Why is it particularly important to carry out a check on your vehicle before making a long motorway journey?

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The best way to ensure your trips go as planned, whether you're going to the coast, the countryside, the city, or somewhere beyond the UK, is to keep your car in great shape. Before beginning a long journey, you should inspect:

- Coolant and oil: Use the directions in the vehicle's manual, check the oil and coolant levels. It could be worthwhile to have a garage check the cooling system.

- Battery: More RAC call-outs in the winter are due to battery problems than anything else. According to usage, car batteries need to be replaced every few years, so be sure to get yours inspected at your car service.

- Fuel: Although it may seem obvious, a surprising number of breakdowns are caused by running out of fuel. Why not familiarize yourself with possible stops for fueling up before you leave, just in case?

- Screen wash and wiper blades: Check the windscreen washer fluid level, the condition of the washer jets, and the wear and tear on each wiper blade. The use of screen wash additive is recommended as it helps to keep the windscreen clean and free of dirt, especially the winter road grime brought on by gritting and salting of the roads, which can impair visibility. Another reason to use an appropriate anti-freeze screenwash is to prevent a frozen windscreen.

- Fan belt: Ask your garage to check the fan belt, also known as the auxiliary belt, on a regular basis.

- Tyres: Check the legal tread depth and correct tire pressure on all of your car's tires, including the spare if you have one. For cars and light commercial vehicles (up to 3500 kg gvw'), the current legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, and failure to comply can result in a fine of up to £2500 and three penalty points per tyre.