Parents all over the country will probably be looking at their car in dismay at the moment, as several weeks of summer holiday are likely to have taken their toll on the cleanliness of their vehicle. 

However, is there any point in trying to do anything about the squished raisins, muddy footprints and felt-tips (without their lids) if you are planning on going on another long drive this bank holiday weekend (August 26th to 28th)?

The short answer is probably not, but there is always benefit in making sure the car is well-maintained prior to a big trip, even if it is not clean. 

It is essential to look at the tread of your tyres to check they are of legal limit; to fill up the tyre pressure; and to make sure coolant and oil levels are adequate. 

Car owners should also look at their windscreens, as they may have missed little cracks over the last few busy weeks. 

If there are any blemishes, it is sensible to sort out windshield repair services as quickly as possible before they become much bigger problems. Indeed, though cracks can be repaired, if they are left to worsen, the entire glass panel might need replacing. 

Windscreen replacement is certainly not something families will want to deal with on the road this weekend, as the RAC predicts 14 million drivers will be making trips over the three days. 

Saturday is expected to be the busiest day, with 3.1 million excursions predicted.

The influx of drivers on the road means journeys could be delayed up to an hour on busy routes. 

To avoid this, the best time to travel is early in the morning before 1000 on Friday, Sunday and Monday, or after 1500 on Saturday.