Uk Drivers Prioritise Snacks Over Safety: One in Five Skip Essential Car Checks Before Road Trips
Nearly one-fifth (17%) of UK drivers admit they skip essential vehicle maintenance checks before a road trip, new research from National Highways today reveals.
In 2024, there were 282,949 reported breakdowns on the UK’s motorways and major A roads2, and on average, surveyed drivers who have experienced a breakdown estimated nearly an hour of added delays to their journey. Yet, while many of these breakdowns could have been avoided if car safety checks had been conducted, only 60% see these as essential, with many prioritising packing drinks and snacks (65%) instead1.
- Almost a fifth of drivers admit they don’t carry out any vehicle maintenance checks before a long journey
- 28% rely on someone else to check their car’s safety, while 21% assume their annual MOT is enough
- National Highways and Halfords launch the ‘T.R.I.P. and Sip’ event, on 15 March in Colchester, encouraging drivers to take a break and learn essential car safety checks while enjoying a free coffee
The research, based on a poll of 1,487 adults, reveals that prepping and packing the car adds 16-30 minutes on average to the total road trip time. For those travelling with kids, it typically takes longer (45 minutes to an hour on average)1.
The most common tasks are packing drinks and snacks (86%) and spare clothes (86%), charging entertainment or mobile devices (77%) and making packed lunches (66%)1.
Only two-thirds (65%) check their tyre tread depth before a long journey, 66% check the oil level and top up if necessary and just 63% plan appropriate rest stops for their journey. The main reasons why nearly a fifth (17%) of drivers put off doing vehicle safety checks before leaving the house is that they rely on someone else to do it (28%) or assume it’s covered by their annual MOT check (21%)1.
Sheena Hague, Director of Road Safety National Highways, said:
“Packing for a trip is rarely straightforward, especially when the family is involved. While most focus on packing personal essentials, simple – but important – things like checking your tyres, topping up your oil and fuel, planning your route and checking the weather forecast are often overlooked. That’s why we have partnered with Halfords to encourage drivers to take a few minutes to prepare before a long journey.”
To coincide with this new research, National Highways is launching its T.R.I.P. and Sip event in partnership with Halfords.
T.R.I.P. is an acronym which reminds drivers to:
- Top–up. Fuel, oil and screen wash
- Rest. Plan your journey in advance with regular stops to prevent driver fatigue
- Inspect. Check tyre pressure and tread
- Prepare. Have a plan for severe weather conditions
The event takes place on Saturday, 15 March, at the Halfords store in Colchester, giving drivers a hands-on opportunity to learn crucial vehicle safety checks.
Road users can bring their own cars and hear expert guidance from National Highways’ Traffic Officers and Halfords’ trained mechanics. They’ll demonstrate how to check tyre pressure and tread depth, oil and fluid levels, and overall vehicle readiness.
Not everyone feels comfortable checking their own car. Last autumn, 23% of drivers admitted they weren’t confident checking their tyre tread depth, while 16% felt unsure about checking tyre pressure3. However, essential T.R.I.P. safety checks can prevent delays and breakdowns caused by road incidents, poor weather, or running out of fuel.
By focusing on education, drivers will leave the event with the confidence to perform these essential checks before their next long journey.
Morgan Jamison, Head of Marketing (Garages) at Halfords, said:
“We’re delighted to be partnering with National Highways for this campaign, which we hope will help spotlight to drivers the importance of being prepared for any road trip.
“With the T.R.I.P. and Sip pop-up at our Colchester store, we’re looking to give people the time and peace of mind to ensure that their vehicles are road-worthy and that they have all the essentials they need in case of a breakdown.”
By planning smarter and packing more efficiently, motorists can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying the journey.
Make sure you’re ready for your next T.R.I.P. [https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/trip/] – Top-up, Rest, Inspect and Prepare.
Notes to Editors
For more information, please contact NationalHighways@tmwunlimited.com
1 – Walnut Omnibus, a nationally representative omnibus survey of 1,487 adults across England between 18th February – 20th February 2025. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all England adults (aged 18+).
2 – National Highways Control Works data, 2024
3 – Walnut Omnibus, a nationally representative omnibus survey of 1,764 adults across England between 20th – 23rd September 2024. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all England adults (aged 18+).
About National Highways
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:
Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)
About Halfords
Halfords is the UK's leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services. Customers shop at 404 Halfords stores, 3 Performance Cycling stores (trading as Tredz and Giant), 604 garages (trading as Halfords Autocentres, McConechy's and National) and have access to more than 200 mobile service vans. Customers can also shop at halfords.com and tredz.co.uk for pick up at their local store or direct home delivery, as well as booking garage services online at halfords.com.
Halfords Store Colchester
Unit B, Colne View Retail Park
Cowdray Avenue
Colchester
CO1 1YN
https://www.halfords.com/locations/colchester-store/
Saturday opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00
