Driving to a festival for the first time

One of the best things about driving is the independence. For many of our former pupils who passed their driving tests earlier this year, driving to a music festival this summer will be one of their first chances to take to the road and enjoy their new found freedom.



Although driving should be an enjoyable experience, it is important to be aware of the risks of long distance driving and to ensure that you are properly prepared. We have put together a checklist, so your festival weekend can get off to the safest possible start:



Check and check again!

Before embarking on any long journey make sure you have checked your vehicle to ensure you have enough oil, your tyres are in good condition and there is sufficient water in the car’s radiator.



Overload

Whilst we know that you need to take the tent (and maybe the four brand new pairs of different coloured wellies!) overloading a car is really dangerous as the extra weight can dramatically affect the handling and breaking. The typical stopping distance for a 1,200kg car (approximately the weight of a Ford Focus) travelling at 60mph is 73 metres. If you were to add 280kg to that car's weight (or four people weighing 11 stone each) the stopping distance of the car increases by a further 18 metres; which is more than 3 car lengths.



Rest

Ensuring that you are well rested and take proper breaks is always particularly important on a long journey, but it is essential when driving home from a festival! The return journey from a festival is often more challenging as everyone is usually tired after the weekend’s activities. If you feel tired stopping at a service station to take a nap is essential, we also suggest that you have someone else with you who is awake to keep you company, read directions and generally keep you engaged and alert. Similarly keeping the windows open to provide a supply of fresh air and playing music or the radio will also help to keep you focused – just ensure that you keep the volume down so as not to distract you from the road.



Don’t drink and drive

Drink driving could not only cost you your licence, but also your life! Out of the 2,946 people killed on the UKs roads in 2007, 460 (16%) were as a result of drink driving. RED driving school urges all pupils currently taking driving lessons and qualified drivers to take this into consideration, especially the night before travelling when it is essential to make sure you get enough sleep and avoid drinking alcohol. Each unit of alcohol that you consume can take an hour to leave your body, so although you may feel fine, you could still be over the legal limit.



And finally… where are you going?

It may seem obvious but we can all admit to having left the house with absolutely no idea how to get to our destination at some point. Before Google Maps, you would have to pull into a layby and search through an oversized atlas. Now, thanks to the internet, it couldn’t be easier to plan your route quickly and conveniently before leaving the house and even print off a copy for one of your passengers to reiterate to you along the way. Easier still if you plan to do a lot of driving, investing in a Sat Nav may come in useful!



The sense of freedom and adventure when driving should be cherished. So long as you stay aware and stay safe, you should be able to include the journey with the rest of your amazing festival memories!



For more information about RED driving lessons please visit the RED Website