Skip to content

Cork Independent

Home arrow Motoring arrow Motoring arrow Mr Fix it - summer driving tips
Mr Fix it - summer driving tips E-mail
Written by Staff Reporter   
Thursday, 21 August 2008
With more people opting to spend their holidays touring the country rather than jetting abroad, Cork Mazda dealers, O’Briens Garage (Midleton) and Looney Car Sales (Macroom) have put together some handy travel preparation tips to ensure you will have a safe and enjoyable journey.

Some necessary checks before you head off include:

Ensure that your vehicle is well maintained and that all lights, indicators, wipers and washers are working properly. Check tyre pressure and thread depth in all the tyres, including the spare, especially as you may be carrying heavy loads or towing.
Clean the windscreen, windows and mirrors, and fill the windscreen washer bottle using a screen wash additive to help clear traffic film and dead insects.

Load smart!  

When you have decided what to bring, don’t stack items so high that they obscure your vision and don’t bury items in the boot that you may need during a rest stop. Store an emergency kit in the boot including a flashlight, jump leads and a reflective triangle.
Your car may handle differently when fully laden so allow larger braking distances and remember that acceleration can be slower when overtaking.

Fill up with fuel before departure.

Plan and give extra time for each journey, listening to traffic and travel radio updates for possible delays. Avoid Fatigue by taking regular breaks and keeping hydrated. Driver fatigue is serious hazard faced by motorists on long journeys so if you find yourself tired, pull over to a safe rest stop.

Significantly reduce your speed while towing and be particularly careful when turning and breaking with a trailer attached.

Book a summer service if you have any doubts whatsoever about the condition of your car.



Take the scenic route! You’re on holiday and the world is to be explored, so enjoy your surroundings and the driving experience that your Mazda can deliver.
 
“Driving with your family on a summer holiday is one of those enjoyable childhood memories we all cherish, and as our customers prepare to take their family away, these handy travelling tips will ensure a safe and pleasurable driving experience”, explains David McGonigle, Managing Director of Mazda Motor Ireland.


Comments (0) »		 feed
Show/Hide comment formtoggle


Write the displayed characters


busy
 
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 
Share:
Digg
Delicious
NewsVine
Reddit
Technorati
YahooMyWeb
Spurl
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]

Custom Search
Visit our Games and puzzles section