As soon as the sun bears its rays, many of you will dig out your hot pants and skimpy camisoles, place your sunglasses on your head and stick your favourite summer tunes on the stereo, preparing to let your hair fly away in the wind as you roar down the motorway and your summer road-trip begins.

Summer road-trips can be a riot. They give you the freedom to explore those places you’ve always wanted to see; the best beaches, beautiful rural retreats and areas where the male population far out-weighs that of the female!

You can stay in the UK, driving from Cornwall to Scotland, or venture to sunnier climes and take to the roads through continental Europe. Guaranteed, you will gain the chance to experience different cultures, local delicacies and fresh faces then move on somewhere new. Lush.

But, planning a summer road-trip takes substantial preparation. Specifically, you need to make sure that you have packed everything you need (there is more than you think!), you have a plan of your route with scheduled breaks and ensure your car is in perfect working order before setting out.

Here are some tips that you may find useful:

Car preparation

Do an all over check of your car including oil, water, wipers, tyres, brakes and belts. Don’t leave booking your car into the garage until the last minute as your friendly mechanic may need to order in new parts

Check that your indicator lights, brake lights, high and low beams are all working

Have a GB sticker handy. This needs to be displayed and if you’re planning to drive outside Europe or are travelling in Europe and don’t have a Euro-symbol on your number plate

Fit headlamp converters to avoid dazzling drivers in other countries (yes, we know that there’s nothing you can do about dazzling drivers with your good looks)

If you have alloy wheels make sure that you know where their key is kept, otherwise you will have a big problem when it comes to changing your tyres

Remove any clutter from your car that you don’t need. You will need the boot space for plenty of tacky souvenirs

Give your car a thorough clean, wax and polish so that you outshine all the other cars on the road

Travel preparation

Get up to date road maps and plan your route thoroughly. Let friends and family know where you plan to be and when, especially if travelling solo

Check with the tourist board of the countries to which you plan to travel to ensure you’re aware of any specific driving requirements or road laws imposed by that country

Make sure that registration plates are in good condition and they are securely attached

Ensure that your car insurance provider’s emergency contact number is accessible. Place a business card in your glove compartment and enter the number into your mobile’s contact list

Road-trip essentials

Spare bulbs: these are a must have in most European countries and a great idea as you don’t want to be left in the dark on unfamiliar roads

Warning triangle: make sure that you can be seen clearly in the event of an accident

Fire extinguisher: useful for putting out small fires that could escalate out of control

Spare set of keys: the last thing you want to do is get locked out of your car and face having to negotiate access with a locksmith who doesn’t speak a word of English

Tool kit: show those boys a thing or to about car maintenance

First aid kit: you never know, you could save someone’s life

Safety conscious

Always wear your seatbelt wherever you are travelling. It’s the law in most countries and this law is put in place for a very good reason. We know that they can be uncomfortable for ladies but car accessory supplier, Halfords, now stock a range of fun seatbelt pads. Visit www.halfords.co.uk to find your nearest store

Drive with caution in wet and windy weather conditions. Reduce your speed and increase your vigilance

Chill out and don’t give in to road rage; tooting your horn and hurling abuse at your fellow motorists is not ladylike and is unlikely to get the traffic moving any quicker

Always leave ample space between you and the car in front. Nobody likes a tailgater. Plus, when your car is loaded with sun lotion and bikinis its braking distance will be increased

Don’t fill your fuel tank to the brim. On hot days liquids can expand and cause a fuel leak which is likely to cause a car to over-turn and crash

Take a break

Make sure that you have a break that lasts a minimum of 15 minutes every two-three hours of driving, or more regularly if driving in the blazing sun

Only stop where it is safe to do so. Well-lit, busy motorway service stations are the best place

Make sure that you lock your doors and close your windows when you leave your car at the service station as these places are known as car crime hot-spots

Have a good walk around. Exercise and fresh air will refresh you if you are feeling fatigued

Re-fuelling

As well as stopping to re-fuel your car make sure that you re-fuel yourself

Carry plenty of water in your car and drink lots along the way so that you keep hydrated and alert while on the road

Avoid fizzy drinks, caffeine and sugary foods as these can cause sporadic bursts of energy that eventually leave you sluggish

It is a good idea to take your own snacks as you will start piling on the pounds if you limit yourself to the junk food that is sold along the roadside

It might be useful if you print these tips out and carry them with you on your road-trip to make sure you’re thoroughly prepared to deal with any situation.

One last thing very important thing before you venture off on your travels: make sure you have adequate car insurance cover so that you don’t get yourself into any sticky situations while driving abroad. There are plenty of motor insurance providers that specialise in cheap car insurance for women.

If you require any more information about driving abroad visit: http://www.drivingabroad.co.uk