Safety Check your vehicle – on Fridays especially!

Highways England is urging motorists to check the condition their vehicle more regularly after revealing that more than 223,000 breakdowns were recorded in 2018 – the latest year for which this data is available.

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It also revealed that the most common day for breakdowns is a Friday.In 2018, Highways England recorded nearly 36,000 breakdowns on a Friday compared to just over 29,000 on a Sunday.

Now, the government-owned company has launched a campaign encouraging drivers to carry out basic checks on their vehicles to help reduce the number of breakdowns.

• Tyres: before setting off on long journeys, make sure your tyre pressures are suitable for the load and the condition of your tyres, including the spare.Look out for cuts or wear, and make sure you have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm, which is the legal limit.
• Oil: use your dipstick to check oil regularly and before any long journey, and top up if needed.If you’re topping up more than usual, take your car to your dealership
• Water: always keep your screen wash topped up so you can clear any debris or dirt from your windscreen.
• Lights: if your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself, your passengers and other road users at risk.You may also fail your vehicle’s MOT.
• Fuel: before setting off, check your fuel levels and make sure you have enough to reach your destination.

“We want everyone to get to their destination safely and drivers can help themselves by carrying out simple checks before they set off,” Richard Leonard, the Head of Road Safety at Highways England, said.“Breakdowns can often be prevented by carrying out basic checks that can prevent your vehicle breaking down.”​​