The 12th annual Drive It Day is nearly here, the first day of the classic calendar that many of us pull off the dustsheets and take to the roads. And what a wonderful idea it is.  For one day of the year we are all united in our common love of classics, both modern and vintage. But it’s important that we all stay safe, especially with Britain’s roads busier than they’ve ever been.

The news has been dominated recently with talk of doing away with MoTs pre-1960, which has promoted much debate over the safety of the cars we run, But its not just older classics that can be unsafe. An MoT certificate counts for little after a car has been in storage for the winter, so of immediate importance is making sure that your car is safe when you take it out on Sunday morning.

For many people this will be the first day out of hibernation for your classic, so it’s vital that you carry out a few checks before you take to the road. If possible take the car out on Saturday, so you have time to do the proper checks and take care of anything that needs changing.

 -       Check your fluids! Brake fluid, oil and coolant may all have leaked from your car over time, so check they are all full and fresh before you venture out.

-       Check your tyres! Make sure if you’ve filled your tyres to storage pressure that you return them to the manufacturers recommended PSI before driving. While you’re there, check tread depth and for signs of perishing. Get them inspected by a specialist every 4 years if you’re unsure.

-       Check your filters! It’s a wise idea to change your oil and fuel filters, especially if the car has been sat for a length of time. Oil may become sludgy over time, and sediment can build up in your fuel tank. If possible, put in fresh fuel

-       Take the car for a slow drive, check the brakes haven’t seized and that the oil pressure and temperature are within tolerance

-       Most importantly, have fun!