(Elbil24): The above quote is from Roger Ytre-Hauge. He is head of motoring at Freunde Forsikring and has seen many examples of Norwegians' car holidays not going as planned.
In fact, 1 in 4 car drivers have experienced problems with their vehicle during their car holiday, according to a survey conducted by Norstad Freunde.
That's why Freinde is now going out and encouraging Norwegians to be well prepared before taking their car on holiday this summer.
– With simple procedures, you can eliminate many of the frequent occurrences when you finally have to pay for well-deserved vacation days. Car trouble doesn't often happen because you're particularly unlucky, he says – and continues:
– This happens because the car already has grumbling problems and then you use the car more while you are on a driving holiday. That's why the car strikes when you need it least, says Ytre-Hauge.
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– Plain, but simple
Geirr Tangstad-Holdal, general manager of the Swedish Transport Safety Association, has prepared advice on what to do before you set off.
– Check if the car or caravan needs to be checked overtime at a workshop before the holiday. You need to make sure your vehicle is safe and legal before you leave. Book an appointment for service well in advance of the holidays, says Tangstad-Holdel in a press release.
He is supported by Ytre-Hauge:
– It sounds a little mundane, but it's actually quite simple. In the busy day-to-day life of driving to and from work on the same road week after week, it's easy to forget how long it's been since the last test, says the head of Friendly Motor Engineering.
– So when you start long journeys, preferably on roads of varying quality, if something is already going on, things will break.
Electric car abroad
More and more people are going on European holidays with electric cars. Driving back and forth to Spain, northern Italy and southern France is unusual.
– Norwegians are at the top of the world in terms of experience with electric cars, so the fear of charging is actually a phase closed years ago, says Sigmund Clements, communications manager at the insurance company, in a press release.
However, in Europe, not everyone uses electric cars like we do in the North. So, plan your journey and charging options well. Few countries have as good a charging network as Norway.
In Norway, it is often easier to put a charging cable on a long trip. In Europe, it's best to plan ahead. Photo: Steinar Andre Danielson.
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In addition, you should be prepared for the challenges you may face if the accident occurs in the first place.
– In this country, repairing an electric car is “a normal day at work” for car workshops. In some European countries this does not have to be the case. Parts can take a long time to get hold of, and sometimes an electric car needs to be transported long distances for repairs, Clements says.
He believes it's important to check that the car is in tip-top condition before going on holiday. This applies to both fossil fuel powered cars and electric cars:
– During the summer months, we get many serious car accidents which could have been avoided if the service intervals had been followed. Ruining your vacation because your car breaks down on the Autobahn is boring, says Clements.
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Check the tires
Before a long car vacation, tires need to be in top condition.
– Your tires are the only point of contact with the car's ground. That's why it's important to check both the air pressure, tread depth and age of the tires before going on holiday, says Tangstad-Holdel of the Swedish Transport Safety Association.
– Ytre-Hauge in Frente says you should check this too before the holiday with someone who knows what they're doing.
– Tires are important for you to drive safely and securely. Also remember that winter tires without studs aren't designed for summer driving, concludes Tangstad-Hoeldel.
Insurance company If only receives around 500 cases from Europe outside the Nordics, which concern Norwegians on road holidays. Photo: If.
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Checklist
In summary, Frende offers the following tips on what you should do before your car vacation:
- If it's been a long time since the last one, book an appointment at the workshop to have the car checked before the holidays.
- Check tire pressure and pattern and be careful not to drive on old tires. Or on winter tires.
- Remember that summers can also bring heavy rains. Check that the windscreen wipers are working properly and that they are not too bad to replace.
- Pack the car securely before you leave. Large, heavy items should be under and behind the seat. Secure all loose cargo.
If you rent a car, you must:
- Get to know how it works – it can quickly differ from what you're used to.
- Take pictures of the car before you drive off – you can demonstrate what scratches were present before you left.
- Check that you have travel insurance that will cover the excess on the rental car in case of damage.
- Roadside assistance is not automatically included in the rental with all rental companies. Be careful and consider the need to extend the insurance.
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