Top tips for stress-free long journeys, staycations and family trips

It's finally time for long-awaited family holidays, day trips to far-off destinations, and weekends away with friends. Before you head out onto the roads, though, it’s worth boning up on a few simple driving tips that will make your next long journey safer, calmer and more cost-efficient.

Based on UK Government statistics, July, August and September are always the busiest months of the year for traffic – with around 15% more vehicles on the road than in spring, and up to 13m vehicles travelling on peak weekends. We typically also travel further distances, with summer trips being around 60% longer than those in winter.

According to the RAC, this year will be even busier. In 2021, British drivers are reportedly planning in excess of 29m staycations – with 16m of these in the school summer holiday period, and the vast majority of drivers (57%) saying they’ll be travelling more than 150 miles from home.

The result: more traffic, more traffic jams, and more likelihood of accidents and breakdowns. But, by simply being more aware of your actions and making a few subtle changes, you can smooth the stress out long trips, while also potentially cutting the costs of long journeys by driving more efficiently.

This summer, What Car? has partnered with Vitality: a new kind of car insurance that actively rewards your good driving. We’ve already pulled together plenty of expert advice for everyday driving. But here are some more simple tips for making long summer journeys and family trips easier and safer. And it all starts before you even set off…

Learn more at vitality.co.uk/car-insurance

Pass the pressure test

Making sure your tyres are at the correct pressure significantly improves your safety and lowers the tyres’ rolling resistance – either cutting fuel costs or extending your electric range, especially on long journeys. The correct pressures will always be on a little plate inside of the driver’s door, so make sure you check them before a big trip.
Neil Cole, motorsport presenter

Check you’re prepped for a puncture

When it comes to anticipating the unexpected, the last thing you want with the nightmare scenario of a puncture is even more problems. Before every long journey, check your spare tyre to make sure it’s properly inflated to the correct pressure. Or, if you have a puncture repair kit, check it regularly and note any expiration dates. 
Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor

Put the kids in the right place

When loading child seats, it’s best to put rear child seats on the passenger side of the car. Typically, it means that when you park up you can get kids out on the pavement side of the car, rather than in the middle of the road. It also means that kids can’t kick the driver in the back, causing a distraction.
Alan Taylor-Jones, What Car? New Cars Editor

Set up a playlist for a smoother journey

It’s good to stay entertained on the move. Rather than having to constantly browse radio stations or scroll your in-car touchscreen to find your top tracks, create a ‘driving’ playlist in advance, so you can simply shuffle your tunes. Or use voice control. It’s much safer.
Jim Holder, What Car? Editorial Director

Find your perfect driving position

It’s easy to sit too close to the wheel. A slight bend in the arms and legs allows more muscle groups to control the steering and pedals – taking the stress out of long journeys. Being able to casually rest your wrist in a relaxed position on top of the steering wheel is a good starting point.
Nathan Wright, performance driver

Use a motorway slip road to find the right speed

When joining a motorway, use the slip road to gradually match your speed to that of other traffic, helping you blend in more confidently and safely. Often, on a free-flowing 70mph motorway, people will join while still doing just 40-50mph, which can be a hazard for cars behind. So, use the slip road to safely accelerate all the way up to 70mph if appropriate. Equally, the slip road gives you time to tell if the motorway traffic is slowing or backed up, or if there are local speed restrictions.
Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor

Don’t be a middle-lane hog

On motorways, don’t fall into a middle-lane mindset. It’s the law to always keep to the left-side lane unless you’re overtaking. It helps ease traffic congestion and means others are less likely to make dangerous undertaking manoeuvres, and you’re less likely to annoy other drivers! Equally, if you do have a breakdown or puncture, you can get onto the hard shoulder more easily and safely.
Rachel Burgess, Autocar Executive Editor

Avoid other cars’ blind spots

On a multi-lane A-road, motorway or urban road with a steady speed, it’s easy to fall into the trap of inadvertently sitting in a car’s blind spot. Always actively create a gap between the cars around you. Equally, have your hand near the horn to warn drivers if they move into your lane.
Neil Cole, motorsport presenter

Go with the flow in stop-start traffic

Traffic jams are part of summer journeys. In slow-moving traffic, just go with the flow. The benefits from driving into every gap are tiny, but they raise your stress levels and open up potential for accidents. Relax, and you’ll arrive calmer and safer.
Doug Revolta, What Car? Video Reviews Editor

Stay hydrated

On long journeys, it’s easy for the driver to forget to stay hydrated. A 1% increase in hydration, relative to body weight, vastly improves concentration and helps fight off tiredness. So, make sure you’ve always got an easy-open bottle of water or cup of coffee to hand.
Nathan Wright, performance driver

Take a quick pit stop (but not F1 fast!)

On a long journey, never underestimate the value of a brief pit stop – even if you don’t feel tired. A 20-minute break is the perfect pause, but even a five-minute halt for fresh air, a cup of coffee and a change of scene can make a big difference – and can prevent you feeling tired later on. 
Laura Winter, Formula 1 presenter

A quick way to see which side to fill...

When you’re pulling into a petrol station, if you’re unsure which side your fuel filler is on, there’s usually a clear arrow on the fuel gauge to indicate it – or the pump’s nozzle is on the side of the filler. It’s a useful jog for your memory that makes fuel stops easier and more time efficient.
Jim Holder, What Car? Editorial Director

Use an app to save money on fuel

Fuel prices at some motorway and A-road service stations are hugely inflated. So, use an app like Waze that features crowd-sourced petrol prices to find alternative petrol stations on or near to your route. They may not need a huge diversion, but it could save you significant amounts of money on longer drives.
Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor

Keep kids quiet with a petrol stop treat

If you’re stopping for petrol, it’s also worth picking up a little treat for the kids in the back. It will keep them happy and entertained – and quiet!
Jim Holder, What Car? Editorial Director

Back in for a smoother, safer getaway

Reverse into parking spaces if you can. You’ll have better visibility of cars and pedestrians when you pull out, and you drive off in one smooth stress-free move.
Rachel Burgess, Autocar Executive Editor

Do the twist to stay cool

Finally, when you arrive at your destination and park up to enjoy your time in the sun, don’t forget to think ahead for when you return to your car at the end of the day. Either park in a shady spot, or turn your steering wheel 180-degrees before you leave your car, so that the top isn’t burning hot when you return.
Alex Kumih-Amsuh, Vitality

Learn more at vitality.co.uk/car-insurance