone involved.

Take regular breaks

Long journeys and warm weather all contribute towards driver fatigue, a serious problem on our motorways. It is therefore extremely important for you to factor in regular breaks. It’s recommended that you take a minimum of 15 minutes rest for every 2 hours of driving that you do. That’s where we come in. You can grab a coffee, a bite to eat and let everybody stretch their legs at all of our Moto service stations! You can find a list of our locations here.

Hayfever

Hayfever affects one in four of us in the UK so it’s important to prepare well and take non-drowsey medication to keep symptoms to a minimum before setting off. It is estimated that you lose vision for around 100m when you sneeze whilst travelling at 70mph. Take your medication, wear sunglasses, pack the tissues and make sure your air conditioning system is fitted with a working pollen filter! 

Check your tyres

Reduce your risk of a blowout by checking your tyre tred and pressure before setting off. The wrong tyre pressure combined with high speeds and high temperatures all increase your chances of disaster. Check them thoroughly and top them up at your nearest petrol station before hitting the motorway!

Stick to the left

It can be tempting to jump in the middle lane and stay there whilst travelling on the motorway. Not only can this land you with a £1,000 fine, it also makes the motorway that bit more dangerous as it prevents other, faster moving cars from over taking. This is especially important in summer when the roads are busier and organisation is key. Stick to the left and make it a safer and much more enjoyable journey for all motorway users!

We hope to see you in our Moto service stations over the summer. Don’t forget to download our free app, where you can get exclusive money saving deals, find your nearest Moto and take a look all the services we have to offer!  

Enjoy your outings and stay safe!