Diesel Prices Lowest Since 2010

The BBC reported today that the average price of diesel has fallen below 113p per litre for the first time since January 2010*. Supermarkets have cut their forecourt prices, and diesel prices were lower than petrol prices for the first time since July 2001.

Petrol prices have also fallen this week which is welcome news for all motorists. There is a handy tool at Petrol Prices website which allows you to find the lowest fuel prices in your area. If you sign in, you can change the settings on the finder tool to look for cheapest diesel, LPG or premium diesel as well as petrol in your area and also check more than one postcode.

Whatever the cost of fuel, the Good Garage Scheme recommends that you visit your local member garage to ensure your are getting the most from what you buy. A clean engine is an efficient engine. Ensure your car is working as efficiently as it can, and make the most of every drop of fuel.

Visit www.Good Garage Scheme.com to find a garage you can trust.

*Source: Experian Catalist information group report

Tips for Driving with Children This Summer

School holidays are here and there may be many trips this summer with children in the car.

Peter Rodger, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM's) head of driving standards reminds us this week that no matter how difficult it sounds, the driver's duty is to the road and road users first - the children second.
He says, "Any problem the children have can be dealt with when the car is stationary, and should never be dealt with on the move. Easier said than done, but it is the only way."

Here are some helpful tips from the IAM:

Seatbelts on! 

If you’re travelling with children under the age of three years you must use a child restraint. Children three years and above must be placed in a booster seat, safely secured with a seatbelt. Make sure you make the appropriate adjustments before you start your journey. If you’re using a child restraint,check whether it needs to be front-facing or rear-facing beforehand.

Everyone comfy?

Avoid placing large and heavy objects or luggage on the rear seat where your children will be seated.

Be prepared

Make sure you have packed important items for your journey including a fully charged mobile phone, first aid kit, water, blanket and high-visibility jackets – you may need these items if you’re vehicle breaks down and you are waiting for help to arrive.

Fun and games

Think about what games your children can take with them on long journeys to keep them occupied. If they will be using a portable device or in-car DVD player, make sure they have headphones plugged in so the sound doesn’t distract you.

Take a break

The longer you’re on the road, the higher the likelihood your children could become irritable. Plan to take regular rest breaks at least every two hours so you can rest and they can release some energy.

Travel with a friend

If you can, travel with another adult passenger who can keep an eye on the youngsters. This will allow you to fully concentrate on the road and prevent them distracting you.

'Have a word' when safe

Never turn around to deal with fighting youngsters while you are driving. Always find a safe place to stop first. Don’t continue your journey with children fighting in the back – it may affect your behaviour behind the wheel.

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

Make sure to visit your local Good Garage Scheme member to check your vehicle is ready for the road. 

Congratulations Empire Garage

Congratulations to Ajay Gokani and his team at Good Garage Scheme member garage Empire Garage in Enfield for winning this year's FSB London Business Award for Enterprising Business.

The garage is a family business with a strong reputation, comprising a 24-hour forecourt and shop and a 4 bay workshop which has received over 3770 customer reviews on the Good Garage Scheme website with a 97% star rating.

On the awards night of 31st July, Steve Warwick, the London Regional Chair of the FSB, said, "Convincing a panel of independent business judges that you are the best in London is no mean feat. I hope that winning here tonight will be a stepping stone for growing businesses."

The Good Garage Scheme would like to congratulate the team at Empire Garage for this fantastic achievement and wishes them continued success.

For more information about Empire Garage visit www.empire-garage.co.uk.

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.