{"id":7763,"date":"2023-12-20T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T10:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/?p=7763"},"modified":"2025-02-26T06:17:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T06:17:54","slug":"4-festive-tips-for-a-stress-free-christmas-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scrapcarnetwork.org\/news\/4-festive-tips-for-a-stress-free-christmas-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"4 festive tips for a stress-free Christmas journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jolly Christmas singles aside, we\u2019re willing to bet you\u2019re not looking forward to the actual driving part of \u201cDriving Home for Christmas.\u201d Ironically enough, it\u2019s a pastime not even Chris Rea particularly enjoys. If you\u2019re familiar with the background of the song<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, or even if you just focus on a couple of the lyrics, you\u2019ll already know that it\u2019s actually a song basically about being stuck in traffic for hours on end. Which we\u2019re willing to bet is something that you\u2019d prefer to avoid this Christmas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So with that in mind, this week we\u2019re looking at the best top tips to stop you from stressing, rushing, and potentially ending up in a collision that scraps your car<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. Nobody needs that at this time of year!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Plan ahead for peace of mind<\/h2>\n

As we\u2019ve already touched on, Christmas Day itself can be a dream, but the festive traffic can be a nightmare. Let\u2019s be honest, you\u2019ll almost certainly get caught up in it to some degree, so the best way to combat some of that potential stress is to plan as far as you can in advance, identifying and avoiding potential chokepoints. In the days or hours before you set off, it\u2019s also a good idea to check weather forecasts, road conditions, and traffic updates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While you\u2019re out on the roads, don\u2019t forget to schedule breaks for rest and meals, and allow a bit of extra time for (very expected) “unexpected\u201d delays. And when all else fails, you can designate your partner as your car\u2019s comms officer, and have them call ahead to friends and family who may be waiting for you. Sometimes it just comes down to managing expectations!<\/p>\n

Set off during off-peak hours<\/h2>\n

Peak traffic hours tend to be in the late mornings and early afternoons, so if you\u2019re worried about getting caught up in traffic, it\u2019s best to try and time your journeys to avoid these as much as you can. Generally, the earlier the better (although that\u2019s not always realistic if you\u2019ve got young children to shepherd into the car!). Sometimes, even an hour or so can end up making all the difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re able to leave relatively early in the morning, or later in the evening, with luck you can dodge the worst of the traffic \u2013 so your journey will be shorter, and hopefully a bit less stressful to boot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Embrace the Christmas spirit!<\/h2>\n

Amid all the fuss and hubbub around getting everyone ready and packed and everything bundled into the car (family members included), it can be easy to forget it\u2019s a cheerful time \u2013 so one good way to combat the potential stress of the journey is to make the trip itself into part of the festivities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Obviously, a good Christmas playlist is an absolute must \u2013 get some Wham, get some Chris Rea, get some Michael Bubl\u00e9 and get him Bubl\u00e9-ing at his very best as you hit the highway. Don\u2019t be afraid to have some alternatives ready too though, like some Christmas games, or even a good audiobook for when everyone\u2019s energy levels dip in the later hours of the journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And of course, if you think some younger members of the family might get a little rowdy later on, you can always cheat a bit with some festive Christmas snacks and treats to buy their silence. You can even maximise the festive feeling with a few decorations for the car \u2013 just obviously make sure they don\u2019t obstruct your view!<\/p>\n

Get enough rest<\/h2>\n

This is one that\u2019s often underestimated, and you therefore won\u2019t hear many people give it as advice, but it\u2019s so, so important. It\u2019s not unusual for people to set off in the dead of night or the breaking hours of dawn to try and beat that rush hour traffic we\u2019ve detailed above, but that often means driving tired. And as we highlighted at this time last year, driving tired is just as bad as driving drunk<\/span><\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, the end effects are the same. Even if you don\u2019t actually fall asleep at the wheel (potentially a very real possibility) your reactions are slowed, and that can make it all the more likely you\u2019ll fail to react to something crucial happening ahead \u2013 which could make all the difference as to whether or not you have an accident. So if you\u2019re planning on an early start, make sure you get some proper shut-eye first!<\/p>\n

Those are our top tips \u2013 the element of rest is an absolute essential, but the rest is up to your discretion. Whatever the case, have a very Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year! And if you fancy a change for your car in 2024, rest assured that\u2019s exactly where we can help here at Scrap Car Network. With more than 40 years of experience behind us, we\u2019ve refined our process to make sure it\u2019s never been easier to scrap your car. All you need to do is\u00a0enter your car reg and postcode<\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0into the fields on our site, and we\u2019ll have your scrap car quote to you in seconds. So\u2026 curious to find out how much your car is worth?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jolly Christmas singles aside, we\u2019re willing to bet you\u2019re not looking forward to the actual driving part of \u201cDriving Home for Christmas.\u201d Ironically enough, it\u2019s a pastime not even Chris Rea particularly enjoys. If you\u2019re familiar with the background of the song, or even if you just focus on a couple of the lyrics, you\u2019ll […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":7769,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n