Preparing for a long journey

Long car journeys test even the most patient of drivers. Here are some tips on how to reduce stress and tiredness and cope with lengthy trips on the road.

Be prepared to encounter unexpected delays such as road works en route. Obstacles like this are obviously difficult to predict, especially if you are not familiar with the area. The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to lose your cool.

Use a route planner. These let you choose your route via specific places, and can inform you of possible nightmare traffic locations.

Factor comfort breaks into your journey. If you have to be somewhere at a certain time, make sure you set off earlier to compensate. You are advised to take a short break every two hours to avoid tiredness and loss of concentration.

If you have young children, it might be a good idea to drive through the night as they are more likely to be asleep.