Have a safe T.R.I.P. this summer
Get ready for a safe T.R.I.P. this summer
During the summer months, thousands of drivers make longer journeys outside their usual routine – from early morning airport runs to long drives to holiday destinations.
This seasonal increase in travel is linked to a rise in the number of fatal and serious injury collisions where driver fatigue was identified as a contributory factor. In 2024, 41% of these collisions occurred between May and August, with 20% happening during July and August alone. Most worryingly, 67% of these collisions took place overnight (between 7pm and 7am) - the hours that 60% of road-users who plan to travel outside of their normal routine, will be on the roads this summer.
Despite this, many drivers are not taking the steps needed to stay alert on longer journeys. Only 42% ensure they are well rested before setting off, and just 55% plan rest stops before leaving.
Fatigue can affect your concentration, reaction times and decision-making ability – often without realising
Professor John Groeger, Professor of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University, who we have partnered with to highlight the importance of rest when it comes to planning journeys, likens fatigue to dehydration. Often, we do not realise we are dehydrated until it is too late. Fatigue works in much the same way. By the time you notice it, your concentration and reaction times may already be impaired. That is why drivers need to manage fatigue proactively, taking regular breaks and resting before tiredness becomes a risk behind the wheel.
Follow our guidance below to ensure you are factoring rest into your journey planning.
Before you travel:
- get a good night’s sleep and avoid alcohol or too much caffeine the day before, as both can affect sleep quality and alertness
- avoid doing so when you would normally be asleep. If you need to, prepare by gradually adjusting your sleep pattern over several days
- allow extra time for your journey so you don’t feel pressured to skip breaks
During your journey:
- plan regular breaks and stick to them – you should be stopping at least every two hours for 15 minutes
- don’t wait until you feel tired – by then your driving may already be affected
Preparation is part of the journey
As well as starting your journey well rested, follow our full T.R.I.P. guidance to reduce the risk of avoidable breakdowns, save time and money, and help keep traffic moving.
Guidance for towing
If you're towing a caravan or trailer, extra preparation is essential. Before you leave, make sure you:
- check your vehicle, and caravan or trailer are roadworthy, including brakes, lights, couplings, mirrors and headlights
- secure your load and distribute weight evenly
- allow extra time for your journey and take regular breaks
- adjust your driving to allow for longer stopping distances and reduced maneuverability
Your chance to win up to £50 vouchers with our T.R.I.P. game
Our T.R.I.P. Fill Your Boots online game to show you the simple T.R.I.P. checks you should be doing before setting off. To celebrate this, we’ve partnered with Halfords to give one lucky winner each month the chance to win up to £50 in Halfords vouchers, redeemable online or in-store until 9th May 2027. By playing the game, you’ll be automatically entered into our monthly prize draw for the next 12 months.
Play the game and enter nowCheck out these interesting rest stops along popular routes to stop at on your journeys this summer
T.R.I.P. Top-up, Rest, Inspect, Prepare
T
Top-up
fuel, oil, screen-wash
R
Rest
every 2 hours
I
Inspect
tyres
P
Prepare
for weather
