Happy Holidays from the Good Garage Scheme

The Good Garage Scheme wishes you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Travel safely and don't forget to download the Good Garage Scheme App for peace of mind
wherever you travel this Christmas. Locate a garage you can trust no matter where you travel in the UK. 

Don't Let Car Trouble Ruin Your Holiday

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the Institute of Advance Motoring (IAM) for sending along the following advice for drivers setting off on a summer holiday.
 

This year, as you prepare to drive to the airport – as well as making the usual checks for your passport, flight tickets and travel insurance, spare some time to check your vehicle is ready for the journey too. Remember, a little preparation goes a long way.

You should do a thorough check of your vehicle before the big day, including fluid levels, tyres, mirrors and windows – you’ll be on a tight schedule on the day, so the last thing you need is a breakdown.

Make sure you check your luggage packed into the boot of your vehicle. If you do need to put some belongings on the back seats, make sure they do not obstruct your view out of the rear window and secure them in place before setting off.

Leave in plenty of time – if you feel rushed on your way to the airport then you are likely to make silly mistakes or even creep over the speed limit.

Plan your route to the airport the day before, and check travel reports for any disruption or road closures before you set off.

Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before you travel to ensure you’re alert from the very beginning of the journey. And if you have to travel a good distance to get to the airport, leave enough time to schedule in a rest stop to fight the onset of fatigue.

When parking up at the airport, try to find an area which is not too crowded – the fewer cars around you, the less chance there is of someone clipping your vehicle with their luggage. Nobody wants to return from a relaxing holiday to a damaged vehicle.

The last thing you need on the day you start your holiday is unwanted stress from a lack of preparation and a shortage of time. Preparing yourself and your vehicle before the big day and setting off nice and early will remove the obstacles to you taking full advantage of Duty Free.

Enjoy your holiday.

Is Your Car Ready for Summer Driving?

With the summer holidays fast approaching, the Good Garage Scheme is encouraging motorists to get their cars professionally checked to ensure they are safe, reliable and comfortable as the temperature increases.  Members of the Good Garage Scheme across the UK are offering a Holiday Check to offer drivers peace of mind, as research undertaken by the organisation has found that 38 per cent of motorists do not plan to get their car serviced before their next long journey.

Towing a caravan or carrying passengers with a boot full of luggage demands that a car is in the best possible condition to provide safe, reliable and comfortable summer motoring.  The 21-point HolidayCheck provides an expert assessment of a vehicle’s condition, covering essential areas including the condition and level of the coolant and engine oil, as well as the brakes, tyres, wiper blades, windscreen and lights.  The Good Garage Scheme also recommends that motorists have their air conditioning systems checked.  Harmful bacteria and mould may have built up in the ducts of systems that have been switched off during the cooler months, posing a health risk to drivers and passengers as they switch them back on.

Phil Dugmore, the Good Garage Scheme’s Technical Manager, comments: “The Holiday Check campaign gives motorists the confidence that their car is well prepared by getting it expertly checked at their local member workshop.  With our research finding that 38 per cent of drivers are not thinking about getting their car serviced before setting off on a long journey, the Holiday Check aims to give motorists peace of mind before setting off on travels with family and friends.”

Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and enter your postcode to find your local Good Garage Scheme member offering the Holiday Check.  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 We There Yet?

"Are we there yet?"

 We all know how hard it is to keep children entertained in the car and with the school holidays upon us, the Good Garage Scheme would like to offer some tips to keep your younger passengers happy.

 Oldies but Goodies

• I Spy with my little eye... most of us have played "I Spy..." and this is still a firm favourite for many families and sure to take up a little time on the journey. 
• Sing along...why not try something different. If you are travelling to France, play some French music. The children may pick up a few new words.   
• Number Plate Games...there are many varieties; count the number plates with a particular letter, make a word using the last three letters, see who's quickest to add the numbers

New ideas

• Alphabet game:  Pack a shopping bag with plastic alphabet letters. Pass the bag around and ask each child to choose a letter without looking. They can then can say a word or country that begins with the letter.
• Name the capital: Print a page from the internet listing countries down one side and the capital cities down the other. Fold the page in half and take turns guessing the correct capital cities
• Make up a story: Each person takes a turn to add a sentence to story. If someone can write it down as you go, even better!
• Audio books...most local libraries have a good selection of books read by fantastic actors. Everyone can listen and you can even have intervals to stop and talk about the story.
• DVDs..a popular choice these days with the option of a portable DVD player. Make sure everything is charged before you pack.
• Little Geographers...print a colourful map of the journey with landmarks noted and give a copy to each child. Let them follow along and make their own notes. 

Food and Rest

Pack snacks and drinks in smaller packets using different containers especially for the holiday. This helps with rations and squabbles over quantities.

Plan to take more frequent rest stops and allow for a few extra minutes to play outdoors if possible.

The Good Garage Scheme wishes everyone a happy summer holiday and safe driving.