Motorists are being warned to prepare for 'Frantic Friday' tomorrow as millions of drivers hit the road for their summer getaway.
Department for Transport figures show August is the busiest month on British roads and Friday is the busiest day of the week for traffic.
More cars also break down during journeys in August than in any other month and Fridays are the most common day for drivers and their passengers to be rescued.
But even though more than one fifth of drivers worry about breaking down and being stranded, research from Swinton Insurance found 57 per cent take less than 20 minutes to prepare for a long journey.
The survey also found a quarter of British drivers would spend less than 10 minutes preparing for a long drive of over two hours, with male drivers the worst culprits.
It also emerged only three in five drivers with insurance feel confident they know what level of breakdown cover they have, falling to less than a third among 18-24-year-olds (30 per cent).
Mike McGrail, car insurance expert at Swinton Insurance, said: "A car breakdown is always a pain to have to deal with, but if you're on a staycation it could really ruin your holiday.
"No one wants to waste time waiting for help at the side of the road, so making a few simple checks before you set off to make sure your car is ready for a long trip is a really good idea.
"That way you can spend your staycation relaxing on the beach, not stewing by the side of the motorway.
"That aside, if the worst was to happen, make sure you're confident in what your car insurance covers you for and how to make a claim if you need to.
"And if you're able to add on breakdown cover, this will help provide even more peace of mind when you're on the road."
But there are some simple checks you can make yourself before you set off on your staycation that can help keep you safe on the road and prepared for a breakdown should the worst happen.
Rebecca Ashton, head of policy and research at the UK's biggest independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: "Basic checks on your vehicle not only save you a lot of heartache as you head off for your well-earned break, but also make sure you, your passengers and other road users are as safe as possible.
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