Tiff Needell Working with Good Garage Scheme

Photo courtesy of Tiff Needell

Tiff Needell, British racing driver and television presenter, is best known as a former co-presenter of Top Gear and current co-presenter of Fifth Gear. Before he sets off on another race or television film set, his next starring role will be as spokesperson for the Good Garage Scheme's Holiday Check Radio campaign in June.
Good Garage Scheme members offering a Holiday Check will be making sure cars are ready for family holidays, extra luggage and pulling caravans.
They will also check the air conditioning system to ensure a healthy cabin for the driver and passengers.

The radio campaign is set for the 19th June to coincide with the first official weekend of summer.

Click here for more information about the Good Garage Scheme's Holiday Check.

It's like having a friend in the know!

Good Garage Scheme Features in Tastes So Good

The Good Garage Scheme is proud to appear in the Spring Edition of Tastes So Good magazine available at major supermarkets across the UK. Customers will be able to spot our logo on the front cover of the magazine free to shoppers at TESCO, Morrisons, ASDA and Sainsbury's.

The article features advice on the Good Garage Scheme's Spring Check which runs until the end of May and invites motorists to use the free voucher to enter a prize draw with a chance to win back the cost of a service or repair at a Good Garage Scheme member garage.

A reminder of what the Good Garage Scheme has to offer motorists:

• Over 645,000 customer feedbacks
• Your vehicle serviced to a 50-point checklist
• 2300+ members across the UK
• Free conciliation service
• All work and costs agreed

For useful motoring information and to find a garage you can trust visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com.

It's like having a friend in the know.

Hands-free Calls at the Wheel on the Rise

Brake, the road safety charity is renewing its call to ban hands-free kits, as its recent survey reveals that almost half (45%) of drivers admit to chatting when driving. While the use of hand-held phones by drivers has dropped, hands-free use has risen, likely to be linked to the mistaken belief that it is a safe alternative.

While the number of motorists who admit to talking on a hand-held phone when driving has dropped, hands-free use has risen by 16% in the last eight years.

Brake believes that the lack of a total ban has left many drivers unaware that using a mobile hands-free at the wheel is just as risky as using one hand-held.


It is the distraction of the conversation that causes the danger. Studies have shown the risk of being in a crash that causes injury is increased four times for drivers on both hand-held and hands-free phones with reactions 30% slower than driving at the UK drink drive limit, and 50% slower than under normal conditions.

Brake and Direct Line's survey also found that texting at the wheel is a widespread menace, with 30% of all drivers admitting sending or reading messages while driving, and an even higher proportion of young drivers (age 18-24) doing so.

Brake's advice to motorists:

Using a phone and driving is a deadly combination and no call or message is ever worth a life. Drivers should put phones out of sight, earshot and reach when driving to avoid temptation, ideally in the boot. On long journeys, take regular breaks and use these to check messages or make calls.
Hands-free is a not a safe option; it's just as dangerous as using a mobile hand-held because of the mental distraction of the call.
Everyone can make a difference by refusing to speak to someone on the phone who's driving; politely but quickly end the call if they're at the wheel – it could save their life.

Follow Brake on Twitter:  @BrakeCharity

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the road safety charity, Brake, for its contribution to this week's blog. For more information about the work that Brake do and further results of the survey related to this article, please click here.