It’s that time of the year again! The last Bank Holiday before Christmas, and everyone heads out, even though the weather is going to be terrible…

A lovely summer Bank Holiday in the UK

So, inevitably, you’re going to hit a traffic jam on the M40. Here are a few tips that may help make the drive less stressful for the whole family - all these tips - and not a travel sweet in site.

Start by having a clear plan of where you are going. Map out your route. Even if this is a route that you know well, ensure that you have roadmaps that show your entire journey along with the surrounding area. This way if you come upon an accident or bad traffic jam you can try to find an alternate route. Modern sat nav systems are great, but sometimes you just cannot beat a good map.

You also can’t beat lists. Make a list of everything you will need on your time away. As you pack each item, mark them off of your list. Make a list for everyone in the family (especially if you have children) who will be doing their own packing. By doing this you greatly reduce the chance of getting to your location just to find your daughter forgot her toothbrush and your son did not pack any socks. It may seem silly, but list even the most common items since these are the ones that are more likely to be forgotten. Also make a list for everyone in your family. Also where children are involved, it is a good idea to list specific clothing types that would be needed for your travel destination.

It is best to load your car up the night before. This way you can take your time and double check to make sure you have everything you will need or want to take. Plus if the luggage is a tight fit, you may end up taking it all out of the car and re-arranging it to fit it back in. You will not be rushed so your stress levels will be much lower. Also make sure that your vehicle is filled with fuel and have all of the other fluid levels checked prior to your trip (including Tea).

There’s got to be more room in there somewhere..

Now how to survive the traffic jam? This weekend, beg, cry and borrow some time off on the Friday, either the afternoon or the whole day. This way you get a good start on the road before many of the other travellers get off work. Also you would avoid the rush hour.

A few last minute items you might want to pack as you are ready to depart would be some drinks and light snacks. This can prevent frequent stops when people need something to drink or feel the need for a snack. It also keeps the children happier. A word of caution though - if you have a long trip you may want to regulate the drinks or you will make just as many stops as you were trying to avoid when someone needs to use the lavatory. Any stops you do make try to get everyone to get out, have a stretch and use the loo (but in the UK, only do that).

Another good idea is try to get a traffic report for every major city or town area you will be driving through. Find out on the Highways Agency website about any road construction or detours that you might encounter along your route. Knowing this in advance can help you save a lot of time, headaches and the inevitable row wilst trying to find alternate routes whilst driving.

Always try to estimate your driving times and when you will be likely to pass through more populated areas or larger cities. Then time your arrival through those areas when a lower flow of traffic is expected. So, for instance, hit Stonehenge early or really late.

This may mean stopping for supper earlier or later than normal. You might want to stop shortly before hitting the city then you can enjoy your dinner and everyone will be satisfied and in good spirits. By the time you have finished your meal the traffic may be cleared up. Besides if you stop outside of a major city area the wait time at the restaurant might be shorter as well.

For the actual drive and dealing with the inevitable stress, one last piece of advice …Breathe Deep Seek Peace! Try to remain calm. Remember all of the other travellers want the same thing that you do. That is to simply arrive at their destination as quickly as possible. So if the driver in another car makes rude gestures simply smile and wave, then note down their numberplate.

Avoid road rage situations at all costs! Believe it or not you will probably feel better than if you return the unbecoming behaviour. Plus it will make the other driver think twice, but the best bonus is that you will set a good example for your children.

Avoid road rage, deal with it with a smile

Now how to entertain everyone in the car to keep the stress levels to a minimum. This is going to vary greatly depending on the age of any children with you. For younger children you can make a scavenger hunt of things they are likely to see along the road. For the very young make pictures instead of lists of words, that way they can still play even if they have not yet learned to read. The list could include things like a policeman or a church. You could even offer a prize for whoever finds the most things on the list. Or you could just give everyone who plays a prize at the end of the trip.

One of the favourite games I played with my children on long road trips was called 20 questions. Here the host of the game will think of a person, place or thing. Then the others need to ask yes or no questions, but no more than 20 of them to figure what the host is thinking about. The first person to guess is the host of the next round. This is a game that even the driver can participate in as it takes little attention to actually play.

It’s not just the adults who get fed-up with the drive

There are also several classic games such as chess that have been made into travel versions with magnetic pieces. Older children may prefer one of the many electronic games available today. Other entertainment options would be a portable DVD player. This can entertain from the very young to the older children depending on the movies you play. For teenagers you may want to consider portable music players. Their taste in music is likely far different from yours and if everyone can listen to the type of music that they like without inflicting it on the others the stress levels are likely to be lower. For some more gadget ideas, look here.

If you plan to use public transportation over the holiday make sure you know the scheduled departure times, then arrive early. This way you have extra time to accommodate the crowds and any delays caused by other travellers. Queues may also be longer, so if you do not have reservations you might find that the train/coach is full and you will have to wait for the next one.

So be prepared, leave when the traffic is at a minimum if possible and enjoy your holiday.

And this is what it’s all for - a packed day at the beach

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