Preparing for long journeys

Before you leave

If you are going on a long journey, particularly if you (or indeed your car) are not used to such excursions, there are a number of sensible checks you can make before you leave. In particular, tyre pressures and tyre damage, whether you have a spare tyre on board, the state of your windscreen wipers, whether you have enough screen wash. All the things that could jeopardise your safety. If it’s not your thing, that’s no excuse: find someone who can give your car a once over or check it into a garage to be safe.

Practical things to remember

Where are you going? Sounds crazy, but lots of people happily get on the road and leave the address they are visiting on the kitchen counter. Even if you’re using Sat Nav, it’s usually best to have the address written down and a map in the car. One woman recently told us how her Sat Nav confidently guided her to a cul-de-sac on a new housing estate five miles from the business she was supposed to be visiting. Without a map, she had to get the receptionist to talk her in on her hands-free mobile - not a great way to start an important meeting!

Other things to remember include:

Mobile phone and hands free kit
Mobile phone charger
Warm clothes in case of breakdown
Torch
Breakdown service telephone number and membership number

If you are traveling with children

Check your child seats are securely fastened and don’t forget booster seats are now a legal requirement for children under 12 until they reach 135cms (or 4'5" in old money). If a baby is traveling in the front in a baby seat, don’t forget you should turn off the airbag on that side. If your car doesn’t enable you to do that but does have an airbag on the passenger side, the baby should travel in the back.

And let's not forget some entertainment. You may have DVDs in the headrest and individual music headphones, but if not, don’t worry, there are still lots of ways to keep the kids entertained:

Alphabet countries - trying to name a country beginning with A, B, C etc.
Alphabet number plates - looking for cars beginning with A, B, C.
Collecting lorries - how many lorries from different countries can you see on the journey?
Bridges: You get points if there’s something crossing the motorway bridge in front - 1 for a car, 3 for a van, 10 for a person, 20 for a bike, 50 for a train. If there’s anything on the bridge you keep your turn. If there’s nothing on the bridge you all make a sound like they do when they get the wrong answer on Family Fortunes - "AA NNN" - and the next person gets the next bridge.

We know that there are literally hundreds of ways to entertain the children and we'd love to hear yours. Why not share your favorite games with us? If chosen, your game will be featured on the Sheilas' Wheels website. Contact us now with your fun ideas for keeping the kids amused. Put "Car Games" at the start of your message. We'll credit you on the website only if you want us to.

Happy travels!