You’re about to head out for a summer road trip. You’re trying to cram everything and everyone into the car, but it’s no good, it doesn’t all fit. You didn’t want to resort to this, but it’s time to get the roof rack out.
You hastily attach it and strap on everything you can’t get in the car using bungee ropes, tape, and the odd hair band you found in the glove box.
Finally, three hours behind schedule, you’re good to go. Or are you? It might be worth taking a second to check that everything is secure.
Research from Green Flag found that kayaks, a box full of toys, and even a sledge were among items that fell from a roof rack and caused motorway obstructions last year.
Other stray items included camping gear, roof boxes, bike racks, and even a rubber dinghy.
Debris from vehicles themselves, like tyres, parts and accessories, are also common obstructions on UK roads.
Roof racks and more – stay safe on the road
According to National Highways data, there were over 21,000 occasions where one or more motorway lanes were affected because of dangerous obstructions in 2024.
Not only is this a risk to road users, but it can add hours to travelling times and ruin the beginning, middle, or end of many family holidays.
It would also be pretty awful to arrive at your destination just to find out your rubber dinghy is 100 miles away…
Don’t let that be you! Follow our top tips to help you prepare for your next long car journey.
1. Make sure roof boxes, roof racks and bike racks are suitable for your vehicle and are correctly fitted. Take time to tighten fastenings and use proper straps to secure bikes, dinghies and toy boxes to your car.
2. Get your car serviced regularly, so it’s in top condition for your journey.
3. Check your tyres for pressure and tread. You can check the tread using a 20p coin – if the outer band is visible when you put it between the grooves, it means your tyres are too worn down and need replacing.
4. Plan your fuel stops – you don’t want your entire car to be an obstruction in the road! If you’ve got an electric car, use a tool like ZapMap to find charging points along your route.
5. Fully charge your phone before you set off and pack a portable charger.
6. Get breakdown cover. If anything happens on the road, having the right breakdown cover can get you going again quickly.