The romance of road travel is wearing thin thanks to soaring fuel costs, poor roads and increased congestion. But with a little effort, driving need not be a grind. Andrew Kerr identifies 25 ways to have fun

1. Allow yourself a few minutes before a trip to demist windows, load a couple of CDs, clean your windscreen, wash off bird droppings, and grab a snack for the ride.

2. Know what lies ahead. Hatch a plan for a long trip before you leave, researching good places to take a break and attractions worth visiting.

3. Fill up on the way home rather than on the way out. Beginning a trip with a near-empty tank is no fun. And don’t partially fill – you’re not saving money and the fewer trips to the fuel station, the better. Tuesday is the cheapest day to buy petrol.

4. Plan your on-road entertainment before you drive off. When you park the car for the night, think about which CDs you would enjoy listening to on the next trip.

5. Monitor fuel consumption. Amuse yourself by crunching the numbers and setting an economy target for the occasional tankful.

6. Accelerating can be exhilarating if done legally and safely in the right circumstances. Use your engine’s performance to accelerate quickly when overtaking or joining fast-moving motorway traffic.

7. Acknowledge thoughtful and courteous driving on the road. What goes around comes around…

8. Keep your car interior clean and smelling fresh. It’s a very confined space so make it pleasant for yourself and your passengers.

9. Suitable footwear will give you greater comfort and a better feel for the pedals. Consider keeping a change of shoes in the car.

10. Drive with style. Challenge yourself to drive smoothly, concentrating on slick, well-timed gearshifts, seamless merging, well-judged lane changes, measured braking and great cornering lines.

11. Become known as a good driver. Passengers pass judgement on drivers, especially friends, relatives and colleagues…

12. Give yourself space on the road – it’s there for the taking and it’s free! Zoning in on the bumper in front won’t get you from A to B any faster. Try to leave a three-second gap between you and the car in front – more on a wet road.

13. Reacquaint yourself with your car’s finer features. Even a quick flick through the owner’s manual could prove enlightening.

14. Know what your car can do. ABS brakes, for example, are terrific if you understand how to make the most of them.

15. Reassess your driving position. Set up your seat, steering wheel and mirrors for maximum comfort, control and visibility.

16. Relax at traffic lights. Gripping the wheel at ten-and-two isn’t necessary when you’re going nowhere.

17. Have a snack at hand and keep yourself watered when on the road.

18. Never get lost again. Investing in a sat-nav device with voice directions can help you enjoy driving on unfamiliar roads. Position it so it does not obstruct your vision.

19. Take care when parking, especially in shopping centres. Parking away from the crowd and walking a few more metres to the entrance helps preserve your gleaming bodywork.

20. Don’t drive against the clock. Monitoring how many minutes a trip is taking is futile and only increases anxiety.

21. Take pride in your vehicle. You don’t have to make your car your hobby or join a car club but…

22. Visit an accessories store and discover some products that could improve your driving experience. You’ll be amazed what’s available.

23. Keep away from kerbs. An unblemished alloy wheel is a thing of beauty and worth preserving. And give those wheels a quick, regular clean so removing road grime and brake dust doesn’t become a monumental task.

24. Take an eye test. Seeing better makes driving safer, especially at night. And arm yourself with quality sunglasses for daytime driving.

25. Expect the unexpected and give wayward drivers some leeway. Remember, they’re unlikely to be enjoying themselves as much as you are!

For a wide range of motoring advice, tips and ideas, click here.

Open Road e-zine August 2008

Return to e-zine