Driving tips for Freshers

For students starting university this term, road safety is probably one of the last things on their mind.

At the beginning of term, the roads are full of students moving all their possessions across the country or visiting friends in new places. Overloaded, small cars are a common sight on the roads, raising a number of road safety issues; tired students driving on unfamiliar roads with blocked views out of their windows.

Neil Cunliffe, Road Safety Group Manager said:

“University life is a very exciting experience for most students. In the excitement of socialising and meeting new friends, it is easy for people to become over confident and careless about road safety issues, but young people new to the area are particularly at risk.

We want to ensure that students take responsibility for their personal safety while enjoying all the wonderful experiences university has to offer."

Lancashire County Council’s Road Safety Group has some top tips to help those travelling to university or those who might be driving on new and unfamiliar roads to stay safe:

Make sure you pack your car securely. Loose objects can be distracting and if you have to brake sharply, unsecured items could fly forward and hit those in the car.
Make sure you don’t overload your car or block the view out of your windows. Obstructing your already dangerous ‘blind spot’ is extremely dangerous and can make changing lanes very unsafe. Take the essentials on your first journey and ask your family or friends to bring the rest when they visit.
Check your tyre pressures before you set off. Tyres on a full and heavy car usually require higher pressure. The right pressures prevent unnecessary wear, excess fuel consumption and potentially dangerous blow outs.
Plan your journey before you set off and make sure you leave yourself plenty of time as driving on unfamiliar roads can be unnerving.
A long drive can lead to fatigue, so make sure you get plenty of rest before you set off. Make sure you take regular breaks, at least a fifteen minute break every two hours.
Having a full car will use more fuel, make sure you keep an eye on the fuel level to ensure you don’t run out.
Many students attending colleges and universities away from home, drive older cars or motorcycles and transport becomes an essential part of their life. You might be tight on money but we would encourage you to get breakdown cover. If you do breakdown this would take away the worry of unforeseen garage or recovery charges.

For more information please contact the Road Safety Group on 0800 328 1635, email roadsafety@lancashire.gov.uk

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