This weekend up to 25,000 revellers are to descend into the Beacon Beacons for four days of amazing music at Green Man Festival – and many are expected to attend by car! Typical festival activities such as loading up your car with supplies and parking in muddy fields could land you in trouble with the law, with this in mind, Carmoola has compiled their driving tips to have a safe trip.
🧼 Keep Your Car Clean – Especially Your Number Plate: Over the past few weeks we’ve had high winds and rain – with intermittent sun – across the UK. Green Man is predicted to have showers across the weekend- that could mean plenty of muddy fields and mud-covered cars trying to leave on Monday! Whilst there’s no law against a dirty car, if your number plate is obscured or unreadable you could risk landing a £1,000 fine, so make sure to check there’s no dirt obstructing it before you drive home.
🧳 Don’t Overpack: Packing for a festival can be a stressful experience, how much beer should I take, do I need an air mattress or can I just sleep on the ground? Will I be jealous if all my mates have a camping chair? (The answer is yes) But be careful when packing up as you may be overloading your car. Each car has a maximum loading weight, including passengers and luggage, so make sure you read up in your vehicle’s handbook before setting off. Not only can overloading impact the driving of the car, such as stirring and breaking. If you are caught with an overloaded car you could receive a fine of £300 and up to three points on your licence.
🍺 Don’t Drink and Drive: This is an obvious one but did you know that alcohol could stay in your system for up to 24 hours? You might feel okay to drive, but if the police pulled you over then you could be prosecuted for drink driving. Even though you may have stopped drinking the night before, alcohol can remain in your blood for 6 hours and on your breath for up to 24 hours – the best bet is to not drink the Sunday night before you leave or leave the campsite as late as possible to avoid drink driving.
⛺ Sleep in your tent, not your car: Whilst it may be tempting to sleep off your hangover in your car instead of your tent – If caught sleeping whilst you’re over the alcohol limit, even with the engine switched off, you could be prosecuted for being “drunk in charge of a motor vehicle.” If you are caught in a vehicle while above the legal limit, you could face a maximum fine of £2,500. You could also end up being disqualified from driving and in more serious cases, face up to three months imprisonment.
😴 Get a good night’s sleep before your drive: Festivalgoers know that it’s not always easy to get a restful night’s sleep at a festival but if you’re too tired it may be worth checking into a nearby hotel to get some rest before the journey home. The Highway Code it states you must “not begin a journey if you are tired” and “get sufficient sleep before embarking on a long journey.”
🕺Don’t give too many lifts: Whilst it can be tempting to squeeze as many of your mates into your car as possible – a car shouldn’t be carrying more passengers than it’s designed for. Not only will this invalidate your insurance, but it’s also incredibly unsafe. Creating blindspots and distractions for the driver could have you stopped for careless driving and fined £100 on the spot.
🚗 Plan your route and allow extra time: Before setting off, make sure you plan your route thoroughly, considering any traffic congestion or road closures near the festival site. Use a reliable navigation system or GPS app to guide you. Also, factor in extra time for potential delays and traffic jams, as festival periods can lead to increased traffic volume. You can help reduce congestion around the event by car-sharing with friends, or even using social media to arrange this with other festival goers near you. Aside from the convenience of fewer cars around the festival, this contributes to reducing the event’s overall carbon footprint
🔧 Do all essential checks on your car before setting off: So you can focus on the journey without worrying about your car breaking down en route, it’s important to check the essentials before your trip. Check your dashboard for any warning lights, test the foot brake and handbrake, check your engine oil level, test the air conditioning, and check your lights all work before you depart. It may not be the most fun job, but it means you can enjoy the drive without worry.
⛺ Check parking and camping arrangements: Familiarise yourself with the festival’s parking and camping arrangements beforehand. Some festivals may have designated parking areas or campsites, while others may require pre-booking. Check if there are any specific guidelines or restrictions regarding vehicle size, camping equipment, or access times. Be prepared to follow instructions from festival staff to ensure a smooth parking and camping experience.