THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE

Top Ten Tips for Drivers

3 PEAKS DRIVING - TOP 10 TIPS

With years of Three Peaks Challenge experience, please accept our following safety advice for an enjoyable challenge:

1. DO NOT try to drive and walk. Get at least one, preferably two, dedicated drivers who will not be climbing the mountains. NEWS Most organised events will require two drivers as a condition of entry. If you end up driving and walking, and are involved in a crash, you may well be prosecuted for a variety of driving offences (it does happen)!

2. Take a 20 minute break between Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike. This should be used to sort kit, freshen up, get fuel, get hot food/drinks. Gretna Services on the M74 is ideal. Forgetting to fuel up here can lead to disaster later on, especially if time is getting short.

3. Sort food and drinks for both walkers and drivers. Taking some simple cooking equipment and a few hot water flasks will help keep everyone fed and watered. Don't simply rely on catering outlets (McDonalds, chip shop, 24 hour motorway services) as they are not always serving food!

4. Get the right size of vehicle for your group. You should leave plenty of space to relax and spread out, store your kit and food supplies. As a rough guide, unless you have lots of stowage space, try to leave a third of seats empty ie,. 15 seat minibus = 10 passengers maximum.

5. Check driver insurance and licence entitlement, especially if hiring a vehicle. Minibus drivers must have D1 catagory and are normally required to be over 25 and under 70 for insurance purposes.

6. Don't speed to save time..! There are a number of fixed position safety traffic cameras on the suggested driving route, and regular speed traps on the M6 Cumbria and M74 Scotland. Unmarked police cars and motorcycles patrol the A82, and north Wales police have frequent speed and safety campaigns on the A55 Coastal Road. You are warned..!

7. Be flexible with your route. During a 450 mile journey you are bound to encounter some delays, slow moving vehicles, or roadworks which were not predicted. Matrix signs are in operation on the main routes which give early warning of accidents, delays, or road diversions.

8. Use a Satnav AND road map. The satnav gives a good estimated time of arrival at your next mountain, and can be a great help getting back on track if you take the odd wrong turn or two. The road map is the best way to decide upon alternative routes to avoid delays.

9. Check the internet and the forum for up-to-date information regarding any roadworks or road closures. The driving route has three sets of long-term ongoing roadworks (as at November 2009).

10. When approaching each mountain, take care as roads are narrow, beware of sheep on the roads, slow over cattle grids and over hump backed bridges, dip headlamps when near farms, cottages, and campsites, park considerately in authorised areas - don't block access.

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Stay safe - Richie...