A tidy home may have been at the top of many people’s New Year’s resolutions, but a clutter-free leisure vehicle is just as important.
Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, has highlighted the importance of removing clutter from your leisure vehicle, emphasising that it’s crucial for safe driving.
He said: “Many of us can be guilty of leaving rubbish on the dashboard – whether it’s empty bottles, coffee cups or even newspapers. If your vehicle becomes too messy, you could face a fine of up to £5,000.
“You could even serve prison time for your clutter.”
Mr Conway added that any clutter lying around on the floor that makes its way into the pedal area could become dangerous.
It’s not unusual for things to move around when a leisure vehicle is being driven, which is why caravan and motorhome owners know to stow things carefully before setting off.
Follow these tips for a safe, pleasant and clutter-free escape in your leisure vehicle every time:
Do a clearout after every trip
Once touring season starts and you’re taking your caravan or motorhome on trips regularly, it’s easy to let clutter accumulate.
While many items may need to stay in place for your next night away, take time after every excursion in your leisure vehicle to remove rubbish and unnecessary objects.
Give everyone a responsibility
Make sure every member of the family is responsible for their area of the leisure vehicle, whether it’s where they sit or where they sleep.
This means they should empty their pockets and put items back where they belong. You could incentivise this with a points system and rewards.
Don’t leave open food in your leisure vehicle
Having your caravan or motorhome stocked for the season sounds like a good idea, but while canned food can safely stay inside when you’re not using your vehicle, open packets can attract unwanted attention.
Mice and other critters can get into your caravan between trips, so take away anything that could invite them in until your next holiday.
Create places for everything
Storage solutions are just as vital in your leisure vehicle as they are in your house. If you don’t have a dedicated place for things, they’ll simply get left lying around.
Pouches on the backs of chairs, hooks and magnetic strips can all help to make the most of storage opportunities in a small space.
Accumulate souvenirs sparingly
It’s tempting to pick up souvenirs from your travels in your caravan or motorhome, but think carefully about where they’re going to be stored long term.
Even leaflets from attractions you visit can quickly mount up, so only take them if you’re going to look at them again, and regularly clear out any you’ve finished with.
Photo credit: Pexels/Nataliya Vaitkevich
