Road Safety Week is the UK's biggest road safety event, coordinated annually by Brake, the road safety charity.
According to Brake, speeding is still a major problem in the UK causing needless crashes, untold suffering and life-changing accidents.
Breaking the speed limit or travelling too fast for conditions is recorded by police at crash scenes as a contributory factor in one in four (23%) fatal crashes in Great Britain and a recent survey by Brake found that four in 10 (40%) UK drivers admitted they sometimes drive at 30mph in 20mph zones.
We all lead busy lives and are often in a rush, but taking extra care while driving and slowing down will lead to safer roads and fewer accidents.
The Good Garage Scheme joins with Brake once again to encourage all motorists to Speed Down Save Lives. Hopefully the good habits we put in practice this week will remind us to drive with care throughout the year.
For more information about Brake, please visit their website.
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Despite an unseasonable start to the year in most parts of the UK, temperatures are predicted to drop in many places.
Icy roads are always a danger during the winter months, especially as it is sometimes a hidden danger in fog or darkness.
This week’s tips give advice on how to deal with driving on ice, from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards Richard Gladman.
Only drive if it is really necessary. In very bad weather it is better to stay in or take public transport rather than risk an accident. Always check the weather and road conditions on your route before setting off
Make sure you know how the demister settings on your car work and how to adjust them properly
Never pour hot water on the windscreen as the sudden temperature change may cause cracks. Prevention is better than cure, so if possible cover the glass overnight with cardboard or an old sheet to prevent freezing, or invest in a windscreen cover. Adding boiling water or heating up a key can melt plastic components in modern car locks so be gentle when it comes to warming them up or use a squirt of de-icer
If you haven’t done so already, get an antifreeze check at your local garage or fast-fit centre. Keep your washer bottle topped up with an even stronger concentration of de-icer
It might sound like old advice, but you need to triple or quadruple the distance from other cars in front of you in icy conditions. If a car has to stop suddenly or an accident occurs, you will need that extra time to react and stop
Richard said: “As ever preparation and planning are the key to worry-free driving when the mercury plummets. Plan your route carefully as major routes are likely to be treated with salt and less likely to be icy although this might still form in dips and on bridges. Leave more time for your journey. Respect the conditions and don’t expect your journey to take the same amount of time as normal. Factor in delays and give yourself plenty of time to clear the ice properly from all the windows of your car. A crystal clear view will give you the best chance of surviving the arctic blast.”
In the running theme of the Good Garage Scheme's 10th Anniversary Year, we look at the Top 10 worst roads in the UK for driving as reported by the Road Safety Foundation, a UK charity advocating road
casualty reduction.
With hundreds of scenic views, advanced safety measures and regular maintenance, many of the UK’s roads offer a brilliant driving experience. And with a comprehensive network of criss-crossed roads small and large, there are a variety of options to take us comfortably from A to B.
However, a recent report from the Road Safety Foundation confirms that some roads are much safer for motorists than others. The charity states that in the past 10 years, more than 375,000 people have been killed or seriously injured on Britain’s road network.
We take a look at the most dangerous, higher risk roads in the UK – if you’ll be driving through any of these routes, it’s even more vital to check that your car is running properly and that you’re driving safely!
1. A18: Laceby - Ludborough
This 16km route has been reported as having the highest risk for UK drivers. Single carriageway ‘A’ roads have 8 times the risk of motorways, and the A18 forms part of the area with some of the highest average risk of death or serious injury.
2. A36: Totton
The most dangerous ‘A’ roads and motorways lie in the South East of England, with the lowest risk roads in the West Midlands. The A36 and A3090 connection in Totton, in the South East, is the second worst road for UK drivers.
3. A588: Blackpool - Lancaster
The North West route by the A585, has the third highest risk rating from the report. From 2011-2013, there were 26 fatal or serious crashes from this route.
4. A44: Llangurig - Aberystwyth
This A44 route runs for 39km in Wales, with 50% of its total crashes between 2011 and 2013 involving a motorcyclist.
5. A532: Crewe
Another road in the North West region of the UK, the A532, running between the A530 and A534, is the fifth most dangerous driving route according to statistics.
6. A291: Canterbury - Herne Bay
The A291 is in the South East, the 6th ‘A’ road and route in the highest risk roads to drive on. The single roads, particularly rural routes with sharp bends, are more likely to have unforeseen hazards and place less restrictions on speed limits.
7. M6 J33: - Lancaster
This junction makes for the highest risk part of a motorway in Britain. The route is 9km long and saw 23 fatal and serious crashes between 2011 and 2013.
8. A361: Chipping Norton - Banbury
The A361 is another road in the South East, in 8th place. 46% of crashes on this route resulted from a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist in the reporting period.
9. A40: High Wycombe
This South East road, at the M40 J5, has a high risk for UK drivers, with 20% of crashes caused by road run-offs and rear end shunts.
10. A643: Brighouse – Morley
Finally, this ‘A’ road in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, is the 10th highest risk road in the UK. The 12km route lies in one of the highest risk regions for fatal or serious injuries, alongside the East Midlands and South East regions.
Motorists driving on these higher risk roads need to ensure that they have taken the proper measures to maintain their vehicle. A badly serviced or unattended vehicle could further increase the risk of serious accident or injury on some of Britain’s worst roads.
A big change to the UK driving licence came into effect this week when the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) abolished the paper counterpart of the driving licence. As of the 8th of June, the paper driving licence is not required and any changes you make to your address or name on your licence will be made on the photocard and sent back and also held online.
If you need details of your licence, you can now access them via the website www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence. You will need your national insurance number, your driving licence number and postcode to access the information. You are also free to apply for the information by post.
If you need the information for a hire company or an employer, there are a set of instructions to apply for a code which is only valid for 72 hours. Please see more information here.
The Good Garage Scheme advises all motorists hiring a vehicle both in the UK and abroad to check on requirements so that you can be well- prepared.
The Government has introduced the change to save money and make the system more efficient but probably best to hold on to your paper counterpart until all teething problems have been sorted.
Using the Good Garage Scheme, you'll find local independent garages you can trust. Be assured every garage listed on the Good Garage Scheme performs car servicing to a strict standard and will have your best interests at heart.
Car Servicing Nationwide - What you should expect.
Car Service - What you should expect ?
When organising a car service, it's important that you establish what the service includes.
Some garages will change only your oil filter, others will carry out a full service. A good garage will follow a service checklist and give you a copy of that completed checklist as confirmation of a job well done. Good Garage Scheme members carry out your service incorporating the Industry Standard Service Checklist.
Does your car need a service?
Most modern cars only need a service once a year, but older cars require a service once every six months. The manufacturer's service handbook will set what is best for your car. The type of service you need will also be affected by how you use your car. For example, lots of short journeys where the engine does not have a chance to warm up properly will probably mean more frequent oil and filter changes.
Running faults and repairs
Ask to speak to a mechanic or technician about the problem. Explain the problem in as much detail as you can. If you can, include when the problem occurs, for example only when engine is cold, or after the vehicle has been left standing.
Collecting your car
Ask to view the old replaced parts and check that
• The bill is for the amount agreed, or is not significantly more than any estimate you were given.
• The work and parts are fully itemised (this will be proof of purchase if a problem occurs as a result of the work or replaced part fails)
• The service record book has been stamped with the garage stamp
Rather than replacing parts that are not fully worn out, a good garage will advise you when they will probably need replacing, based on the way you use your car.
According to Brake, speeding is still a major problem in the UK causing needless crashes, untold suffering and life-changing accidents.
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