More than one in eight drivers have suffered car trouble on holiday, says study

More than one in eight families have suffered car trouble while on holiday, new research suggests.

A study of 2,043 UK adults on behalf of Kwik Fit found that nearly 4.5 million drivers have been faced with car troubles while miles from home, prompting the car repair company to urge motorists to undertake basic checks before leaving home.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The findings of this study are quite worrying. Despite many drivers having experienced car trouble on holiday, the number making some of the simplest checks before they set off is far too low.

“We would encourage all drivers setting off on a journey of any distance, and particularly one that will last thousands of miles on foreign roads, to run through a checklist before they depart.”

According to the research, those holidaying within the UK will travel an average of 1,184 miles, while those travelling on to the continent will typically cover more than 1,600 miles.

Of the latter, the study found that less than half check that their insurance covers them for driving abroad, while less than a third take a warning triangle in the car – although failure to do so can lead to an on-the-spot fine.

A recent study by RAC Traffic Watch found that this late May bank holiday will be the busiest on the roads for four years. Its analysis revealed that 16.5 million leisure journeys could take place, with Monday expected to see the highest volume of cars.