Drive Less Live More

Why drive less, live more?

According to the charity, Brake, every day five people die on UK roads, and 64 more are seriously injured – causing needless devastation, trauma and suffering.

Brake witnesses this through its victim care services. The vast majority of these serious casualties, which went up by 4% last year, are down to driver error.

Brake believes road safety isn’t just about driving safely and legally or using the green cross code, although these are important. It’s about making our streets safe and pleasant for everyone to use freely, and doing everything we can to protect ourselves and people around us.
A big part of that is driving less, as little as possible, or not at all if you can.

It’s common for people to habitually walk the few metres from their front door to their car and drive, even if they’re only going round the corner. A quarter of car journeys (23%) are less than two miles. People who walk or cycle often have to face busy, noisy streets, full of pollution and fast traffic. Is this the way we want it?

Walking, cycling or using public transport not only helps to make our streets safer, more pleasant and less polluted, it has personal benefits too. It can save families a lot of money, help people live healthier, more active lives, reduce stress and illness, and help people connect with their communities.

That’s why Brake is asking everyone to consider how they use roads, and to see if they can drive less, live more, and walk, cycle or use public transport instead, to help make our roads and communities safer, happier, healthier and less polluted places.

The Good Garage Scheme supports the charity, Brake, in their efforts to help create a world that has zero road deaths and injuries, and where people can get around in ways that are safe, sustainable, healthy and enjoyable.

For more information about Brake visit their website.

New budgeting solution takes the headache out of car servicing

Having a safe, reliable and economical family car has now become essential for almost every household, be it for the school run, getting to work or the weekly grocery shop.

However, keeping a car well maintained can also be costly, especially at a time when incomes are under pressure. With this in mind, the Good Garage Scheme  has introduced a Good Garage Scheme Service Plan to provide motorists with a simple and flexible means of budgeting servicing and MOT costs throughout the year through interest-free monthly instalments.

Good Garage Scheme Service Plans are inflation-proof and ensure that the price of parts, labour and oil is fixed for up to three years. The new plans are available to suit each driver’s needs with a choice of plans for interim and standard servicing with or without an MOT and are inclusive of parts, labour and VAT according to clearly defined terms and conditions.

Setting up a plan is easy: Motorists just need to visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and choose the member garage and plan that best suits their requirements. Then, when the time comes to book a service, it can be arranged at a participating Good Garage Scheme member workshop with the peace of mind that there will be no unexpected bills to pay once the servicing is complete.

Both new and used vehicles can be serviced as part of the plan and depending on the car’s engine size, can be arranged for one, two or three years. The plan can also be easily transferred and any costs easily adjusted if a driver changes their car. No membership card is required and motorists can view their plan details and balance securely online, as well as cancel their plan at any time.

Why not spread the cost of your car servicing and MOT payments just as you would with other household bills?

Visit GoodGarageScheme.com.

 It's like having a friend in the know.

Good Garage Scheme's Miles Better on DAVE TV

The Good Garage Scheme's television advert will appear on DAVE TV from Monday, 9th November alongside popular programmes such as Mock the Week, Top Gear and Blackadder.

The national television campaign aims to increase awareness of the Good Garage Scheme and how easy it is to find a local garage to trust for car servicing, car repair or MOTs.

The Good Garage Scheme's animated TV star, Miles Better, will appear once again to help spread the message about the Good Garage Scheme...

"It's like having a friend in the know!"

To view the ad, simply visit the website.

Remember Remember to Drive Safely

Bonfire Night and the days around it will mean there will be more families and young children out and about on the roads in the dark.

Good Garage Scheme Tips for Bonfire Night

1. Check local websites for event information
Find out all you can about your local Bonfire Night celebrations ahead of time. Many organised displays will list times, prices and locations of free car parking facilities on a website.

2. Plan for Local Road Closures
Leave in plenty of time to arrive at your local celebrations so that you don’t miss out on the best places to view the fireworks. Roads closer to the event may be closed, and you may need to park further away from the venue than normal. Don’t forget a torch to guide you through any unlit pathways.

3. Drive Slowly
Young children excited to see fireworks and bonfires may not be used to walking in the dark evenings. Drive slowly and take extra care when driving this weekend to avoid any accidents.

The Good Garage Scheme advises all drivers to take extra care on the roads around the celebrations planned for the 5th of November and be aware of pedestrians going to and from their cars to attend events.

Have a safe and happy Bonfire Night.

Tiff Needell on Cars, Tyres and Winter Checks

Former racing driver and current presenter of Fifth Gear, Tiff Needell, was in the studio on Friday, 23rd October promoting the Good Garage Scheme's Winter Check.

Tiff spoke with radio stations across the UK including BBC Radio Berkshire, Big City Radio and BFBS Radio UK about the Good Garage Scheme's recent research which revealed that 54% of people will not have their cars serviced before their next long journey.

The research also showed that common items of neglect are tyres and anti-freeze.

Tiff reminded listeners that an MOT is not a service. Passing an MOT test will not mean your car will be guaranteed to be fault-free for the next year. Regular checks and advice from your local Good Garage Scheme member garage will give you peace of mind and ensure you and your family are safe  and that your car will get you to where you need to be.

Find your nearest Good Garage Scheme member at www.GoodGarageScheme.com and ask for a Winter Check.

Dangerous Sun Dazzle

Low sun can be potentially dangerous for many drivers at this time of year. The Good Garage Scheme welcomes advice from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) in this week's blog.

You will often see dirt and grime highlighted on your windscreen in low sun, so it’s important that you clean your windows. Use a microfibre cloth to wipe down the inside and make sure your washer bottle is filled with a good quality screen washer liquid.

A sun visor will not necessarily stop low sun from beaming into your windscreen. Keep a pair of sunglasses in your glove box so you can get to them easily.

With the night’s drawing in, ensure you switch on your headlights before sunset and keep them on for an hour after sunrise so there is no possibility of other road users not seeing you.

Always drive at a steady speed, and if low sun is obstructing what you see ahead, slow down – this is particularly important at sharp bends where it’s important to have a clear view of the approaching hazard.
When road surfaces are wet, the dazzle from the sun is increased by its reflection in the water. Take care when driving on wet road surfaces and ease off the accelerator if necessary.

Look out for vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, mobility scooter and electric wheelchair users – they are all difficult to spot in low sun conditions. Always take extra precautions at known hazard spots such as schools, junctions and crossings.

If you’re affected by low sun, the chances are other drivers are too. Pay attention to vehicles around you and anticipate any sudden manoeuvres. As a rule of thumb, you should increase the stopping distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you.

Looking directly at low and sharp rays can affect your vision. If this happens to you, take a break from driving by stopping safely and legally.

Peter Rodger, the IAM's Head of Driving Standards said: “The key aspect of driving in low sunlight is how it reduces your vision. If you cannot see, you cannot drive the same way. Don’t continue at the same speed if you cannot see where you are going. It might sound obvious, but many drivers will battle on in near zero visibility despite being blinded by the sun. Trust your instincts – slow down and prepare to stop if this happens to you.”

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving and motorcycling.  The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 90,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving and motorcycling courses.

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.