Millions of UK Drivers to Set Off Unprepared for Christmas Journeys

New research reveals 2.6 million motorists will skip basic vehicle checks despite covering 4.5 billion festive miles

Nearly half of all UK drivers (47%) will be hitting the road to visit friends or family this festive season, with 4.3 million setting off on Christmas Eve alone, according to new research from Kwik Fit. However, the automotive servicing giant has warned that millions will be travelling unprepared, with one in seven drivers (14%) – approximately 2.6 million motorists – admitting they won't make any checks on their vehicles before departure.

The UK's leading automotive servicing and repair company found that the nation's drivers will cover a combined total of 4.5 billion miles on festive trips, with nearly 3.5 million travelling more than 350 miles. The festive exodus will extend well into the new year, with 8% of drivers not returning home until Sunday 4 January or later.

Young Drivers Shoulder the Burden

The research, conducted among 2,000 UK adults, revealed a generational divide in festive travel patterns. Drivers under 34 who are taking to the roads will cover an average of 188 miles across 3.6 trips, whilst those over 55 will typically drive 109 miles for 1.7 trips.

London will see the largest festive exodus, with 79% of the capital's drivers expecting to make at least one overnight trip, covering an average of 223 miles. In contrast, drivers in Scotland and the North East are least likely to head out for overnight stays, with just over a third (36%) doing so, driving 107 and 98 festive miles respectively.

Worrying Lack of Vehicle Checks

The research revealed concerning statistics about drivers' preparation levels. Amongst those making festive trips:

• Only 52% will check their tyre pressure
• Just 39% will check screenwash
• 39% will check lights
• 38% will check oil levels
• 30% will check tyre tread
• 24% will check coolant
• A mere 19% will check their emergency kit (blanket, phone charger, water, or snow shovel)
• Over 80% will neglect to check their air conditioning

The latter point is particularly significant, as Kwik Fit's experts have highlighted in a TikTok video – which has amassed 1.3 million views – that air conditioning is crucial for demisting windscreens effectively during winter.

Expert Advice on TikTok

To highlight the importance of pre-journey checks, Kwik Fit has enlisted driving experts Jason Plato, Daniel Rowbottom, and Jodie Kidd to share winter driving advice via TikTok, focusing on essential checks before winter getaways.

Dan Joyce, operations director at Kwik Fit, stressed the importance of advance preparation: "The research shows millions will be hitting the roads this Christmas, but it's alarming to see how many will be doing so without making the most basic of checks. Tyre checks are critical, especially as many modern cars are not fitted with spares. Drivers should also inspect their emergency repair kit to make sure it's not out of date. In wintry conditions it's especially vital to ensure your car is in peak condition – nobody wants an unscheduled stop at the side of the road on their Christmas list."

Festive Opening Hours

To enable staff to enjoy the festive season, Kwik Fit will be closing its centres at 1pm on Christmas Eve, reopening on Saturday 27 December. Centres will also close at 1pm on New Year's Eve. All centres are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Drivers needing pre-travel checks can call their local Kwik Fit centre or book online at kwik-fit.com.

‍

Research carried out by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults, with fieldwork conducted 5-9 December 2024

‍

‍

Tagged with: winter driving checks, tyre pressure, tyre tread depth, Christmas travel UK, Kwik Fit research, festive mileage, demisting windscreens, emergency breakdown kit, MOT tyre safety, driving in winter

‍