The festive season means a lot of things. Mince pies, Christmas trees and, in the UK at least, lots of traffic on the roads.
However, you needn’t sit in congestion for hours on end. That’s not to say that it won’t happen – but here are some hints and tips on how to ensure you hit as little traffic as possible.
Plan ahead
It may sound obvious, but planning ahead can make a huge amount of difference to your journey times. Looking at the route you plan to take before you get in the car means you’ll have a better idea of alternative routes too, should you need them.
It also takes a little stress away from the trip – knowing exactly where you’re going makes things better in the long run.
Avoid peak times
Again, another obvious one. Avoiding peak times means you’ll likely miss the bulk of the traffic, though it may mean some early starts or late nights.
Travelling first thing in the morning can be a good option – just ensure you miss the middle of the day, at which time most people will be getting behind the wheel.
Use technology
We have a wealth of technology right at our fingertips, ever-ready to help us avoid potential traffic catastrophes. There are several good traffic-related smartphone apps available at the moment, which can give you real-time updates about traffic status, roadworks and lane closures.
Using these radically affects how quick and easy your drive is – and most of them are free, too.
Radio
Yes, even though smartphones are cutting-edge, there’s still something to be said for the humble radio. For one, almost every car has one (Caterham drivers read elsewhere now), and a lot of available stations provide frequent traffic reports.
The only issue with radio updates (compared to smartphone apps), is the lack of immediacy. By the time a station has reported on traffic, you could be stuck in it already.
Check weather reports
This one isn’t so obvious. It’s always worth checking weather reports for the area you’ll be travelling through and towards, in order to avoid any hazardous weather conditions.
How does this apply to traffic? Well poor weather slows down traffic, and often causes congestion build-ups – things you can avoid by simply checking beforehand.