South Meath Driving School

Cliff Richard’s song ‘We’re all going on a Summer Holiday, no more worries for me and you, …’ became a regular advertisement piece for promoters of the subject over the past forty years. That coincided with the good ould days when the mobile home in Bettystown or a caravan park in Bundoran were among the better holiday destinations: the children who had had the pleasure of such breaks gleefully recounted in their school compositions the following September, the wonderful time they’d had. The journey there and back in the Hillman Minx or Morris Oxford was, in itself, as joyous as the holiday. What a difference a generation or two makes: the recent past has seen us jet off to hot spots south of the equator or a holiday involving a car journey (gabh mo leithsceil, should I not say a peoplecarrier journey) to the Lake District or Marseilles, staying in a state of the art camp site with Water World a side show for the kiddies!
Well, just in case we have to get back to the car journey again, be prepared! Apart from a full service, there are many checks and corrections which any competent driver can carry out without the assistance of a mechanic or a garage forecourt calling.

Tyres should be checked and adjusted when they’re cold. Warm tyres give an inaccurate pressure reading. The basic checks that one has to now know for the driving test should be done – brake fluid, coolant, windscreen washer, oil dip, power steering fluid, indicators and brake lights. If theres a warning light on the dash, check it out: look at the manual and it may save a trip to the garage or ignore it at your peril. Look in on the battery: if its fitted with filler caps, check the level of fluid, the plates in each cell should be covered but not overly full. Some batteries are maintenance-free and sealed. If of the older stock, ensure the terminals are corrosion free – brush them out and give them a little grease.
How often do you check over the side lights, headlights etc? Have a family member assist to check them with you occasionally. Before setting out on your continental journey carry a basic tool kit and spare bulbs, a flashlamp and firstaid kit.
Plan the route, check traffic reports, use a sat nav, check the weather forecast.
So what need you bear in mind for the hotter climes? Principally, glare, heat, soft tarmac, loose chippings. Keep the windscreen clean, both inside and out. Top up the washer with a concentrated cleaning agent: this will help prevent glare. Glare is one of the problems encountered in sunny conditions, reducing a drivers ability to see. To counter this, reduce speed immediately. Should the road be wet it greatly exacerbates glare so only reduced speed and extra care will counter it. Prescribed sunglasses should be worn and these will help reduce eye strain and improve concentration. Even in winter, glare can be worse with low angle sun. Avoid looking directly at the sun.
Coping with heat while driving can be difficult especially if theres three or four noisy children in the back, calling out ‘Are we there yet, are we ..’ If you’ve air conditioning, use it. Take regular breaks and refreshments. Don’t stop on the hard shoulder of motorways or dual carriageways in this case, use the regularly provided service areas. In hot weather, tarmac surfaces become soft so greater care is required when cornering or braking. Keep a greater distance from the vehicle in front.