Is your car ready for the worst winter in 65 years?

According to meteorologists, this coming winter could be the worst in 65 years.  With the complex weather pattern known as El Nino predicted to be the strongest since 1950, experts are warning of a long, harsh winter with heavy snowfall.  As if it couldn’t get any worse, some reports are also heralding the early arrival of plunging temperatures and snowfall as soon as this month.

Even if you are not one to believe in early weather forecasts, it is always better to be safe than sorry, which is why we are advising motorists to get their vehicles checked now to minimise breakdowns and repairs when the winter weather arrives.

Salty roads and freezing conditions can cause problems for cars during the colder months, but being prepared beforehand can reduce this impact, not to mention the cost of repairs.

The Good Garage Scheme Winter Check will prepare your vehicle for driving in cold conditions.  This essential check not only carries out standard tests on bodywork, lights and suspension but will also address winter-specific concerns such as:

• Checking and recording antifreeze protection
• Carrying out a tyre report
• Checking the operation of interior and exterior lights
• Ensuring windscreen washers and wipers are in full working order
• Checking power steering operation and fluid levels

Ignoring the warning signs and simply waiting until your next annual service could mean your car faces problems and costly repairs this winter, particularly if the weather is to be as severe as is predicted.

It is quick and easy to find a reliable garage in your area offering the Good Garage Scheme Winter Check.  Simply visit our website and input your postcode to find a nearby garage. 

If you’re out and about this winter why not take our app with you?  A garage you trust will never be far away.

Advice for Driving in Deep Water

Following severe weather warnings of storms and floods over the coming days, the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM) offers sound advice on how to keep safe in the storms.

According to Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger, “A suddenly very wet road surface increases the chances of slipping when braking or steering, which is a problem not just for motorists, but cyclists and motorcyclists too.”

“When driving in wet conditions remember that stopping distances will increase, and visibility will be reduced. Drop your speed and give yourself more time to slow down.”

In cases of severe flooding, you should reconsider making the journey at all. If it is unavoidable, and you have to drive through deep water, the IAM recommends drivers take the following precautions:

• Drive on the highest section of the road and don't set off if a vehicle is approaching you
• Leave time and space to avoid swamping other cars and pedestrians
• Drive slowly and keep going once you have started – make sure you have a clear run. In a manual car, keep the revs high by "slipping the clutch" (which means the clutch is not fully engaged) all the time you are in the water
• If you can’t see where you are going to come out of the water, such as when approaching flooding on a bend, think twice about starting to drive into it
• In deep water never take your foot off the accelerator, as this could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe
• Once you're out of the water, dry the brakes before you need them. The best way is to lightly apply the brake as you drive along for a few seconds, after checking nothing is following you too closely.

  The Good Garage Scheme recommends downloading its free App before you set off on your car journey. Should you run into any trouble, help is at the touch of a button. To download the app for peace of mind click here.

Safe Motoring!

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the Road Safety Charity IAM for the valuable advice. Peter Rodger is the IAM’s chief examiner. For more information visit www.iam.org.uk.

Banish Winter Car Blues with a Spring Check

As winter slowly fades away the Good Garage Scheme is encouraging motorists to get their cars professionally checked to ensure they are safe and reliable in the months ahead.  Good Garage Scheme workshops across the UK are offering a Spring Check to give drivers peace of mind and ensure their cars are in good health after the winter.

Extreme weather conditions and salted roads can contribute to adverse effects on a car’s vital components including the steering, suspension, wheels and tyres.   

With the first day of spring just around the corner on 20^th March, 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 winter, posing a health risk to drivers as they switch them back on.

Phil Dugmore, the Good Garage Scheme’s Technical Manager, comments: “The harsh winter may well have taken its toll on vital car components.  The Good Garage Scheme’s Spring Check aims to help give motorists the confidence that their car is in top condition as the days get longer and the weather starts to improve.”

Visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and enter your postcode to find your local Good Garage Scheme workshop offering the Spring Check to ensure your car is in good health as the warm weather returns. 

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.

Mind the Gap!

According to a BBC report, almost two million potholes were reported to councils in England and Wales last year and it is a problem which is likely to get worse given the extreme weather conditions we have experienced over the past few months.

Potholes form as water freezes and expands creating larger cracks in the road surface that is beginning to fracture. Normal traffic opens up the damaged road surface and wet weather loosens the crumbling surface making it larger.

According to information from the AA, a third of drivers have damaged their vehicle by hitting a pothole in the last two years.

If you wish to report a pothole, get in touch with your council or add the information via the FixMyStreet website (www.fixmystreet.com) and they will report it to your council for you.



If you are worried that your vehicle has suffered damage due to a pothole, why not visit a Good Garage Scheme member near you who will be happy to check for you?

It's like having a friend in the know!

Be Prepared for Autumn Driving

Low sun and dirty windscreens

Autumn is here and it’s time to prepare the car for the colder days ahead.
It might seem like there’s not much to do to prepare you and your car for the autumn. But with leafy days comes low sun. According to the Department for Transport figures, twenty-three people died in a crash because of dazzling sun in 2010. The dazzling sun is incredibly distracting so it’s important to take some precautions at this time of the year.

While it may seem obvious, try to make sure you keep a good pair of sunglasses in your glove compartment. If the sun makes it difficult to see, slow down. Be aware that if the sun is behind you, it’s in the eyes of oncoming drivers who may not see you. Low sun can dazzle you through your mirrors so be ready to dip the mirror and check over your shoulder for vehicles in your blind spot.
As the days get shorter, remember to turn on your headlights before sunset and keep them on for an hour after sunrise so that it’s easier for drivers to see you in twilight.
Low sun will highlight scratches and grime so clean your windows inside and out.
Clear out the tray-like area under the bonnet, below the windscreen. They can fill up with water when it gets blocked with leaves. The water then seeps into the car’s electrics, causing expensive and potentially dangerous damage.

Beautiful autumn leaves can be hazardous

Remember that leaves can be slippery, especially when wet. Avoid hard acceleration or braking as it can cause skidding. Be aware that there may be a dip, pothole or other road hazards hiding under the leaves, covering the road.

Give yourself extra time to clean the windscreen
As it gets further into autumn and the temperature drops, clear your windscreens of condensation or ice before setting off. Always give yourself extra time to ensure you can see though your windows clearly before starting your journey.

Make sure your wiper blades are in good condition. If they squeak as they wipe, it’s likely that they need replacing. Make sure they are turned off before starting the ignition to save the blades and the risk of a blown motor fuse when the frost hits.

Check your car's battery
Autumn takes its toll on car batteries. Keep the top of the battery clean and dry. Make sure the terminals are tight and free of corrosion. If a battery is more than three years old, check it now, you may start saving yourself many a frustrating start to a morning.

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.

Driving in Winter

The weather has finally turned colder and motorists will need to cope with ice, snow and salting vehicles. If you do need to drive, the Good Garage Scheme has a few tips to help get there safely.

Give yourself extra time
More time will be required to make sure all of your windows are cleared of frost, ice and snow.

Drive at a sensible speed
Rain, hail and snow all reduce visibility. A good rule of thumb is to travel at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you're able to see ahead.

Use main roads
Avoid smaller roads that may be untreated. The shortest route may not always be safe.

Drive a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you
In icy conditions, you may need to allow up to ten times the normal distance for braking.

Take care around winter maintenance vehicles

Keep a safe distance behind salting vehicles and make sure you have plenty of screenwash to avoid a salt-smeared windscreen.

Always carry a charged mobile phone for emergencies and 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

Driving in Winter - Don’t be Blown Away

According to the Met Office, the UK is set to experience some very windy, wintry weather in the next week or two and the Good Garage Scheme advises all drivers to take extra care on the roads.

Strong gusts of wind can surprise even the most experienced of drivers and motorists are particularly vulnerable on open stretches of road and when overtaking high-sided vehicles.

It is particularly important to keep both hands on the wheel if you need to drive during these conditions and keep your speed down too.

Keep a safe distance from high-sided vehicles and caravans wherever possible and take extra care around motorcyclists. These vehicles may be struggling with windy conditions.

There may be debris on the roads as well. Travel at a safe speed and be aware of any branches that could have fallen during high winds.

Windy conditions are often accompanied by heavy rain or sleet creating slippery conditions.
Periodically check your grip on the road surface by choosing a safe place to brake gently and test the conditions.

Always carry a charged mobile phone for emergencies and 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

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

Driving in Autumn – Whatever the Weather

Plan ahead
Autumn weather is a mixed bag. We may have rain, sleet, snow or icy conditions. As we enter into the month of November, the Good Garage Scheme advises drivers to plan their journeys in advance and add extra time to prepare your car before setting off.

 

Keep an emergency kit
Be ready for the winter weather and keep the following items in your car:
•    Ice scraper
•    Torch with spare batteries
•    Blanket
•    First aid kit
•    Shovel
•    Road atlas
•    Mobile phone and charger

Be aware of the weather
Take a few minutes to check the weather forecast and traffic reports for your journey.
Visit the Met Office website and listen to local radio broadcasts for weather and the
the Highways Agency website to check the traffic at Highways Agency website.


In case of trouble
Download the Good Garage Scheme’s free app so that you are never far away from a garage you can trust anywhere in the UK. The app, featured in The Sunday Times ‘App List of Top 500 Apps’ is available free from both the App Store and the Android Market.