Hiring a car abroad this summer?

Brits who are travelling abroad this summer are being warned to plan ahead if they are hoping to hire a car during their trip.

The DVLA’s plans to scrap the paper part of the UK driving licence means that from the 8th June 2015 UK holidaymakers will have to present a code, they have obtained online, to their car hire company in place of the paper counterpart.

Additional information, such as endorsements and penalty points, had previously been presented on the paper counterpart driving licence, however with this section due to be scrapped, the only way this information can be checked is via the DVLA’s online database.

What does this mean for holidaymakers?

If you want to hire a car abroad you will need to first log on to the DVLA website and enter your driving licence number. You will then be given a code which you can pass on to your hire company when you arrive.

Ideally you should do this at home before you leave, however as the code is only valid for 72 hours, you may need to generate the code during your holiday if you are not picking up a hire car from the airport.

Even if you are not collecting your hire car until a few days into your holiday, it is advisable to visit the DVLA site before you leave home so that you know exactly what information is required of you to get your code – this includes your driving licence number and National Insurance number.

Many people are unaware of the changes and even some hire car companies have admitted it is news to them, which is why we at the Good Garage Scheme we are doing our best to raise awareness so that these changes do not impact on your holiday. Contact your hire car company to ensure you have everything you need when you arrive.

You can view your licence information and generate your licence check code here.

Don't forget to download the Good Garage Scheme's free app for peace of mind before you head off to the airport. 

Tiff Needell Launches Good Garage Scheme Holiday Check

photo courtesy of Tiff Needell, Fifth Gear

Good Garage Scheme spokesperson Tiff Needell was in the studio last week speaking with BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio WM about the importance of checking your vehicle before setting off on the long-awaited summer holiday.

According to research, a worrying 54% admitted they were not planning to have their car serviced before the next journey.

Tiff reminded listeners about the dangers lurking in an unused air conditioning system, an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that is potentially blown into your passenger cabin area causing flu-like symptoms.

Visit GoodGarageScheme.com and find a local garage you can trust to carry out a 21 point Holiday Check for peace of mind before you make the trip to the airport or in the UK with your family and friends.

Drive Safely During Ramadan

The Good Garage Scheme welcomes advice from the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM) for drivers to stay safe on the roads during the holy month of Ramadan which began this week on the 18th June.

Ramadan is a time when most followers of Islam will undertake a daily fast for approximately 30 days. For those drivers that are fasting, the IAM has tips to ensure both you and your passengers are as safe as possible.

• Try to maintain a daily schedule; eat your meals and stay hydrated when you are supposed to, exercise regularly and sleep well – disrupting your daily routine too much can affect your behaviour behind the wheel.
• If possible, avoid setting out early in the morning or late in the evening as you’re less likely to be naturally alert. The same applies for when you have just eaten a heavy meal; you will only end up feeling lethargic.
• Avoid driving if you are feeling tired or sleepy as this greatly increases the risk of a sleep related crash. If you have no choice but to travel and the destination is within a short distance, take a power nap beforehand to help relieve some fatigue.
• If at any point you are feeling tired or sleepy when you are driving, ensure that you stop in a safe and legal place where you can park your vehicle and take rest. Take a short nap and once you have woken up get out of the car and walk about to help improve your circulation. Remember, if you are travelling on the motorway you must not stop on the hard shoulder at any point unless your car has broken down.
• Be extra alert when driving just before sunset or on the way to have Iftar refreshments which break the day’s fast – at this time of the day your blood sugar levels will be at their lowest so take it easy.
• Do not speed or drive erratically in the hope of arriving home at sunset for Iftar – it’s better to drive to steady and safely than to be sorry.
• Sharing the drive when possible is always a good idea especially on long journeys – the chances of you feeling tired will be significantly reduced.
• Your concentration will also be impacted if you are feeling tired or dehydrated – consider using public transport.

Peter Rodger, IAM's head of driving standards commented: “If your eating and drinking patterns are altered for any period of time your abilities and reactions behind the wheel will be affected. This applies equally at Ramadan. Do allow for this if you’re fasting. Look after yourself and you can continue your journeys as normal.” 

The IAM also thanks Emirates Driving Institute for their help creating these tips.

UK Driving Licence Goes Paperless

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.

The Insipring Kate Weaver Runs for BEN

A few months ago, the Good Garage Scheme posted a story about how the automotive industry

charity, BEN, helped a young couple and their family through a difficult time. Kate Weaver suffered a stroke that left her paralysed during a pregnancy, but she delivered a healthy baby and received the care she needed to make a full recovery. She set goals for herself to walk in heels and run once again.

She has worn the heels and will now take part in a 5K Parkrun on the 23rd May at Quarry Park, Shrewsbury in order to raise money for BEN and the Dr Gardner's Charity for Nurses to help other families that may need it. 

To support Kate and to read more detail about how BEN helped her achieve her goals, please visit her justgiving page here.

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.

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

5000 Reasons to Visit Lockwood & Greenwood

Congratulations to the team at Lockwood & Greenwood in Ashton-under-Lyne. They have reached a milestone of 5000 Good Garage Scheme customer feedbacks and are only the second member garage to achieve this number.

The garage has won the national award for top number of feedbacks in a year for the past three years so it was no surprise that they would soon reach 5000.

Customer feedback is at the heart of the Good Garage Scheme and a star rating of over 98% shows that Lockwood & Greenwood's customers are very happy with the service they provide.

The Good Garage Scheme are very proud to say congratulations for "job(s)" well done.

For more information about Lockwood & Greenwood and the services they offer, please visit the Good Garage Scheme website.

IAM Disappointed in Political Parties

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has reacted with dismay at the lack of priority given to cutting deaths on UK roads by the main political parties in their election manifestos.

Despite road accidents being the leading cause of death for males and females between five and 19, and the third leading cause of death for both males and females aged 20-34 in England and Wales no party has published any long or short-term initiatives to tackle such a significant cause of death amongst young people.

Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said: “The forthcoming general election would have been the perfect opportunity for the political parties to show what a commitment they had to cutting the numbers of young people losing their lives in accidents that are entirely preventable.

“Instead, they’ve chosen to sweep the problem under the carpet, and ignore the issue until they are pressured to talk about it by campaigners and the public.”

The Labour Party’s manifesto talks about support for a long-term investment in strategic roads and addressing the neglect of local roads, while the Conservatives talk about an investment in funds to make cycling safer.

Recently the Labour Party said it would dedicate a £300 million fund to repair at least 24 million holes in the local road network over the next five years. However, according to Asphalt Industry Alliance the backlog of pothole repairs is £12 billion, making Labour’s fund a mere drop in the ocean compared to what is needed.

An IAM survey conducted last month found that tackling potholes was their number one concern of respondents, with 70% of them selecting this as a priority.

Like the main two parties, the Liberal Democrats mention cyclists to the exclusion of other road users, but do say they will pursue ‘road safety measures to keep cyclists safe.’

UKIP talks in their manifesto about only installing speed cameras as a deterrent in accident black spots.

The Green Party is the only one of the major parties to have devoted any significant amount of space to road safety in its manifesto.

It wants to ‘reduce the drink drive limit to as close to zero as is practical,’ ‘bring down speed limits to 20mph in residential areas and 40mph on rural roads,’ and ‘require best-practice technology to be fitted to lorries to ensure that drivers are fully aware of the presence of pedestrians and cyclists’ amongst other measures to encourage walking and cycling.

The Scottish National Party has meanwhile made no reference at all to any road safety issue in its manifesto.

Sarah added: “It is a massive disappointment that the major political parties are treating the issue of improving safety on the roads as an irritation rather than one they should have an instinctive desire to tackle.”
In its own manifesto, the IAM has identified seven key areas any government needs to focus on:

• Reducing young driver risk
• Driver risk management
• Keeping older drivers safer for longer
• Protecting the vulnerable
• Safe motorcycling has a key role in transport policy
• Leadership is essential for sustainable road safety
• Supporting the law abiding majority on our roads

Sarah concluded: “There are many schemes that can be implemented at low-cost that will pay for themselves many times over thanks to the benefits society will gain from having fewer killed and injured.
 
“Experts often talk about the first 100 days of a new government. The first 100 deaths will occur before the end of May. That is how important it is that politicians show leadership and give road safety the priority it demands."


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.

For more information visit iam.org.uk