Families across the UK are set to hit the roads this weekend as February half term comes to a close.

And Green Flag is expecting there will 57,609 breakdowns over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

This amounts to 13 breakdowns every minute over the course of the weekend.

The primary issues expected to occur on the roads are battery-related, followed by tyre problems and thirdly, fuel-related complications.

Here are some top tips to make sure you are not caught out by car problems.

1. Walk around the car and look for any signs of potential trouble, especially tyres and lights

2. Check tyre pressures, spare included

3. Check all fluid levels and top up if necessary

4. Make sure you have breakdown cover. If you’re travelling abroad make sure your cover extends to your trip away. If it doesn’t, you may need to arrange separate cover

5. Keep a road map in the car so you’ll be able to explain where you are when you call for help. Don’t rely on the map on your phone – you won’t always have signal

6. Make sure your phone battery is topped up – think about buying an in-car charger just in case you need it

7. Have the number for your emergency breakdown provider handy – you’ll usually find it on your policy certificate so you could keep this in the glove box

8. Carry a red warning triangle at all times

9. Always keep some warm clothes, a rug and some chocolate in the car in case you get stuck in cold conditions for a long time

Lucy Davies, at Green Flag, commented: “The end of the February half term sees more cars on the roads as families will be returning from trips in the UK and abroad, to get home in time for school starting back on Monday. However, with more cars on the roads, there is a greater potential for accidents, hence we are encouraging drivers to ensure their vehicles are ready for the road and prepared for lengthy journeys. It is also worth downloading the Green Flag app before you set off, which will help you get though to us faster when it is busy.

“Many breakdowns are preventable if proper care is taken of your vehicle, both before and during a journey, so it’s important to conduct a proper inspection of your car before you depart and to be vigilant on the roads whilst driving. In particular, the drive home from school holidays can be trickier to manage, with tired parents and kids making it harder to concentrate, so we recommend plenty of rest before and during your journey.”

Visit https://greenflag.com for more details.