Stay road trip ready with these top summer driving tips

Driving in the warmer months can be challenging, school is out for the summer and many of us are heading out on road trips and staycations making the roads busier. Staying safe on the roads and making some straightforward checks can make all the difference and help prevent customers having to make an insurance claim.

Here’s AXA’s top tips for driving in the summer months:

Check your tyres

Only (68%) of drivers in the UK know how to fill their tyres with air to the correct pressure and just over half (56%) know how to check tyre tread depth¹. Tyre faults rank as one of the most common breakdown causes² and high temperatures can make existing tyre damage worse, so to avoid a breakdown or blow out, make sure you check your car’s tyre pressures and tread depth before you drive.

Be prepared

It’s always best to prepare for the worst no matter the weather. In the summer months, it’s good to keep an emergency kit in your car. You might want to include a first aid kit, water, sunglasses to avoid glare, portable phone charger or power bank, jump cables and your insurance documents, which can usually be found in your online account.
However tempting it may be, don’t leave your windows or sunroof open and always lock your doors if you’re leaving your car unattended for any amount of time. Most insurers, including AXA won’t cover you for items lost or stolen after you’ve left windows open, or doors unlocked.

Top up fluids

Only 40% of UK motorists said they know how to check brake fluid levels and less than half (46%) know how to check and top up engine coolant¹. It’s worth knowing how to check fluid levels in your car, this includes oil and windscreen washer levels too these basic checks are key especially ahead of a lengthy road trip.

Avoid busy periods where possible

When the weather picks up in the UK, people head to the coast and take staycations across the nation, so expect roads to be much busier with all kinds of vehicles.
It’s worth researching your route before hitting the road, leaving at a time when the roads are less crowded could help you avoid the summer getaway gridlock.

Don't drive tired

Up to 20% of accidents on motorways are caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel³, despite this 40% of UK motorists admit to driving when tired¹. Try to get a good night’s sleep if you know you’ve got a long journey ahead of you and if you’ve had a day of fun in the sun, be sure to take regular breaks on the drive home.

When the worst happens, insurers are here help you get back on the road, but these safety tips can help prevent customers having to make claims in the first place . In the summer months the roads get busy so it’s best to stay prepared and make essential checks to ensure your vehicle is well maintained. As part of our commitment to promoting road safety, AXA Retail are focused on educating children on this topic and helping promote safer driving. Some incidents aren’t fully avoidable but taking these extra precautions can help ensure your summer travels don’t come to an unexpected stop.

Alain Zweibrucker, CEO at AXA Retail

As part of its commitment to promoting road safety education for children and encouraging customers to drive more safely, AXA Retail is sharing tips that help make the roads safer for everyone. To find out more visit: The dos and don’ts of summer driving | AXA UK

Notes to Editors:

¹AXA survey conducted by One Poll of 2,000 UK drivers between 11-12^th November 2024.

²According to AXA Assistance, tyre issues were the 3rd largest driver of UK breakdown call outs. Measured between 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024.

³DVLA Tiredness can kill: advice for drivers (INF159) - GOV.UK

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AXA Insurance UK plc registered in England and Wales under registered number 078950 and authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority under Financial Conduct Authority registration number 202312. Registered office is 20 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0BG.

AXA UK is part of the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 147,000 employees serving 94 million clients in 50 countries. In 2023, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 102.7 billion and underlying earnings to Euro 7.6 billion. AXA had Euro 844 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023.

In the UK & Ireland, AXA operates through a number of business units including: AXA Insurance, AXA Health and AXA Ireland. AXA UK & Ireland employs around 10,000 staff.

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