'Check tyre pressure' when driving heavy car

Date: 10/6/2011

With summer now here, more Britons may be considering hitting the roads to make the long journey to their holiday destinations.

Particularly if travelling with the rest of the family, these occasions can see vehicles being much heavier than usual due to the additional weight of luggage.

With this in mind, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has urged Britons to take a number of precautions before setting off.

These include checking the pressure of tyres, as when a vehicle is fully loaded the burden means that this part of the car may require a higher pressure.

In terms of road safety, drivers should ensure that nothing is blocking their rear view and that all items are packed tightly, as in the event of sudden braking the motorist or their passengers could be injured should an object be thrown from storage.

Chief Examiner at the group Peter Rodger says: "When you're packing a car with enough stuff to last you, it's tempting to throw the last few small items in loose. But bad packing can be dangerous and you could be prosecuted if your baggage looks unsecure."

In addition to being an important step before a long journey, the IAM has also pointed out how much of a difference the correct tyre pressure can make to fuel consumption.

It claims that driving with the incorrect level could push fuel bills up by as much as five per cent.

Posted by Sarah Bailey