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So you are back from uni and want to go on one last road trip before heading back for freshers?

Michelin have recently conducted a survey regarding students returning to the wheel after months of not driving:

– A quarter of students taking to the roads this summer worry about not remembering how to drive

– Three-quarters of student drivers will not check the condition of their tyres or their tread depths.

So before you head off on your bank holiday road trip, maybe have some practise around your local town!

Drive safe!

The full press release is below

STUDENTS HOME FOR THE SUMMER FAIL TO PREPARE FOR LIFE BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL

– A quarter of students taking to the roads this summer worry about not remembering how to drive
– Three-quarters of student drivers will not check the condition of their tyres or their tread depths

With the busy August bank holiday weekend fast approaching, many students home for the summer will be turning their attentions to a final getaway before term recommences. However, with research from Michelin showing that well over a third (39%) of students home for the summer having not driven regularly whilst away studying, their plans for summer travelling come with a warning.

Once at home, a third (32%) of students claim to feel as confident as ever getting back behind the wheel, over a quarter (27%) worry about not remembering how to drive, or even admit to feeling terrified at the prospect. Exacerbating this issue is the fact that over a quarter (27%) of young people home for the summer will be driving a car with a more powerful engine than the one they learnt to drive in.

Malcolm Scovell, Michelin UK’s commercial director comments: “With a significant number of students home for the summer admitting to having not driven regularly and feeling apprehensive as a result, we are urging all young people to take their time to re-acquaint themselves with their car before getting behind the wheel. It might be advisable to make a first journey with a responsible adult, or even consider taking a refresher lesson before embarking on a long journey.”

With over two thirds (61%) planning to make journeys of up to 200 miles, it is further concerning that pre-journey checks don’t register highly in the minds of students at home for the summer. Of greatest concern is that a fifth of respondents don’t plan to make any of the normal vehicle checks including water, oil, tyre pressure and tread depth/condition. More specifically just 37% will think about checking tyre pressure and over three quarters (76%) would not consider checking tread depth and tyre condition. Finally, less than half (46%) would actually think about making sure the car is safely packed so they can clearly see out of the windows.

Scovell concludes: “It is of great concern that young people home from university are not making the basic checks on their vehicles before embarking on long journeys. Checking tyres, oil and fluid levels should become part of pre-holiday preparation in the same way that buying suncream and packing are.”

With student debt an on-going concern for many young people, almost half of respondents (47%) cite the need to get to and from work over the summer as a reason for needing to drive again, but unsurprisingly the greatest factor for wanting to drive longer distances was to visit friends with almost three quarters (73%) planning to make a road trip for this reason. Other key reasons for getting back behind the wheel include going on holiday within the UK (14%) and attending music festivals (11%).