Gift of giving

Experts parcel up tips to keep drivers safe during their Christmas travels

SCOTS motorists are being offered a Santa’s sackful of festive driving safety advice in the run-up to Christmas.

Experts say if you get things wrong, you could find yourself stopped by police and end up with a fine and points on your licence.

Scottish-based web service GoodBye Car has some timely tips for families buying and then transporting a real Christmas tree back home.

To get your tree home safely, GoodBye Car’s experts advise buying one that comes wrapped in a net as it is more manageable.

If you’re loading it on top of car, it’s best to use a roof rack, bungee cords or ropes and put the stump facing the front as this limits wind resistance.

Alternatively, if you’ve no roof rack, open the doors, tie the ropes inside the car and then closing the doors should further secure the ropes. But be careful that the roof doesn’t get scratched.

It’s also a good idea to attach reflective tags to an overhanging tree so that other motorists and road users can see how much room to give you.

And drive more cautiously than usual, particularly when cornering, while also avoiding braking sharply.

GoodBye Car operations manager Mark Royal said: “Driving your Christmas tree home is important to get right for the safety of yourself and others. But with the correct knowledge, it shouldn’t be a difficult job.”

Partygoers are also being urged to think about whether their Christmas outfit might impact on their ability to drive or be a danger to others.

National Tyres and Autocare points out that footwear such as high heels or sturdy Santa boots with thick soles could seriously affect your ability to operate your car’s pedals.

Inflatable fancy dress costumes might also reduce your ability to see what’s happening around you, as well as impede your handling of the steering wheel and other controls.

You also need to consider whether other road users might be distracted by Santa, sparkly or unusual outfits. And no one wants to break down and be stranded at the roadside in their party finery.

The firm’s marketing director, Michael Bourne, said: “We recommend making sure your outfit doesn’t impact your driving ability as well as others and, if it does, take your outfit to the venue and then get changed there.”

Interestingly, though, a major survey by GoodBye Car has found that 55 per cent of Brits won’t be “driving home for Christmas”, as rock star Chris Rea famously sang. In fact, less than eight per cent will be driving more than 50 miles for a festive family time, while those not budging cited a number of reasons.

These included a safety-first view over Covid, greater acceptance and use of video calling, getting used to not travelling long distances, reducing carbon footprints and reluctance to travel in wintry conditions.

The latter factor was backed up by a National Tyres and Autocare study, which found 46 per cent of drivers were anxious about driving in poor weather.

The poll also showed that 38 per cent have refused to go out in their vehicle when faced by difficult circumstances – with ice and snow making 42 per cent nervous and 35 per cent worried about fog and darker days.

Moreover, 47 per cent blamed other motorists for making them anxious when driving in challenging weather.

But only eight per cent of those quizzed had booked their car in for a winter service, while just 11 per cent had replaced their regular tyres with winter treads.

Breakdown organisation Green Flag offered a few tips for driving in unpredictable conditions – starting with planning your route and checking for travel disruptions.

When on the road, keep a threesecond gap to the car in front, stick to gentle acceleration and braking on slippery surfaces, and stay alert to the likes of gusting winds.

Commercial director Mark Newberry said: “As wintry weather hits the UK, drivers need to consider that road surfaces may be more slippery, which could have an impact on a lot of the driving mechanics – from your steering to your stopping distance.

“If motorists need to travel, they should leave as much time as possible for their journeys and prepare for potential disruption and congestion.”