Tiff Needell Promotes Good Garage Scheme Winter Check

British racing driver and presenter, Tiff Needell, is once again in the studio today helping the Good Garage Scheme to promote itsWinter Check campaign.

With clocks going back this weekend, it is an ideal time to visit a Good Garage Scheme member to ensure your car is ready for darker days and colder temperatures.

The Good Garage Scheme Winter Check gets your car ready for winter with a 20-point check to assess the condition of tyres, brakes, lights, antifreeze, wiper blades and air bags.

By taking advantage of this seasonal check, motorists will be made aware of any problems with their vehicle and give them the opportunity to make any neccessary repairs.


It is quick and easy to find a garage in your local area offering the Winter Check – simply visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com. Enter your postcode or town name and a list will appear of garages for you to choose from.

Useful Tip: Download the Good Garage Scheme's Free app before you drive this winter so wherever you go in the UK, a garage you trust will never be far away.

Tyre Safety Month - October 2014

The Good Garage Scheme joins with Tyresafe, one of the UK's leading tyre safety organisations, in this year's Tyre Safety Month by helping to spread the message about the importance of checking tyres.

courtesy of Tyresafe

According to Tyresafe, more than 1,200 road casualties are caused by illegal, defective or under-flated tyres and after experiencing the wettest winter on record only last year, this year's campaign focusses on tread depth which is essential for safe driving in wet conditions.

Points to remember about tyre tread depth:

• Good tyre tread depth keeps you safer in the wet
• Adequate tread depth reduces your risk of aquaplaning
• Tyre tread depths should be checked at least once a month
• Driving on tyres with illegal tread depth not only reduces your safety but also risks a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre

What you can do

• Check the tyre tread depth using a 20p coin (if you can see the outer edge of the coin, your tyres may be illegal). Carry out this test on all grooves of the tread and on all four tyres.
• If you are unsure, take your car to a local garage you can trust. Find a Good Garage Scheme member near you offering a Winter Check, which includes a tyre check.
• Tyresafe says take a #Tyreselfie and share with friends on social media to help promote Tyre Safety Month

yreSafe is one of the UK's leading tyre safety organisations, dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers associated with defective or illegal tyres. It was established in 2006 as a not for profit organisation and campaigns in line with current legislation and duty of care regulations. - See more at: http://www.tyresafe.org/other-information/about-tyresafe#sthash.MIox8GHm.dpuf

yreSafe is one of the UK's leading tyre safety organisations, dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers associated with defective or illegal tyres. It was established in 2006 as a not for profit organisation and campaigns in line with current legislation and duty of care regulations. - See more at: http://www.tyresafe.org/other-information/about-tyresafe#sthash.MIox8GHm.dpuf

TyreSafe is one of the UK's leading tyre safety organisations, dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers associated with defective or illegal tyres. It was established in 2006 as a not for profit organisation and campaigns in line with current legislation and duty of care regulations. - See more at: http://www.tyresafe.org/other-information/about-tyresafe#sthash.MIox8GHm.dpuf

TyreSafe is one of the UK's leading tyre safety organisations, dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers associated with defective or illegal tyres. It was established in 2006 as a not for profit organisation and campaigns in line with current legislation and duty of care regulations. - See more at: http://www.tyresafe.org/other-information/about-tyresafe#sthash.MIox8GHm.dpuf

Maria McCarthy Promotes Good Garage Scheme

Motoring journalist, Maria McCarthy, is the spokesperson for the Good Garage Scheme's Winter Check national radio campaign, which begins today and urges motorists to be safe as the days get shorter.

Maria will be on the radio with the likes of BBC Scotland and LBC (London's Biggest Conversation) Radio answering questions about the importance of having your car checked and knowing where to find a Good Garage Scheme member if you need one.


With the clocks going back this weekend and darkness on its way, it’s crucial that drivers and their vehicles are prepared for the dangerous driving conditions ahead of them.

Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com to find a local garage offering a Winter Check.

Maria McCarthy has written The Girl's Car Handbook: Everything You Need to Know about Life on the Road and The Girls' Guide to Losing Your L-plates: How to Pass Your Driving Test.

Maria is a regular commentator on motoring matters on BBC Breakfast News and News 24, GMTV, Radio 5 Live, Woman's Hour, You and Yours, and Jeremy Vine.

For more information about Maria McCarthy, visit www.mariamccarthy.co.uk.

Good Garage Scheme Kicks off on DAVE TV

The Good Garage Scheme is pleased to have kicked off its winter advertising campaign on Monday, 7th October.  Miles Better appeared once again on on Dave TV and its plus-one channel, Dave Ja Vu TV, encouraging motorists to visit the website and find a local trustworthy Good Garage Scheme member garage.

So far results have shown an increase 120% of visitors to www.GoodGarageScheme.com and the number of motorists downloading the app has increased by 160%.

photo courtesy of Lawlor Motor Company

The advert was filmed at long-standing member garage, Lawlor Motor Company in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. John and the team, along with our own Miles Better, will be appearing on Dave TV alongside Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear crew and other favourites on Have I Got News for You.

If you missed the advert on DAVE or Dave Ja Vu, click here to watch now.

The Good Garage Scheme is now promoting its Winter Check. The temperatures have started dropping. Make sure your car is ready for winter. Find a Good Garage Scheme member near you offering a Winter Check.

It's like having a friend in the know!

Drivers - Get Ready for Shorter Days

On Sunday, the clocks turn back an hour – winter will officially arrive. As the days become shorter, we’ll be experiencing dark mornings and evenings.
 
Darker evenings also see the road casualty rates increase. Here are some frightening facts from 2011:

• The number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured in November was 14 per cent more than the monthly average.
• The number of cyclist casualties was 5 per cent higher.
• The rate of motorcycle casualties per vehicle mile was 28 per cent higher.

 
While the more vulnerable road users are at a significantly higher risk, cars on the road are also at risk. That’s why it’s important to take extra precautions when driving at night. Driving in the dark is a different experience to driving in the daylight. So keep an eye out for the motorcyclist in the darker clothing. Speed is difficult to judge while the following distances of other vehicles can be hard to see with a wall of headlights shining back at you.

Here’s some advice on adjusting your driving to the shorter days ahead.

• Turn your headlights on before sunset and keep them on for an hour after sunrise so that it’s easier for other drivers to see you in twilight. 
• It’s also important to make sure all your exterior lights are cleaned and working properly.  
• Keep the windscreen free of fallen leaves
• Make sure your windscreen and windows are clean both inside and out.

 
Make the most of other people’s lights – use the light shed by vehicles ahead or from roadside lights – not just street lights – to help you see further ahead.
On rural roads, drive on full beam whenever possible but dip your lights when faced with another road user to avoid dazzling them. If a driver approaching you fails to dip their own headlights, look away to the verge on the left-hand side to avoid being dazzled yourself. And make the most of other people’s lights – use the light shed by vehicles ahead or from roadside lights - not just street lights - to help you see further ahead.
 

If you are not sure if your car is in tip top condition for winter driving, take your car to a local Good Garage Scheme member for a Winter Check. Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com.



The Good Garage Scheme wishes to thank the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) for the above article. For more information about the IAM, please visit their website.

Get ready for icy weather with a Good Garage Scheme Winter Check

With winter just around the corner the Good Garage Scheme is encouraging motorists to get their cars professionally checked to ensure they are safe and reliable in the cold months ahead. 
Good Garage Scheme workshops across the UK are offering a Winter Check to help protect vehicles and reduce the risk of accidents, costly repairs and breakdowns.
 
Not having a vehicle checked and prepared for harsh weather can increase the likelihood of having an accident, especially if a car’s tyre pressures are low, making it hard to maintain grip and easy to skid on wet and icy roads. Visibility is also important as the days get shorter, making it essential to check the operation of heaters, windscreen washers and the condition of wiper blades, as well as headlamp bulbs to ensure drivers can see and be seen.
 
Cars with low antifreeze levels are also at risk in freezing temperatures, which can cause engine overheating and damage, resulting in stressful breakdowns and costly repairs.  Monitoring coolant and topping up, or preferably cleaning and refilling the vehicle’s cooling system, will ensure a healthy engine and help the heater to work properly and defrost icy windscreens more quickly.
 
The Good Garage Scheme Winter Check covers the condition and level of the antifreeze, engine oil and brake fluid as well as the state of the brakes and tyres.  The Winter Check also includes inspection of the wiper blades and all lights.  As a result, motorists taking advantage of the Good Garage Scheme Winter Check can be sure that their car is well prepared for the frosty months ahead.

 
Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and enter your postcode to find your local Good Garage Scheme workshop offering the Winter Check to protect you and your car.  Smartphone users can also download a free iPhone or Android app to help them locate a nearby Good Garage Scheme member anywhere in the UK.
 

Are you ready for snow and ice?

The UK has had its first snowfall of this winter. Have you got everything you need to cope with the unpredictable winter weather? The best advice for all drivers is to Be Prepared and Plan Ahead.

Keep an eye on the weather reports and give yourself extra time in the morning to de-ice the car. Wherever possible, plan your route via main roads as these will be the ones that are gritted first and safest to use.

Make sure you have at least half a tank of fuel in case you are delayed in traffic or in bad road conditions and keep boots, a warm coat and a charged mobile phone in the car for emergencies.

If you do become stuck in snow, move your vehicle slowly backwards and forward out of the rut using the highest possible gear. Revving your engine may only make the rut worse.

Make sure your battery, lights and wipers are up to the challenges of winter.  Find a garage near you offering a Winter Check at http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/winter_check

Peace of mind with a Winter Check

Winter is just around the corner

It’s never too early to check that your car is in tip-top condition to take on the challenges of winter driving.  Make sure you remember where you have stored your ice scraper so you are ready for the first frosty morning. Ensuring your car is running as effectively as possible before the cold snap sets in not only helps improve your safety on the roads but can also help prevent costly repairs.

What if I don’t bother?

Leave it to chance and you could face a host of winter woes. Driving with incorrect tyre pressure and tread on slippery roads presents obvious dangers, while good visibility is also vital. Ensuring correct tyre pressure and tread and topping up your windscreen washer are therefore essential to help prevent you endangering yourself and other road users.

 Let a Good Garage Scheme member give your car the ‘once over’ before winter

The Good Garage Scheme’s comprehensive 20-point Winter Check is the perfect solution to help you avoid hitting the skids this winter. The essential winter motoring package includes checking:

•    The condition and levels of antifreeze
•    Engine oil and brake fluid
•    Brakes and tyres
•    Windscreens
•    Wipers and lights

How can I find someone to help make sure my car is ready for winter?

Simply visit http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/winter_check and type in your postcode to find your nearest Good Garage Scheme member garage offering the Winter Check.

Good Garage Scheme member provides a chance for women to learn about their cars

Women and new drivers have an opportunity to learn a little more about their cars, such as how to check tyre pressures and oil levels, at a free event run by an Exeter garage.

The vehicle awareness day at MECA Services is back, by popular demand, for the third time since Jennifer Riach took over the garage on Sowton Industrial Estate in 2007. MECA Services, part of the Good Garage Scheme, is understood to be the only garage in Exeter owned by a woman.

"It's an opportunity for women and young or new drivers to be shown how to do simple things without the intimidation or embarrassment I so often hear about," said Jennifer.

"They can have their vehicles checked and chat to the mechanics, who are happy to answer questions or show them anything they want to know."
Jennifer encourages women and new drivers to take advantage of the free event to ensure their personal safety is not compromised. "It's about understanding the car and how it works and how important it is to maintain it," she said.

The vehicle awareness day takes place on Wednesday, December 2, when the garage in Heron Road will be closed for all normal business.

Inspections are available on a first come, first served basis between 8 am and 5.30 pm. Tea, coffee, cold drinks and biscuits are provided.

Booking is not essential but is requested to give an idea of numbers.
Call 01392 447901 or email meca.services@btconnect.com.
www.mecaservices.co.uk

Good Garage Scheme takes the chill out of winter motoring

Ignoring the need for a thorough vehicle check before the onslaught of winter could put motorists at risk.

Changes in the weather, with cooler temperatures on their way, highlight issues that often go unseen during warmer weather. The Good Garage Scheme has drawn up a comprehensive 20-point check up for driving a more roadworthy and reliable vehicle in winter conditions. The Good Garage Scheme has made this 20 point checklist freely available to its 2,835 plus members.

Good Garage Scheme members make it easy for their customers to get expert advice on the condition of their vehicles before winter sets in. They can be assured that any servicing work required will be of first class standard and that their vehicles will then be in great condition to tackle the winter weather. They can easily locate their nearest Good Garage Scheme workshop using the website http://www.goodgaragescheme.com/