After a busy year of work, school and so much more, with the summer break underway for many, it’s always wonderful to escape the everyday and explore your own backyard.

‘Cos nothing beats a great Aussie road trip!

There’s just one problem… “ARE WE THERE YET?!”

How do you keep the kids from tearing each other’s hair out in the back seat on those long drives to your next stop? Well, we’ve got some great screen-free ideas that just might help.

Put the devices away and let the kids play

We all know the drill.

You’ve got your eyes on the road, the wind in your hair and the world at your feet. Then a small voice cuts through the serenity… “I’m bored?” Ah, the dreaded call of the restless child!

Unfortunately, the back seat crew usually aren’t as impressed with the scenery as you are, and the iPad’s nearly out of juice. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of family-friendly car games that will keep the kids entertained for hours… or at least until the next bathroom break.

5 games you can play in the car with your kids

1. I Spy

A road trip classic! Plus, if you’ve got younger kids who haven’t learnt to spell yet, it’s easy to switch the game up from letters to colours and shapes.

For example, say “I spy with my little eye, something round and red” for a stop sign. Just remember, I Spy works best on roads with interesting scenery. If you’re stuck on the freeway, maybe try another game.

2. Spot-o!

Each player takes turns choosing a colour, then everyone looks out for a car of the same colour. The first player to say ‘Spot-o!” and point to the coloured car gets the point for that car. After the agreed-upon time limit, the player with the most points wins the round.

To keep it interesting, choose an uncommon colour. There are plenty of white cars on the road, and the players tally could get too high to keep count. Try yellow, or green, or even purple!

3. Name the Celebrity!

This one is great for older kids. One player starts by saying a celebrity’s name. The next player must then think of a celebrity whose first name begins with the same letter as the preceding celebrity’s last name.

For example, a player might say, Dwayne Johnson, meaning the next player has to think of a celebrity whose first name begins with J, like Jennifer Aniston. If a celebrity’s first and last name begin with the same letter (e.g. Kim Kardashian), you then reverse the order of who goes next.

To make it more fun, add movie and cartoon characters into the mix as well.

4. Movie Buff

This game is about connecting actors with the movies they have starred in. One player starts by saying the name of an actor or actress. Then, the next player has to name a movie they starred in. The following player must then state another actor/actress from that movie. And so on.

For example, the first player may say Chris Hemsworth. The next player can then say ‘The Avengers’. The next player must then name another actor/actress from that movie, like Robert Downey Jr.

5. Alphabet Categories

Start with a category like food, bands, cars, etc. You can try a broad topic or get as specific as you like, depending on the age of your kids.

To start, the first player will name something within the category starting with A, then the next player will do the same using the letter B, and so on. For example, if the category is fruit you could start with Apple, then Banana, then Carrot and so on.

Keep the family entertained and safe

While playing games with the kids on a long drive is great, it’s important to stay focused on the road and minimise any distractions. Safety should be everyone’s top priority.

It’s also a good idea to check your windscreen and windows for cracks or chips before you leave. If you do find anything, give your local O'Brien^® AutoGlass team a call so we can get your glass repaired and get you on your way.

You can find your nearest O'Brien^® AutoGlass branch here.

Have a safe journey with O'Brien^®

At O'Brien^®, we’re here to make sure you have a safe and memorable family road trip this Summer. With over 95 years of experience, our expertise and quality service make us Australia’s leading vehicle glass repair and replacement company.

We understand our clients more than anyone else. Plus, if you ever find yourself in a regional town needing urgent vehicle glass repairs, the O'Brien^® team are just a phone call away.

For more information, contact us on 1800 059 829 or explore our website.

The post How To Keep The Kids Entertained On Your Next Road Trip appeared first on O'Brien.

Just in time for summer, road trips are becoming the go-to activity as they offer an easy and accessible way to rediscover the outdoors and explore. But before you pack your bags and leave your home, just make sure that your car is as up for the adventure as you are. Here are a few tips on how to prepare your car for a road trip.

Prepping for a stress-free summer drive

While the iconic Australian summer sun is lovely to bask in and enjoy, the temperatures can be just as destructive to vehicles as the winter.

Extreme heat is known to cause:

• Engine overheating
• Broken air conditioning
• Low tire pressure
• Fuel and oil leaks
• Weak battery charge
• Expanded windshield and glass cracks
• Brake issues

However, this shouldn’t hold you back from your summer road trip. You just need to take the right precautions beforehand.

So, before heading to the highway, you can start by doing a routine car check-up. To help, we’ve compiled a simple list of ways to help prepare your car before you embark on your journey this summer, so you can minimise your chances of finding yourself frustrated, inconvenienced or even stranded.

5 car safety checks to make before a road trip

1. Check your battery

Imagine driving across Australia and your battery just dies. To make matters worse, the next town may be kilometres away. To avoid this scenario, it’s a smart idea to check your car battery before you set out. Are your headlights dimmer than before? Does your engine start but die immediately? Is your battery over 3-4 years old? Can you hear a low cranking when you start the car? If any of these are the case, then it may be time for a replacement. Get a professional mechanic to help you out with this.

2. Test the Air Con

When it’s hot, we like to be cool. Windows down with the wind in your hair is part of the road trip fun. However, the sweltering summer heat may have you rolling the windows up and putting the air conditioning on full blast. The last thing you want is for that to fail!

If you don’t clean or replace your air filter, or you’re finding that your system is struggling to keep up, you could expect a warm and uncomfortable trip ahead. If you’re not too familiar with what to do, it helps to consult a professional mechanic.

3. Inspect your engine

As a driver, if you notice your car is producing an unusual sound when you start it or it feels heavy when you drive, don’t ignore the signs. You might find that your dashboard is displaying some warning lights so have it looked at straight away.

Things might be obvious if you open the bonnet. Have a look around the engine and see if anything looks odd or out of place. If you’re not sure, have a professional look at it.

And before taking off on a road trip you should check your oil levels to make sure your engine is well lubricated, your coolant so your radiator doesn’t overheat, and your water level for your windscreen wipers should you need them in adverse weather or just to clean the dirt off your windscreen.

4. Repair a chipped or cracked windscreen and any side windows or rear glass

A chip in your windscreen is often a seemingly tiny problem you want to push to the back of your mind. You know you have to repair it, but you may delay fixing it because it seems too trivial.

However, ignoring a windscreen chip could lead to it cracking, causing more problems for you later. So, take the time to examine your vehicle glass beforehand. Fixing a chip before it cracks is faster, cheaper and greener. So don’t wait.

If you need a professional to look at your vehicle’s glass surfaces, O'Brien^® offers a vehicle glass repair and replacement service, with an approved repairer network that covers 987% of Australia’s population and is contactable 24/7.

5. Test your tyres

Balding tyres can be dangerous – they lack traction and make it hard to brake. In addition, high pressure from high road temperatures can also cause changes in your tyres. To avoid accidents, conduct a visual inspection for tread wear, especially uneven wear, and replace tyres when they don’t serve their purpose anymore.

You also should check your tyre pressure regularly to see if they have enough air. Simply use a tyre pressure gauge which tends to be freely available at many service stations across the country.

Safety: a road frequently travelled

This checklist is a good start to preparing your car for wherever you want to head off for your summer road trip. However, even well-prepared explorers seek help from professionals.

Just remember, no matter where you are in Australia, you can call O'Brien^® to have your vehicle glass repaired or replaced. We can fix your problem in one of our nationwide branches or Authorised Dealer partners located across Australia, or our mobile technicians can also come to you.

That way, if a chip or a crack threatens your road trip, you can have it sorted and be back on the road in no time.

Make it a summer to remember with O'Brien^®

Whether you’re preparing for a trip or just having a regular car check-up, O'Brien^® knows how to help make your journey safe and memorable. With over 95 years of experience, our quality service makes us Australia’s leading vehicle glass repair and replacement company.

We understand our clients more than anyone else. So, feel free to start your road trip with a visit to a nearby O'Brien^® branch for your vehicle glass solutions.

For more information about our services, call us on 1800 059 829 or visit https://www.obrien.com.au/autoglass/.

The post Preparing Your Car for A Summer Road Trip appeared first on O'Brien.

Research shows more of us are looking to stay local for our holidays this year with online searches for caravan sales up 50 per cent December 2020 compared to the same time in 2019.

If you have a campervan holiday planned in Australia this year, there are many things to consider. Not least of all how to keep your windscreen crack and chip-free while you’re driving along the open road.

At O'Brien^® we’ve repaired and replaced our fair share of campervan windscreens and to help you avoid having to do the same on your holidays, we’ve pulled together a few things to be mindful of while driving in your home away from home;

1. Trucks. There are lots of them transporting goods all around Australia. Trucks often flick stones which cause windscreen chips. So, where possible, always maintain distance from trucks on the open road.
2. You may encounter gravel or unsealed roads or road works on your travels. These type of roads make it easy for other cars and trucks to flick up rocks and debris that could hit your windscreen or chip your paint – so slow down and keep your distance from the vehicle in front.
3. Weather conditions across Australia can be pretty hectic. Baking hot one minute and freezing cold the next. While the tendency may be to blast the aircon or heating onto the windscreen to counteract the weather outside, it’s far better for your windscreen if you can maintain a moderate temperature within the vehicle at all times.
4. Vandals are out there and campervans can be a target for them. Make sure you do your research on where to stay. Also, read road signs and don’t leave your campervan for extended periods in spots where you aren’t permitted to stay.

As with all road trips make sure you take care while driving. You may find yourself driving in areas where cars are infrequently seen and wildlife abundant. So respect the wildlife that lives in that area by keeping to the speed limit and being extra vigilant of animals near the road at dawn and dusk. To help maximise your visibility on long road trips we recommend regularly cleaning your windscreen and making sure your windscreen wipers are in good working order.

If you do find yourself with a cracked or chipped windscreen, O'Brien^® is here to help wherever you are with our national network covering 99% of the Australian population. If you’ve rented your campervan, your first port of call is the rental company. If you own your campervan, O'Brien^® can assist you in repairing or replacing your windscreen and can be contacted 24/7 on 1800 059 829.

The post Top Tips For Your Campervan Holiday appeared first on O'Brien.