Getting Your Car Ready For The Summer Heatwave

Summer adventures in the UK are cool - whether you’re heading to the beach, off to meet friends, or exploring many of Britain’s best and brightest attractions.
But, with weather set to soar to 31 degrees and Britain’s motorways getting busy, you want to be certain that you can reach your destination without breaking a sweat, whilst everyone outside is topping up their tan.
Getting to your destination safely is, after all, the coolest thing you can do!

T.R.I.P with National Highways before you TRIP
Like Roadchef, our friends at National Highways want every trip to be a safe one. You’ll have heard their easily memorable T.R.I.P song on the radio or on TV, with four easy steps to take to get your vehicle ready for creating those summer memories.
TRIP (or Top-Up, Rest, Inspect, Prepare) gives you four quick checks to give you a smooth, safe, secure and happy journey.
Top-Up
With a third of breakdowns due to running out of fuel, oil or water, this could be the most important stage.
Your car’s suggested mileage will give you a good steer on whether you’ll reach your destination without a break or if you need to plan a refuelling or recharging stop. Worry not if you've got an EV, we've got high-powered chargers dotted all over the country ready to get your recharged and back on the road in no time.
Running out of fuel on the motorway can be dangerous, not only for leaving you stranded in extreme temperatures throughout the summer, but can cause pile ups or potential collisions if you run out of fuel unexpectedly.
Alongside your fuel, check your oil and screen wash too. Seeing clearly from your windscreen is vital - so removing smears, bug build ups and the dread bird mess can help you see the road ahead. Our Roadchef & Co-op stores have great deals on screen wash to clear your path (and your windscreen) towards a happy summer.
When checking your oil before travelling, make sure your engine is cold. Start by wiping the dipstick, before re-entering the chamber. The oil level will appear on the dipstick when removing it from the engine, and should be between the ‘min’ and ‘max’ lines.
Smooth journeys begin with good engine maintenance.
Rest
Rested motorists are calm motorists. The RAC recommends that drivers rest every two hours on their journey and that’s where Roadchef comes in.
With 31 motorway services locations across the United Kingdom and some of the UK’s biggest brands at every site, restful stops at Roadchef means calmer journeys.
Take your time to rehydrate with a bottle of water - vital when the weather is hot. Drinking plenty of fluids can help increase concentration and focus both on the road and off it! There’s plenty of options to choose from at WHSmith and Roadchef & Co-op stores - whether you’re a fan of Ribena or just want a bottle of ice-cold Volvic to quench the thirst.
If you've drank too much water and are starting to cross your legs, Roadchef's award-winning toilets and Changing Places are 24/7 to help your refresh and take that much needed rest stop!
Inspect
As your only four points of contact with the road, checking your tyres is vital before every journey.
If you’re looking for another memorable acronym, TyreSafe recommends ACT for checking your tyres before hitting the road.
A stands for air pressure - make sure your PSI matches the recommended load for your vehicle. Remember - a fully laden car with people and suitcases will likely need a higher PSI than you travelling on your own. You’ll find the required PSI within one of the vehicle door sills or behind the fuel cap.
C stands for Condition. Look for cuts, bulges, a lack of tread before hitting the road.
T stands for tread depth. The legal requirement for tread depth is 1.6mm. You can easily measure the tread depth, without an official tool, by grabbing a 20p piece. If the outer rim of the coin is covered, you’re safe. If not, it’s time to consider new tyres!
Other than tyres, don’t forget to check that your wipers are in serviceable condition and adjust your mirrors to ensure you can see the full extent of the road around you.
Prepare
Summer isn’t always about sun, especially not British weather.
Considering your style of driving when rain begins to fall can keep you safe. Slow down, expand the distance between you and the vehicle in front and take it steady.
Did you know you can actually save yourself money by driving smoothly, rather than accelerating and decelerating on-and-off?
That’s more money for those summer McFlurrys at our 24/7 McDonald’s.

Getting the in-car supplies ready for summer
Before the journey begins
Preparation and planning prevents poor performance - that applies to journeys too.
For those with an EV or modern vehicle, pre-climatising your vehicle before you hit the road means you can get into a fresh, cool car rather than a greenhouse on wheels.
Cars sitting in direct sunlight can increase by up to 6 degrees, so having the option to pre-chill your car feels like bliss!
Otherwise, a few minutes of cold air from your air conditioning will do the trick.
Don’t forget to use a window-mounted sun shade to avoid UV rays and check babies' temperature regularly, by using the back of their neck or tummy as a gauge..
You can read more about travelling with a baby in our Motorway Matters Article here.
Food and Drink
Did you know that, according to a recent study, hunger can negatively affect your mood as well as your cognition and judgement?
That’s why having the car snacks just right can help support a smooth journey from destination to destination, and Roadchef has everything you need from some of the UK’s biggest brands to support every adventure.
From sweet baked cakes and biscuits from Costa Coffee to actual sweeties from WHSmith, alongside our £6.29 meal deal and healthy Mediterranean-inspired meals from LEON, there’s everything that every driver and passenger could possibly want.
Our WHSmith stores boast a great selection of ice creams too, whilst our McFlurry machines are always ready and waiting for you to order your favourite ice cream blend.
Away from food, water is the absolute must-have!
Keeping yourself and your passengers hydrated helps focus but also reduces the risk of heatstroke. Ice cool water is available to purchase from WHSmith or Roadchef & Co-op stores, whilst those with refillable bottles can get free water from any unit on site.
Hydration applies to our four legged friends too - and you can read more about travelling with dogs this summer here.
Extra safety
Don’t forget to pack extra sun cream to avoid burns. Even if you’re in the car, UV rays (including UVA) still penetrate windows. Sun cream with a SPF of 30 and above is highly recommended to be applied liberally every two hours.
If you’ve run low or forgotten your sun cream, you’ll find a variety of sun creams in our WHSmith and Roadchef & Co-op stores.
For those driving, sunglasses with Level 2 and 3 protection is legal and recommended for stopping UV rays getting in your eyes or being dazzled by sunlight bouncing off the road. Level 4 (the highest rating) sunglasses are illegal, due to the darkness of the lenses.
As an added extra, a good first-aid kit with all the essentials will save the whinges and moans. Fill it with bite cream (who knows when a wasp will get through an open window), plasters - including blisters plasters from those long holiday walks - and any little additions you might need.
Keeping kids happy
Stopping the ‘Are we there yets’ is absolutely vital for a smooth journey as well as your sanity and hearing.
That’s why we’re making journeys better for families with great food offers for children's meals, adding additional facilities for youngsters to blow off some steam and much more.
Our children’s meals in Fresh Food Cafe, Garden Square Deli, Rest Bite and Breakfast Kitchen start from £2.99 with a variety of plated meals available including kids favourites little sausages and fish fingers. Don’t forget to ask about our family meal deal too!
You can grab the iconic Happy Meal from just £3.79 and healthy on-the-go mains from LEON for just £4.99.
Before filling their little tummies though, let your youngsters blow off some steam at Strensham (M5), Tibshelf (M1) or Pont Abraham (M4) in our Miles of Smiles play areas.
There’s plenty of games and playthings to occupy little hands and let them tire themselves out before your journey continues.
If your youngsters have arrived asleep though, don’t wake them up - we know how blissful a quiet journey can be.
Many of our sites boast Costa Coffee Drive Thrus and McDonald’s Drive Thrus to allow you to get a rest, a bite to eat and a refreshing drink without having to leave your vehicle.
For those looking for something to occupy those fidgety back seat passengers, WHSmith has a variety of games, toys, activity packs, magazines and books to keep youngsters busy.

Eyes feeling heavy and late-night driving
As darkness sets in and the roads quiet, you might think that leaving later will give you the best possible chance to get home without any hassle.
This might mean that, after a day in the pool and exploring sunny climes, you’ll begin to feel tired.
The safest thing you can do when your eyes are feeling tired is take a break.
With two hours free parking at all 31 Roadchef locations, a few moments of shut-eye in comfortable surroundings will do the world of good. Otherwise, just take a few moments to take your eyes off the road and stare into a deep, hot drink.
Mostly, though, be sensible and stop driving when you’re tired.
With 17 hotels based across the UK with rooms from just £40, when the land of nod is calling more than your destination, pull in.
Every room is equipped with plush furnishings to rest your weary head, whilst our pair of Super 8 by Wyndham hotels offer the latest Chromecast TVs to stream your favourite shows whilst you stretch out on our beds.
Booking in advance and direct via our website is recommended, but rooms may be available on the day from the hotel reception.
So, when are we stopping?
With 31 Roadchef locations across the country and on the biggest motorway networks, you’re never far from a Roadchef.
You can plan your journey ahead and avoid the stresses of planning toilet trips, food breaks, drink stops and more by using our journey planner or break up your longer journey with a hotel stay at affordable prices.
We hope to see you soon to help support your big summer adventures with a restful recharge at Roadchef.