Wednesday 28 December 2016

Are you safe to drive the 'Morning After"?

According to the Department of Transport's THINK! campaign, you could be over the legal limit many hours after your last drink, even if it's the 'morning after'.
Sleep, coffee and cold showers don't help to sober you up - time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system.

two glasses alcohol cheers clinkIt takes a lot longer than most people think for alcohol to pass through the body.
On average it takes around one hour per unit of alcohol, though this can vary depending on a number of factors.

Because of this, there is a real risk that people who would not dream of driving after drinking may still be unwittingly over the drink drive limit the morning after.

This includes people going about everyday activities such as driving to work, doing the school run, popping to the shops or going to see friends.

According to THINK! approximately 5,500 people fail a breath test in the morning each year.

If you are planning to drink alcohol, plan how to get home without driving.
  • Agree on a designated driver
  • Save a taxi number to your phone
  • Download an Uber app
  • Find ou about public transport routes and running times before you go out
For more information visit the following links:
http://think.direct.gov.uk/index.html
http://morning-after.org.uk/?page_id=82

The Good Garage Scheme would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year, with thanks THINK! for sharing this advice and information.

Monday 19 December 2016

We wish you a Merry Christmas...

We have had a great time in 2016 celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the Good Garage Scheme.

We couldn't have done it without our hard-working member garages, Approved Suppliers, administration team and of course, loyal customers.



Thank you to all who helped make the Good Garage Scheme a success for the last 10 years.














Friday 16 December 2016

Are you breaking the law when defrosting your car?

--> frosted windscreen, snow, wipersDuring the winter months, it is not uncommon to have to de-ice the car in the morning before driving off. However, many motorists are unknowingly breaking the law by going back inside the house, leaving their cars to defrost outside.

It is a criminal offence to leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running, even if it is freezing cold and you are waiting for your car to warm up.

Not only are you breaking the law by leaving your car to defrost with the engine running, but you are also providing thieves with an easy opportunity to steal your vehicle.

When the frosty weather started in earnest a couple of weeks ago, six cars were stolen in the space of 30 minutes, in one area alone.

Drivers are being urged to stay on the right side of the law this winter by being in control of their vehicle at all times when the engine is running, even when unloading Christmas shopping or defrosting the windscreen.

Leaving your vehicle to warm up in this way is not only breaking the law, but may also void your car insurance if an opportunist thief steals your vehicle whilst you have returned inside the house.

We haven't seen the last of winter frosts this season, so make sure you have the necessary equipment – de-icer, scraper and a good pair of gloves – to defrost your vehicle safely and legally.

If you are worried about your car performance in the cold weather before visiting friends and relatives this holiday season, why not book in for a Winter Check?

Visit our website to find a participating Good Garage Scheme member garage in your area.

Friday 9 December 2016

Member Wins Day with Tiff Needell

Tiff Needell, Radio, Good Garage Scheme, recording, interviews
Tiff Needell in the recording studio
Good Garage Scheme spokesperson Tiff Needell recorded interviews a few weeks ago encouraging motorists to have their cars checked for winter weather with our Winter Check and promoting Good Garage Scheme Service Plans.

He kindly took time to answer a few questions on his thoughts about the new The Grand Tour programme with former colleague, Jeremy Clarkson, but he managed to steer the conversations back round to car safety and reminding motorists that an MOT is not a service.

10 Year Anniversary banner, Tiff Needell, James Brown
Tiff Needell and James Brown
One lucky Good Garage Scheme member technician, James Brown, from Essex Street Garage Ltd in Nottingham won a competition awarding a prize of an overnight stay in London, time in the studio and lunch with Tiff Needell.

James said, "Brilliant night and day in London after winning the Good Garage Scheme competition. Amazing hotel, great food and the chance to meet Tiff Needell!
If that wasn't enough we had a slap up meal paid for and a chance to have a real chat with Tiff after.
The Good Garage Scheme / Radio team were all really accommodating and everything went spot on! Awesome company and a fantastic experience!"


To find out more information on a Good Garage Scheme member near you, visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com.

It's like having a friend in the know!


Friday 2 December 2016

Car Frozen? Don't Panic

Winter car care advice this week comes from expert, Mike Fields Fields Car Centre in Woking, Surrey.

 

Door locks frozen?

Spraying WD40 in them regularly will help prevent this.  Spray the door latch too.  Or use a lock de-icer for key entry or specialist tool.
Now with keyless cars, spray de-icer around the edge of the door.  Don't force the handles, work on them slowly using the de-icer.  Hot water is not really a good idea as it will cool very quickly and refreeze all around.

 

Frozen windows?

smiley face drawn on frozen windscreenYou may want to open your windows, but be careful, the window runner mechanism and glass can all be frozen meaning that it won't move, or like the wipers, the motor works but the mechanism stays put.  Result = broken window regulator, glass becomes unattached or worse still the glass shatters.  If you don't need to open them leave well alone!

 

Wipers frozen to the screen? 

Ok, you're in the car and turn engine on, if you have left the wipers 'on'   the night before it's trouble.

Every year we get people into the garage whose wipers no longer wipe!   Usually what has happened is they have gone to start the car with the wipers left on from the journey the night before.  The rubber wiper blades have frozen to the screen and when the motor is turned on the wipers stay put!  The linkage will work loose and even when the wiper has defrosted it won't work anyway.
A simple solution...we can just re-tighten the mechanism, but it can be worse with bent linkage and wipers. So use the de-icer to free rubber from screen and gently pull away.

 

Hope these few tips help, but really the best advice is, the scouts' motto - 'Be prepared'!


With our thanks to Mike Field of Fields Car Centre in Woking, Surrey for the advice.
Fields Car Centre have been a Good Garage Scheme member since 2010 and have a five star customer rating.