HOW TO PACK IT ALL IN SAFELY THIS CHRISTMAS
Whether delivering gifts to family or a lovingly prepared dish for a friend’s dinner party, new research shows that over the festive period many of us are travelling hundreds of extra miles in vehicles laden with goodies – much like the jolly man himself.
The research from Halfords Autocentres found that two thirds (66%) of motorists are making the journeys to deliver Christmas presents, half of which (33%) are food-related gifts for a party, and a fifth (21%) will be carrying luggage to enabling them to stay over at their destination.
Almost a third of drivers (28%) will be driving over 100 miles more than their usual weekly average over Christmas – with one in ten journeying over 200 miles.
Stefan Warhaftig from Halfords Autocentres said: “It pays to take your time when you’re packing to avoid broken presents, unnecessary spillages and disappointed relatives.
“There are also serious safety implications to not packing your vehicle properly. Lose objects can fly forward if you brake sharply, uneven weight distribution can affect your car’s handling and unsecured items carried on the roof can become a serious hazard to other road users if they are dislodged.”
Whether it’s presents, food, luggage or even Christmas trees; if you’re planning on loading up the car and driving home or anywhere else for Christmas, Halfords Autocentres has these top tips for a packing properly and enjoying a safe and comfortable journey.
- Keep the rearview clear by not packing higher than the rear seatbacks or using the parcel shelf. Anything packed higher than this is also more of a hazard in the event of a crash.
- Wedge smaller items into door pockets and rear foot-wells. Items sliding around or tipping over whenever you brake or turn are irritating at best and dangerously distracting at worst.
- Keep front foot-wells clear. Loose items rolling about on the floor are not only distracting but also dangerous if they become trapped under the driver's feet or pedals.
- Tidy up. If your boot isn’t full, use a boot tidy, luggage net or even empty boxes as packing to stop smaller loads sliding around.
- Lower the load. Pack heavy items as low down as possible in the boot and wedge them up against the rear seatback, packing smaller items around them, to stop them breaking through in an accident
- Be child friendly. If travelling with children, give them plenty of room. Packing items tightly around a child is likely to upset them and result in a miserable journey for all.
- Keep things handy. Use a bag or box to keep things you might need during a journey (such as refreshments, maps, books for the kids) easy to access.
- Use your roof. Roof-bars and roof-boxes are a great way of carrying large or awkward items. It's generally better to carry bulky but light things on the roof and heavy items inside the car to avoid affecting the vehicles handling. Remember carrying straps can work loose, so make sure you stop regularly and check them.
- Check your tyres. When carrying more people and baggage than normal you will need to increase your tyre pressures to cope with the heavier load.
- Belt up. Never be tempted to compromise safety by restricting passengers’ access to seat belts through poor packing. It is far better to leave something behind than place them at risk.
For more useful motoring tips and advice, download a free copy of the Halfords Autocentres Winter Survival Guide at http://www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/news/winter-survival-guide. As well as how to pack your car, it contains information on scenarios from preparing your car for winter and avoiding a skid to administering first aid.
ENDS
Media contacts:
Vicky Coyle or Josh Roberts, Grayling, T: 0121 265 7070, E: vicky.coyle@grayling.com / josh.roberts@grayling.com
Notes to Editors:
Winter driving survey conducted for Halfords Autocentres by TLF Research during October 2014. Findings based on 2024 respondents.
About Halfords Autocentres
Halfords Autocentres is a leading independent garage network with a heritage spanning more than three decades.
Highly trained technicians at over 300 Halfords Autocentres carry out over 1 million jobs a year - including MOTs, car servicing and repairs as well as tyre sales and fitting - for over 850,000 customers a year, with more than 9 out of 10 of them being happy to recommend us to their friends.
Being independent means that we deliver dealership quality work at more affordable prices for any make or model of car. We offer a price match guarantee and a minimum guarantee of 12 months or 12,000 miles on work carried out (See website for terms and conditions).
