Don't Lose Your Grip on Salty Roads

As the Met Office issues yellow weather warnings of ice and snow for much of the country, roads are expected to be gritted to prevent snow from settling. The IAM’s chief examiner, Peter Rodger, is offering advice to motorists to cope better with driving on road surfaces that have been recently treated.

If weather conditions are severe in your area, you should take notice of police advice and simply not travel. However, in the exceptional circumstances where this is unavoidable, make sure you drive safely and with extra caution on icy roads.

Salt will often make the windscreen, headlights, number plate and rear parts of your car very dirty. Cars without headlamp washers, for example, will lose an estimated 40% of luminosity, and possibly all their focus in about 20 miles on a damp, gritted motorway. When travelling long distances it is advised that you stop regularly at service stations to clean your windscreen and headlights with a clean cloth. Or keep a filled litre or two of water in the car boot to give your lights, windows and mirrors a quick wash over – a handy investment to top-up your windscreen washer reservoir when needed too.

When driving on a busy road, avoid overtaking a gritting lorry as the road ahead may not be treated yet. If you have any doubt, don’t risk it. Never overtake a snow plough in heavy snow conditions.
While roads may be gritted to give you better traction some areas may not be completely treated, leaving ice patches exposed. You should therefore drive at a steady pace – ensuring the safety of you and your passengers.

It’s important that you keep your car clean throughout the winter as the salt in grit can cause external damage such as corrosion to any exposed suspension parts. Ensure that you thoroughly wash the underside of your car when you can to stop salt from settling.

Don’t forget to wash/rinse alloy wheels too; the smallest scratch can quickly become a large rust patch.

Rodger said: “Preparation is the key to avoiding a dangerous situation whilst driving in snowy or icy conditions. Don’t rely on the performance of your car systems to get you out of trouble – allow time, make sure you have good visibility all round and carry the right equipment.”

Peter Rodger is the IAM’s chief examiner
The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving and motorcycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving and motorcycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.
  

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the IAM for this week's welcome advice and would also like to add that motorists can download the Free Good Garage Scheme App before setting off in case they do run into any trouble.

Read How BEN helped Kate & Tim

Ben is the UK's dedicated charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants and is the chosen charity of the Good Garage Scheme.

At a recent charity ball held by BEN, Kate and Tim Weaver shared their story about how BEN helped them when they needed it. 

We are grateful for the permission to share the video of Kate speaking at the event and hope it will inspire those to give generously to BEN and also make those in the automotive industry aware of the help that is available to them.

For more information about BEN, please visit www.ben.org.uk.

Good Garage Scheme Supports Automotive Charity BEN

BEN is the chosen charity of the Good Garage Scheme.  The charity is dedicated for those who work, or have worked in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependents.

Each year we make time at Christmas to visit the day care centre which closest to our Good Garage Scheme head office and send along a hamper for the centre to enjoy.

Arthur Wilson House in Coventry

It is wonderful to see what is available for those who need it and on the day of our visit, the staff were telling us how much the residents enjoyed their annual Christmas party on the previous day.

The centre offers a safe and comfortable place where anyone with a connection to the automotive or related industries can leave an elderly relative to be cared for during the working day. They also welcome those who are more independent who may benefit from socialising or taking part in organised activities and outings. The Centre has up to 25 members each day enjoying a range of entertainment, activities, games and trips to local attractions.

If you are interested in more information about BEN and the work they do or help they can offer, please visit www.BEN.org.uk.

What's in your favourite Christmas drink?

Did you know a glass of mulled wine contains the same calories as three pieces of chocolate orange?

Whilst Christmas is all about enjoying yourself, it’s important to keep an eye on what you’re drinking during the festivities so that you don’t regularly exceed the daily unit guidelines and put on any extra Christmas plump in the process.

Here is a handy guide to some popular Christmas drinks to help you stay within the guidelines and stop you from piling on the pounds.

Champagne
Units: 1.5 units in a 125ml glass
Calories: 89
Equivalent to: 2 pigs in blankets

Sherry
Units: 0.9 units in a small (50ml) thimble glass (17.5% strength)
Calories: 77
Equivalent to: small slice of chocolate log

Mulled wine
Units: 2.3 units in a 175ml glass
Calories: 134
Equivalent to: three pieces of chocolate orange

Irish cream liqueur (Baileys etc)
Units: 0.9 units in 50ml measure
Calories: 175
Equivalent to: two mini mince pies

Brandy
Units: One per (25ml) measure of 40% brandy
Calories: 61
Equivalent to: 3 cocktail sausages

If none of the above are your usual tipple and you'd like to know how many units and calories are in other alcoholic drinks, this unit calculator has all the information you need.

Still not sure about alcohol units? Watch this short video from Drinkaware.

 based on an average adult

This blog has been written with permission from Drinkaware, an independent charity working to  reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK.

The Good Garage Scheme would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.

If you are drinking alcohol,
please do not drive. 
It is not worth the risk.

Lucky Motorist Wins Back the Cost of His Service

Mr Andrew Hendry has won £200 towards the cost of his recent car service at Good Garage Scheme member garage, Budget Auto Centre in Stirling. Mr Hendry’s feedback card was picked at random from over 47,000 customer feedback forms submitted by member garages throughout the UK in the first part of the year. Good Garage Scheme customers are encouraged to provide their feedback about member garages to help drivers visiting www.goodgaragescheme.com make an informed decision when choosing a local garage to service or repair their vehicle.

Mark Marshall of Budget Auto Centre and Martin McNulty of the Good Garage Scheme present Mr Hendry with his cheque.

Mr Hendry lives in the Borders but insists on booking his car in for a service at Budget Auto Centre as he trusts them. He awarded the team at Budget with a maximum five-star rating for work carried out and in his feedback commented: “The repairs were shown and explained, also the parts to be replaced were kept and shown where they were faulty. I have never had that quality of service anywhere else. They repair faults, but don’t create ones for more work – give them six stars!”


The Good Garage Scheme will award draw its next winner on Monday, 22nd December in time for Christmas. If you have visited a Good Garage Scheme member garage recently for a car service, car repair or MOT, ensure you have filled in a feedback form with comments for your chance to Win Back the Cost of Your Service! If you don't have a postable feedback card, please add your feedback online here or via the free Good Garage Scheme app.

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.

How to drive safely in foggy conditions

Outbreaks of mist and fog are a common occurrence during the British wintertime, but they can make driving conditions very challenging.  Reduced visibility causes hazardous conditions and nervous drivers can compound the problem.  Here is some advice to help you stay safe when travelling in foggy conditions:

Use your lights wisely

When driving in misty or foggy conditions you should use dipped headlights – not full beam as this will impair your visibility further.  You should only switch on your fog lights if visibility is less than 100 metres and remember to switch them back off again once visibility improves.  Drive at a speed you can comfortably stop at, given how far you can see.  If visibility is really poor you can wind down your windows at junctions to enable you to listen for traffic that you might not be able to see. 

Are your lights working correctly?  If you’re not sure why not book in for a Winter Check at one of our member garages?

Keep your windows clear

Damp, foggy conditions can cause your car windows to mist up, which can further reduce your visibility.  Use your wipers, heater and air conditioning to clear the screens before you drive off.  Keeping your windows and wing mirrors clean means they will be less likely to mist up, so this is one good reason to clean your car regularly!

You’ll also find that fog causes moisture to sit on the windscreen so you will need to clear this off with the wipers at regular intervals.  If the fog is freezing don’t use your windscreen washers unless they have non-freezing washer fluid in or your screen will ice over. 

To ensure your vehicle is ready for the winter conditions book in for a Winter Check at one of our participating garages and get peace of mind when driving in the fog?

Be prepared

When driving in the fog it is best to assume a steady pace as this will ensure you can slow down gradually, rather than suddenly which could cause the car behind you to run into you.  Fog patches will be of varying densities so you need to be prepared to slow down if the situation appears to be getting worse.  Equally, you should increase your speed when conditions improve, but only when the road has cleared significantly and it is safe to do so.

Keep your eyes peeled

Extra caution needs to be taken when driving in foggy conditions as pedestrians and cyclists may be extremely difficult to see.  The best course of action is to slow down, particularly in urban areas, to ensure you have time to stop.

Exercise caution on the Motorway

The movement of vehicles on busy roads such as motorways can temporarily cause the fog to clear, or at least look like it is clearing.  The driver at the front of the queue, however, may be faced with dense fog, so don’t be in a rush to overtake as you may find conditions are much worse further up the road.

Be seen when stopping

If you do have to stop, perhaps to wait for help to arrive, make sure you and your car are visible to other road users.  Put the car lights on, using hazards and display a red triangle if you break down on roads other than the motorways.  Wear a high visibility jacket as it will enable you to be seen by other motorists.

We hope the weather won’t be too harsh this winter but by reading our tips you can be prepared and safe whatever the driving conditions.  If you are worried about how your car will cope in the winter you can use our website to find a reliable garage in your area and book in for a Winter Check.

BBC Highlights Illegal DPF Removals

BBC’s Inside Out West Midlands programme that aired on 20th October went undercover and found diesel particulate filters (DPFs), are being illegally removed by garages in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) are fitted to meet European emission standards and are used to reduce the emission of particulate matter (soot) produced by diesel vehicles.

Cutaway image of diesel particulate filter

The DPF is designed to trap larger soot particles within the filter. As the soot particles build up, the filter requires emptying. The only way to empty the soot is to burn it off at high temperatures - most often when you are driving on a motorway.


If your car is used most often for short journeys, it may not reach the temperatures required to burn off the soot and can lead to a clogged filter.

Some garages have been found to offer a removal of the affected part rather than replacing it as a quick fix; however, a vehicle that is modified in this way no longer meets the emission standards. Not only that, the car owner has now modified the car and must notify the insurer. This modification makes the car illegal and in turn invalidates any insurance cover.

Diesel Particulate Filters and the MOT
Annual MOT tests require an inspection of the condition of the exhaust system and since February 2014, the MOT test includes a check for the presence of a Diesel Particulate Filter if fitted when manufactured. Vehicles will automatically fail the MOT test if a Diesel Particulate Filter which was fitted when manufactured has been removed.

Replacing the removed components and returning the vehicle back to original equipment will be a costly exercise for vehicle owners who took the decision to remove the diesel particulate filter.

It is the car owner's responsibility to ensure this part is in tact.

If you are concerned about your diesel particulate filter, please visit your local Good Garage Scheme member garage for advice.



The Driver and Vehcile Standards Agency (DVSA) say...

The DVSA is aware of an increasing number of businesses offering a service to remove or bypass the DPF. This practice compromises the MOT testing standards and therefore undermines the principle of inspecting their presence. 

Authorised Examiners are responsible to ensure that MOT Testing is carried out to the required standards. Where a Vehicle Testing Station is offering a service which could undermine this (such as removing or bypassing DPFs), DVSA will consider this as bringing the MOT Scheme into disrepute.

Where the scheme is brought into disrepute DVSA may consider taking action to remove the Authorisation if appropriate.