With Electric Picnic kicking off on Friday we have some tips for safe festival motoring writes Geraldine Herbert   Is your car ready?  Make sure your car is up to the job so check the following check the oil check the tyre pressure check all fluid levels fill up the tank check your spare tyre Before you set off Plan your route and journey time before you set off – if you know where you’re going, you’ll avoid the added stress of an unexpected detour on the day. Take a flashing bike light or torch with you. Also ensure to pack a portable charger or two as you’re probably going to be using your phone a lot more than usual. Don’t overload your vehicle. Any bags you need to take with you should be packed securely into the boot to avoid obstructing your view. Take some water and snacks in case you do hit festival traffic hot spots Remember any extra weight will increase fuel consumption – do you really need that extra pair of wellies? Get a good playlist for the journey on the way so it’s probably worth giving a bit of research (but not too much) into the current line-up.   Arriving by Car M7 Southbound (from Dublin and the North) Event car traffic should exit the M7 at Ballydavis Interchange Junction 16. Please follow event traffic signage and Garda on duty will direct you to the designated parking areas. M7 Northbound (Limerick and the South West) Continue on M7 and exit at Junction 17. Please follow event traffic signage and Garda on duty will direct you to the designated parking areas. M8 Northbound (Cork and South) Exit the M8 at Junction 3 for Ballacolla and Abbeyleix. Please follow event traffic signage and Garda on duty will direct you to the designated parking areas. N80 Carlow & South East Travel along the N80 and N78 to Simmons Mills and proceed via the Windy Gap into Stradbally. Turn left at Court Square (opposite Dunne’s pub) onto the Timahoe Road and turn left into the designated car park. N80 West Proceed via Mountmellick and onto Portlaoise Town. At Fairgreen Roundabout turn right onto the ring road. Continue to Mountrath Road R445 and turn right. Continue to Rockdale Roundabout and turn left onto the Ring Road L26964-0. Turn right at the Roundabout onto the...