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 Drive if You Drink this Holiday Season

The Christmas party season is upon us and chances are you may be celebrating with friends and family. Whether you are driving to a party or hosting one, make sure everyone driving is safe to do so.

According to Gov.uk, "It’s not possible to say how much alcohol you can drink and stay below the limit. There are strict drink driving penalties if you are caught over the limit. You could be imprisoned, banned from driving and face a fine if you’re found guilty of drink driving."

More importantly, a person who drives after an alcoholic drink not only risks their own life but those of their passengers and others on the road.

If you're planning on drinking alcohol, decide on how you will get home without driving:

•    Agree on a designated driver
•    Save a taxi number on your phone
•    Find out about public transport routes and times before you go out

Time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system.

Make sure you are completely sober before you get behind the wheel. You could be over the legal limit many hours after your last drink, even if it's the 'morning after'.  Coffee and cold showers don't help to sober you up.

Download the Good Garage Scheme App for peace of mind wherever you travel this holiday season. http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/phone_app


It's like having a friend in the know!

Customer Wins iPod Touch in Good Garage Scheme Feedback Prize Draw

A valued customer of Good Garage Scheme member Automotive Solutions in Ayr has won the latest iPod touch simply by leaving feedback on the service he received.  Mr Glover of Prestwick was selected from over 24,000 customer feedback forms submitted by member garages throughout the UK over a three-month period.  Good Garage Scheme customers are encouraged to provide their feedback about member garages to help provide motorists visiting www.GoodGarageScheme.com make an informed decision when selecting a local garage to service or repair their vehicle.

Jon Thomson, owner of Automotive Solutions, presents prize to Mr Glover (centre) along with Andrew Muir, technician

Mr Glover gave Automotive Solutions a five-star rating for their helpfulness, communication, standard of work undertaken on his car and his overall satisfaction.  In his glowing feedback, Mr Glover stated: “This is the second annual service undertaken by Automotive Solutions.  I cannot underestimate the quality of staff involved and have every confidence in their work.”
 
Automotive Solutions, which specialises in BMW, Mercedes, Mini and Porsches servicing and repairs, has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 99 per cent, with 100 percent of customers saying they would use the Good Garage Scheme member again and that they would recommend the workshop.
 
Please visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and enter your postcode to find your local Good Garage Scheme workshop and view customer feedback. 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

Female-friendly garage recruits female apprentice

MECA Car Services, a Good Garage Scheme member based in Exeter, Devon, have recruited a new apprentice, helping support their position as a female-friendly garage in their area of the south-west of England. 

Penny Brown with Jennifer Riach, owner of Meca Car Services  (photo - Meca Car Services)

Penny Brown, new apprentice and mum of three, was keen to combine her interest in the motor industry with her wish to develop new skills after time spent raising her young children. Thanks to MECA Car Services, Penny is now developing her skills by both college training and practical experience in the workshop. 

In what is still a male-dominated occupation, Penny is keen to help disprove outdated stereotypes, advising: "If anyone wants to do something like this they should definitely go for it because I'm really enjoying it."

Jennifer Riach, the owner at MECA Car Services, on making her selection during her recruitment of a new apprentice, said of Penny: 

“She is slightly older than the other candidates, and because she has done the family thing first she has that life experience, and her more mature approach to the job has convinced me my decision was the right one.”

She added: "It's heartbreaking when you hear about apprentices who have signed up to start their training and can't find a placement, so the college is the best place to see who is available.”

The team at Meca Car Services   (photo - Meca Car Services)

Generous support had been given through the process by both the National Apprenticeship Service and Exeter College and Jennifer hopes other businesses follow suit in helping young people into work.

To read the full article, from the Exeter Express and Echo, please see here.

More Rain Predicted...Wet Weather Driving Advice from the Good Garage Scheme

Most of us have seen some heavy rain over the past few days and the weather reports warn of more to come with flood warnings in various regions. If you do need to drive, please check the weather first and take extra care.

Here are some wet weather driving tips from the Good Garage Scheme :

Slow down
One of the fundamental parts of conquering the wet roads is to reduce the speed at which you travel. The three main controls of steering, braking and accelerating are all less effective under wet conditions so slowing down and gentle use of these controls will enable you to manage the car more steadily.

Increase your following distance
The usual 2-second rule should at least be doubled in wet conditions. Brakes are not as responsive in the rain; therefore this will allow you more time to think and react and will greatly reduce the chance of a collision.

Be aware of floodwater
Make sure you show great caution to any water that has collected at the side of roads as this can cover up potholes as well as creating further risk of aquaplaning.

On approaching deep water on the road
Don’t panic! When driving through deeper sections of water you should always keep your engine revving, moving at a constant yet slow speed without endangering other drivers or pedestrians.

After passing through deep water it is important to check your brakes, as they will probably be saturated and may not function properly.

 

If you have driven through deep water and your car is not performing well, contact your nearest Good Garage Scheme member and ask a professional to check it for you.

Emergency? Keep calm and pull over

Drivers need to be alert and ready for anything, whether it is a football rolling into the road, confused animal or emergency services vehicle. The sudden sounds of sirens and the flashing lights in the rear view mirror can cause your heart to race. It’s easy to panic, but the key is to tackle the situation calmly.

If you are not sure of what to do when you see approaching flashing lights, you are not alone. In the latest survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), thirty-five per cent of respondents admitted that they did not know the rules on how to deal with an approaching emergency service vehicle.

According to The Highway Code, "When it comes to Emergency and Incident Support vehicles, drivers should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. 

When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you."

Here's a reminder of what to do when you see an approaching emergency vehicle:

• Keep calm.
• Consider the route of the emergency vehicle and take appropriate action to allow it to pass.
• When moving out of the way, ensure you continue to observe all traffic signs.
• Don’t pull over on kerbs, verges and pavements. This may endanger pedestrians or other road users.  
• Avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of a road.
• Do not endanger yourself.
• Do not brake harshly on approach to a roundabout or junction as the driver behind may not see what you can.
  
• There may be more than one emergency service vehicle that needs to pass.  Take your time to check before moving off safely and indicate your intention to drivers around you.

Download the free Good Garage Scheme app so that you are able to contact a garage you can trust no matter where you are in the UK.

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) for sharing research for this blog.

It's MOVEMBER

Over the past eight years, November has become a time when men (or "mo bros") cultivate a moustache to raise awareness of men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer.

Miles Better would like to participate this year and has set up a donation page for the Prostate Cancer UK Charity. For more information about the charity, please visit www.prostatecanceruk.org - we'll be updating the progress of  his moustache on his Facebook and Twitter pages.

Help him decide which style to grow. He'd like to encourage fellow Good Garage Scheme members to send their own photos to post on the Good Garage Scheme Facebook page as well.

This is a great opportunity for all Good Garage Scheme members and their customers to give generously to this worthy cause.


To support Miles Better, please visit www.justgiving.com/Miles-Better
Here are some of the moustaches Miles is thinking of growing. Help him decide by choosing your favourite.

Mo 1

Mo 2

Mo 3