See all Motoring AdviceWell, first and foremost, you need to get the music right. You’ll need all the Michael Buble you have, plenty of Chris Rea, a smattering of Wham! and Sammy Davis Jnr’s version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas always brings a tear to our eyes. OK, now on to the serious stuff…
1. Tyres
We know this is a point hammered home more often than anything else, but it’s really, really important – those four black circles are the only things actually keeping your car on the road, so for Christmas driving they need to be in good shape. It probably won’t get cold enough for snow this year, but there will almost certainly be some frost and ice and if the temperature is regularly dropping below seven degrees Celsius then it’s well worth considering investing in some winter or all-season tyres. If that’s just too big an expense at Christmas time (and for most of us it will be) then at least check your tread depths, (1.6mm is the legal minimum, but below 3mm tyre performance starts to fall off rapidly), check your pressures (the correct pressures for your tyres are either in your car’s handbook or stamped into a metal plate inside one of the front doors) and check carefully for any damage.
2. Lights
It’s dark outside, and even though technically we will start getting an extra four minutes of daylight every day from the 21st of December onwards, you will most definitely need your lights over the Christmas break. Have a good look around your car to make sure all of your bulbs are working, and ask a friend to check that your brake lights are coming on properly when you step on the pedal. If anything’s not working or blown, it might not be as expensive as you think to get fixed – an average car bulb costs only around €10-15 and most motor factors will fit them for you, saving you a few scraped knuckles and a heap of frustration. If your car is a touch on the old side and the headlights are looking a bit grey and cloudy, give them a scrub with toothpaste – it works a treat.
3. Time
It sounds obvious, but allow extra time for all your journeys in the next couple of weeks. Whether it’s people crowding into the shops on the 23rd for that last-minute gift search or families on their way to visit relatives on Stephen’s Day then the roads are going to be busy, town centres are going to be bottle-necked and car parks are going to fill up quick. If you’re going into town, plan to go either early or late to avoid the crush, and if you’re planning to go cross country then you will really need to allow an extra hour or so on a long haul. Be patient. Bring lots of audiobooks or good music (see above) and maybe even a flask of tea in case the tail-backs get really bad.
4. Drink
It’s a festive time of year and, inevitably, when you’re calling on friends and family to deliver some presents and some Christmas cheer, you’re going to be tempted. A nice dry sherry? A crisp locally-distilled gin? A bracing whisky? Or just a pint, then? Be. Careful. If you’re driving home tonight, don’t touch a drop – yes, we know you can legally have a certain amount of alcohol in your system, but the tiniest amount can affect your concentration, your perception and your reaction speeds. If you’re, sensibly, leaving the car parked up overnight and enjoying yourself then maybe think about buying a personal breathalyser. No-one wants to get caught with morning-after booze in their blood when they’ve been conscientious enough to leave the car last night. Other than that, be careful and be sensible – drink driving is stupid at any time of the year, but a tragedy at Christmas would be worst of all.
5. Other fluids
While it’s probably not going to get down to the sort of sub-zero temps we last saw in 2010 and 2011, it’s worth making sure that all the fluids in your car are correctly topped off and ready for an unexpected cold snap. A quick trip to your local garage or motor factor should have you sorted for windscreen wash, power steering fluid, oil, brake fluid and anti-freeze. It won’t take long, it won’t cost much and it might save you a break down or a freeze-up late on Christmas Eve.
Happy holidays everyone, and safe motoring for the New Year.