Tag Archives: holidays

motoring tips, women drivers

Women more likely to drive on short breaks abroad

A Ferrari is surely the perfect car to drive in Italy
A Ferrari is surely the perfect car to drive in Italy
It’s probably fair to say that one thing both women and men share in common is a love of going on holiday.

But there may be some destination differences in opinion between the sexes on where to spend their next holiday – and how to get around while there.

Data from the Target Group Index shows 60% of people who take short breaks in Italy are women.

And, it seems, despite the bountiful supply of wine, the research also revealed 54% of ladies said they would drive on their next short trip abroad. Or were expected to drive perhaps?

The findings also showed women are more likely to take their own car, with 27% of the survey saying they’d do this. The theory this might be to take advantage of the extra boot space needed when shopping for designer Italian shoes and handbags, however, remains unproven.

Of course, if you’re going to be driving in Europe any time soon it’s essential to plan ahead, even if that is just where you’re going to put all that shopping. Whether you’re taking your own car or hiring one, let us provide you with some hints and tips that will ensure you’re ready before getting behind the wheel abroad.

If you’re driving through France to get to Italy, you should know about France’s new Clean Air proposals/rules/penalties.

And the latest to do with driving in France of course.

And here is our motoring advice when driving in Italy.

Do you have any top tips to share for driving in Europe? Let us know!

You can get in touch with us @FOXYtweets or via our Facebook Page.

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Top car accessories for a road trip with children and pets

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With the great British weather finally taking a turn for the better and the summer holidays just on the horizon, it’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy some days out with the kids.

A trip to a country park or the beach is also the perfect opportunity to give your pets a run out, especially for dog owners.

The easiest way to get anywhere with children and pets is often in your own car, but a road trip with these passengers can often be stressful and spoil the entire day out.

To make travelling with kids or pets a stress-free experience for drivers and other passengers, here’s our pick of the top car accessories that can make travelling as easy as possible.

Car mats

A great way to keep both kids and pets entertained is to take them on a country walk, stopping to enjoy the beautiful scenery and including outdoor games like tag and catch along the way. While days like these can create lasting memories you want these to be ones you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives, not just about the muddy foot (and paw) prints caused.

To make these as easy as possible to clean and to not have to worry too much about dirty shoes on the day, pick up some rubber floor mats before the trip. This set from Argos includes a mat for each of the front and back seats — when you get back home, simply hose them off and leave them to dry.

Seat protectors/organisers

If there’s one thing you can guarantee with a road trip with both kids and pets in tow, it’s that there’s going to be plenty of mess. Expect food crumbs, spilt liquids, and general clutter all over your car, and instead of hoping this time will be different, take the preventative measure of buying some seat covers instead.

There are a number of clever options, such as this back seat organiser from Safety 1st, which will not only help keep the interior of your car clean, but also double up as storage for your children’s toys.

A pet barrier

The safest way to travel with dogs is to install a travel barrier. This is an especially wise investment for the owners of energetic dogs who are likely to distract the driver if left to their own devices in the back of the car. A travel barrier keeps your pet cordoned off in the boot, which will keep everyone in the vehicle safe. It’s a good idea to purchase a good-quality, heavy-duty safety barrier, such as this one from Amazon, to ensure that your dog stays in the boot for the whole journey.

Make sure your dog has ample food and water in their section of the car, and provide them with their favourite toys to keep them entertained and calm. Just as with your child, you will also need to make regular stops to give them a toilet break and a stretch of the legs.

A roof box

With kids and pets along for the journey, you’re probably not going to have too much space left inside your car for your luggage. To get around this, invest in a roof box, which can give you up to 500 extra litres of storage and provide plenty of room to fit everything you need for your holiday. Check out the great range of roof boxes at Drive Den, who offers free delivery on all orders over £30.

A safety mirror

To ensure the safety of everyone in your vehicle when travelling with children and pets, make sure to pick up a safety mirror, such as this one from Tesco. This will allow you to keep an eye on the backseats and boot of your car without having to adjust your rear-view mirror, so you can keep your eyes on the road while checking up on your children and pets with the minimum of distraction.

If you pick up these essential accessories before your next long trip with the kids and your pets we’re confident you’ll be making it as enjoyable, stress-free and safe as possible.

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sweet smelling You might find some of the car care tips we’ve shared at Twitter @FOXYTweets recently of interest here.

For insider information like this about a plethora of motoring matters, why not join FOXY Lady Drivers Club?

Like most motoring mums we’re keen to minimise our motoring stress on car journeys – not just to aid our driving concentration but also to make sure that car travel is as safe and comfortable for our children and pets too.

motoring

Staycationing this summer?

raring2go1207As the bank holiday weekend and half term holiday approaches, many people are choosing to holiday in the UK this year so the IAM’s tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger, are well worth reading here.

Holidays can be very stressful because we want them to be perfect. But travelling with children and often at peak motorway times can throw us a curved ball so it helps to be well prepared, come what may, resolutely chilled and with a ready smile to hand ;).

But we’re all human and in this household that’s rarely the case…

STAYCATIONING MOTORING TIPS

1/ Best to share the driving if possible. It makes more sense to spread the load of the different aspects of a journey. If there are two adults, it’s the passenger’s job to look after the kids, not the driver’s. That way both the kids and the driving get proper attention.

2/ Include regular rest stops, preferably at least once every two hours. Make sure you eat sensibly, and drink enough fluid, especially if the summer turns out warm – dehydration destroys concentration quickly. And get out of the car and walk around when you make the stop – it makes a real difference.

3/ Plan your fuel stops in advance, especially if traffic is likely to be heavy. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a traffic queue with the fuel warning light glowing. If budget is an issue try and plan to buy away from the motorway – service area prices tend to be higher, but running out on the motorway is both dangerous and can be very expensive.

4/ Make sure you get enough sleep the night before a long journey. If you feel tired, stop somewhere safe – this does not include the hard shoulder of the motorway. If you feel really tired, have a coffee and a 20 minute nap to give the caffeine time to take effect. If there’s a long way to go, stop for a proper sleep.

5/ Be sure to take something for the kids to eat, drink, look at and do. When the inevitable request for one or more of these occurs, you’ll immediately have something to hand to prevent a distraction occurring. Pack the car so that the kids can see of out the windows, and so that the passengers feel they can move their limbs – it helps keep the mood cheerful.

Peter reminds us that: “Getting away on holiday is great fun, but it can also be hugely stressful, especially if you have the whole family with you. Make sure you prepare yourself, your car and your route beforehand, for a trip that’ll have everyone smiling from start to finish. Enjoy your holiday.”

Good idea if Dad sorts out the car because Mum surely will have done most other things.

And finally here are some novel car journey games to play…

FOXY

road safety

Going skiing in 2013?

An increasing number of skiers and snowboarders are opting for self-drive holidays to European ski resorts to enjoy good snow conditions and to save money on flights.

However, driving to ski resorts in many European countries brings with it certain motoring challenges and concerns particularly when it comes to car tyres.

It is common for Northern European motorists near ski resorts to have two sets of car tyres because they are more used to driving in snowy conditions than we are. At this time of the year they will fit winter tyres to deal with the very cold weather, ice and snow.

According to the FOXY Lady Approved female friendly Protyre Group this is not common practice in the UK yet, although there has been an increase in the sale of winter or cold weather tyres in the last few years.

Please see the excellent Tyresafe video here if you need convincing about the safety case…

Furthermore, motorists driving to a German ski resort are liable to on-the-spot fines if their vehicle becomes stuck in snow or ice because their tyres are unsuitable for the winter conditions. All British motorists travelling to alpine resorts should be aware of the importance of tyre choice although apparently the Department of Transport has confirmed that international conventions only require that our cars satisfy general technical requirements.

Protyre recommends that if you are driving to European ski resorts you consider a set of winter tyres or as an alternative, switching to an all season tyre which has the capability of dealing with snow and ice better than summer tyres. Where in doubt contact any of the FOXY Lady Approved female friendly Protyre tyre fitting centres in the UK for advice. Their contact details can be found at www.protyre.co.uk.

Important tyre safety checks

Either way, before setting off on a winter road journey MTS suggests the following safety checks:

+ Check all tyres for their general condition
+ Check tyre pressures
+ Check tyre tread – where winter tyres are fitted a minimum of 3mm is required in most countries. Other tyres should also have a minimum of 3mm.
+ Check the spare tyre for tread depth and pressure

As always, FOXY’s advice to women drivers is to get used to walking around your car on a regular basis, come snow, rain or shine, to check the condition of your tyres. You are looking for any evidence of sidewall wear and tear, a slow puncture and low (getting close to being illegal) tread.

Your tyres control your road safety, that of your passengers and potentially other motorists/pedestrians so that must always the main consideration… BUT if you neglect them they will also be MUCH more expensive to replace than they would be to repair the moment you spot a potential problem.

Happy skiing!

FOXY