MAJORITY FUELS: ONE IN TWO STUDENTS PLAN ON MAKING THE DRIVE TO UNIVERSITY DESPITE COURSES BEING ONLINE

• One in two university students (54 per cent) are still planning on driving to university for the start of this term
• The M1 (23 per cent) was revealed to be the nation’s favourite motorway and will also be the most travelled on motorway, followed by the M25, M4 and M6
• With students hitting the road this week, Green Flag is expecting a staggering nine breakdowns a minute
• Green Flag shares safety tips for motorway driving tips in the dark, as well as the Top 5 common-sense tips to help drivers stay safe ahead of the drive to university

 

The start of the 2020 university term has seen several debates as to whether students will be making the trip to their university campus this year, or whether they will be staying at home to learn remotely instead. With the university offering set to be different for students this year, breakdown cover provider, Green Flag, has revealed just how many students are planning on making the drive to university this term.

With social distancing measures, the new ‘rule of six’ and the majority of lectures taking place online all expected to change the typical university adventure, new research conducted by Green Flag has revealed that one in two university students (54 per cent) are still planning on making the drive to university this term to experience university life as best as possible. Interestingly students from Belfast (69 per cent) and Newcastle (67 per cent) will be relying on their vehicles more than any other city in the UK, with students from Sheffield (41 per cent) the least likely to make the drive.

The research also revealed which motorways look set to transport the majority of students to their university. Joining London to Leeds and with several other key university towns on route, the M1 (23 per cent) is expected to be the most travelled on motorway, closely followed by the M25 (16 per cent), the M4 (15 per cent) and then the M6 (14 per cent), the road of choice for those travelling to the north-west of the country.

Not only is the M1 set be the most travelled on motorway for students heading to university, the research has also revealed that it is the nation’s favourite motorway, narrowly beating off stiff competition from the M6, the M5 and the M25.

You can view the top 10 reasons for the nation’s favourite motorway here: 

Mark Newberry, Commercial Director, at Green Flag, commented: “Students heading to university this term are likely to have a completely different experience than they would have normally experienced. However, it is pleasing to see that despite this, the majority of university students are still planning on driving to universities up and down the country this autumn, to make the most of their university experiences in line with the Government’s guidelines.

“At Green Flag, we want to ensure that student and parent drivers can enjoy this exciting chapter in their life by staying safe on the roads. It is likely that when students head off to university, they will have extra luggage in the car. Carrying extra weight in the vehicle can affect the car’s performance, so it is important for motorists to be vigilant and drive safely, and we’d urge any drivers to thoroughly check their cars before setting off on their long, but equally exciting journeys.”

With students hitting the road this week, Green Flag is expecting 49,519 breakdowns on UK roads between Tuesday 22^nd – Friday 25^th September. This translates to a staggering nine breakdowns a minute.

In order to help motorists reach their destinations safely and avoid breaking down, Green Flag has released the following top five common-sense tips to help drivers stay safe ahead of the drive to university:

1.     Walk around the car and look for any signs of potential trouble, especially tyres and lights. Ensure that you check lights prior to a long journey, especially if driving at night. Also always make sure to carry a red warning triangle with you in the car, as well as a water bottle, hand sanitiser and masks for your own personal use.

2.     Check tyre pressures and tyre thread depth, always make sure to have a spare included. Chances are, when you head off to university, you’ll have a car full of luggage in the car. You may even have a roof box to cope with anything that won’t fit in the boot. All this means you’ll be carrying extra weight. And to cope with that, your tyres may need more air in them.

3.     Check the oil. Inspecting the level of your oil is one of the most important vehicle checks you can perform. And it’s quick and easy. Simply lift the bonnet, pull out the dipstick, wipe it, reinsert it, then pull it out again. The oil should be somewhere on the marked area. This is usually between two markers or small kinks in the dipstick. If it’s lower than the marked area, or not registering on the dipstick at all, you need to top the oil up. It is also recommended to keep a bottle of motor oil with you in the car, just in case.

4.     Check the coolant level. In the summer heat, the engine needs all the cooling it can get, which might mean that levels are lower following the summer holidays. The coolant system is a sealed unit but over liquid can seep out. Look under the bonnet and find the reservoir. The liquid should be somewhere between the minimum and maximum markers. If it needs topping up, it’s fine to do so with water for the short term (it is useful to always have a spare bottle of water in the car to use if needed). Just make sure the engine is cold when you do this. However, you should get a professional to check the consistency when the weather turns cooler. You don’t want the anti-freeze too diluted or it won’t work properly in lower temperatures.

5.     Make sure your phone battery is topped up just in case of any emergencies, potentially think about buying an in-car charger .

You can read more about motorway safety on the Green Flag blog: https://blog.greenflag.com/2019/safety-motorways/

- ENDS –

Notes to Editors:

*Research conducted on 2,000 UK respondents (1,000 UK Drivers and 1,000 University Students), September 2020, by Censuswide.

About Green Flag

With over 40 years' experience, Green Flag provides customers with breakdown cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Customers have access to a network of breakdown operators across the UK and mainland Europe (Euro Plus cover required).

Green Flag Motoring Assistance is underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Green Flag and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. 

Customers can find out more about Green Flag products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 1557, connecting via the Green Flag Rescue Me Application, or visiting www.greenflag.com