Driving Safety During the Bank Holiday Weekend

Driving Safety During the Bank Holiday Weekend

Bank holiday weekends are an important and enjoyable part of living in Ireland. They give us time to get away, travel a little, and visit friends and family you haven’t seen for a while.  The only downside to a driving bank holiday weekend is the traffic jams, which can lead to annoyance and valid concerns around safety given the dramatic increase in accidents. 

Every Bank Holiday Weekend the Gardaí issues a warning about the volumes of road users and despite the majority of people heeding the warnings, accident levels increase which can make getting away with friends or family stressful.

 Bank holiday weekends should be peaceful and relaxing.  Spend a little time considering your journey before so that you can enjoy your break.

- Try not to travel at peak times. Every Friday of a bank holiday weekend roads become congested from 4pm to 7pm.  It might seem counterintuitive but to avoid this heavy traffic you might consider delaying your departure.  Perhaps have a bit to eat before leaving, even work another hour in the office (As the first morning back at work can sometimes be difficult to face, clearing your inbox on Friday evening might make it that bit easier!).

- Consider organising something against the flow of traffic.  Avoid the mad rush out of town by arranging to do something in the city on Friday afternoon or after work.  Have family and friends call over to you, or head away early on Friday or Saturday to ensure you avoid potential road issues.

  • Remember to check the oil and water levels in the car, and ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.  Driving long distances puts extra strain on your car and tyres so problems that might not present in a twenty minute journey can become very serious after a few hours of driving.

• Turn on your air conditioning.  Many people avoid using air conditioning

 as it is a heavy drain on petrol.  However if you are driving a distance in warm weather you are more likely to become tired and drowsy.  Cool air will go some way towards keeping you alert.

• If you are tired, stop the car.  You are never far from a petrol station in Ireland and the vast majority of them will have coffee available if they are open.  Have a coffee and spend a few minutes relaxing and stretching to give your body time to wake up. Other passengers in the car will be glad of the opportunity to use the bathroom and stretch their legs.

Have a great weekend and drive safe.