More than 80 per cent of drivers concerned about road conditions during half term

Ahead of the half-term holidays, 82 per cent of drivers will be taking road conditions into consideration when travelling over the school break.

The research, carried out by Slater and Gordon, explores the importance of car safety ahead of the school holidays, when many families will be taking the opportunity to enjoy staycations, day trips and short-term breaks.

However, concerns are being raised about the winter weather, traffic congestion and road works, which are all likely to cause delays and disruptions to potential trips being made.

Whilst the winter season is slowly coming to an end, 31 per cent of people will still be considering the risk of bad weather, where rain, snow or icy conditions can cause dangerous conditions for driving.

Other concerns focused on traffic and congestion, where 26 per cent of drivers were worried about likely delays. 25 per cent felt unsettled about potential roadworks and diversions. Both instances can cause further stress and anxieties for drivers.

For those who consider changing routes to avoid congestion, 40 per cent of people found themselves comfortable in taking or suggesting another route, though only if they knew an alternative. Further to this, only 34 per cent of people rarely travelled to new locations, finding that many of the public are uncomfortable driving on unfamiliar routes.

Slater and Gordon’s research also focuses on the need to ensure car safety and to make the necessary checks before a long journey. The survey, of more than 2000 people, discovered that only 36 per cent of people check weather conditions and 32 per cent check potential delays before embarking on car journeys.

Matthew Tomlinson, Head of Serious Injury (North West & Wales) also encourages that the right precautions are made before embarking on long journeys this half term.

“Road safety for all road users is absolutely paramount and it is essential to make sure that you carry out the right preparations before travelling this half term. Unfortunately, this time of year is likely to bring more traffic on the roads, bringing the significant risk of delays and the need to take alternative routes, and the weather can often cause further dangers and potential delays to journeys on busy roads.

“Planning as much as possible, such as for potential alternative routes or having contingency plans in place, can help alleviate anxiety, and checking the weather forecast and traffic levels can enable drivers to make informed decisions about their trip and whether they should travel at all.

“We all have a duty to be as safe as possible, for ourselves and all other road users, so doing everything we can to minimise the risks is hugely important. As serious injury lawyers, very sadly we see the consequences of things going wrong on our roads all too often, so would urge drivers to do everything possible to protect themselves, their passengers, and others.”