With just under half a million visitors to its website each year, the Good Garage Scheme periodically asks visitors their views and opinions on a variety of topics in our seasonal polls.
During the past few weeks in the run up to the EU Referendum, we asked visitors to tell us if they were "for" or "against" staying in the EU.
The Good Garage Scheme poll revealed the same outcome for today's referendum results with 65% who took part voting for a Brexit and 35% voting to remain.
We thank those who took part in our survey and now we will all wait to see what happens next.
Take part in our polls by visiting GoodGarageScheme.com and find a garage you can trust.
If you are driving to France over the next few weeks to see some live football matches at Euro 2016, here are some handy tips from the the Good Garage Scheme:
What you'll need
All drivers, including motorcyclists, must carry a warning triangle, hi-visibility jacket and a breathalyser with them. According to French law, you must be able to produce an unused and certified breathalyser
(showing an ‘NF’ number) and it is recommended that you carry two in
case one is damaged.
Seat belts and child passengers
Seat belts must be worn if available and children under ten must travel in a car seat and not in the front passenger seat unless there are no rear seat belts,
or the if the back seats are already occupied by other children under ten.
It’s
the driver’s responsibility to ensure that all passengers under 18 are
properly restrained.
Watch your speed
Speed limits are indicated by road signs, in
kilometres per
hour. These are usually 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas, 90km/h
(55mph) outside built-up areas, 110km/h (68mph) on urban motorways and
dual carriages, and 130km/h (80mph) on regular motorways. During poor
weather, these limits will change, so be aware of the conditions before
you set off.
Before you go
Make sure your vehicle is in good condition before you set off.
Visit your nearest Good Garage Scheme member garage for a Holiday Check to ensure you arrive safely and in time for the match.
The Good Garage Scheme’s national television advertising campaign began this week with a fantastic line-up of programmes, including the popular Game of Thrones.
The message to motorists showing how easy it is to find a trustworthy garage and read reviews from previous customers will be broadcast across a range of Sky channels during the week.
If you have not seen our TV advert, please click here.
Good Garage Scheme member garage, Field's Car Centre in Woking, Surrey held a successful Ladies Night at the garage in May and great time was had by all.
photos courtesy of Fields Car Centre in Woking, Surrey
So what happens at a Fields Car Centre Ladies night?
The evenings are designed to encourage ladies to come into the workshop environment and learn, in an informal atmosphere, about their car, but the aim is to have a bit of fun while the learning goes on.
The ladies are split into groups and they rotate around several work stations manned by the garage's ‘Friendly team of technicians and mechanics’.
Attendees learn to do for some things for themselves, like checking levels and changing bulbs. changing a wheel and also learn about warning lights, the underside of the car and what’s involved in an MOT inspection.
There is an “Ask any question you like” policy and some great questions come up.
The willingness and dedication of the team make the evening a success. They give of their time and enthusiasm and the ladies were appreciative of how the guys patiently demonstrated, answered questions and tried to explain things simply and clearly.
By holding these evenings Fields are trying to break down the ‘man’s world’ image of the garage. A huge proportion of current customers are ladies. In fact we probably see more woman bringing their cars in or the ‘family's’ car, than we do men!
However, a garage is seen as a male dominated world where ladies tell us they often feel patronised and spoken down to.
These are some of the feedback comments our lovely ladies had to say...
"Brill evening - really useful! Relaxed atmosphere, gave plenty of encouragement to ask questions, will recommend others"
"Very fun evening! I know a lot more and feel more comfortable now, the atmosphere was great - just the right length."
"All the staff were friendly and extremely patient in answering all our questions. I would definitely recommend any lady to come"
"Wow what a fabulous evening! I had no idea what to expect but it exceeded all expectations. A friendly bunch and I learnt so much, thank you!"
"Brilliant, brilliant evening. Thank you guys for a very informative, fun evening. Very helpful for new drivers like me. Kudos to you guys for coming up with the idea. Highly recommend it to every new driver, will see you soon!"
Fame for Richard Field...
Richard Field had a call, out of the blue a couple of weeks ago from BBC RADIO SURREY.
Richard
said, "I received a phone call from BBC Radio Surrey's Breakfast Show
a couple of weeks ago asking if I would I come into their studio and tell their
breakfast listeners about the Ladies Night we are running at Field's Car
Centre. Apparently their Saturday cleaner had seen one of our flyers
and gave it to the producer who thought it was a brilliant idea and why
hadn't other garages thought of it?"
So it was an early
start to Guildford BBC for Richard where he had to demonstrate to the
breakfast host, Suzanne Bamborough, how to change a light bulb. This
was filmed as well as broadcast. Click here to see Richard in action.
With thanks to Mike Field of Field Car Centre for sending the Good Garage Scheme this update. The next Ladies Night is planned for July 7th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Limited space available, so please book a place now if you are in the Woking area. Bring a friend, come as a group or on your own. Either way you will be made very welcome. And it’s free! To book a place please contact lynne@fieldscarcantre.co.uk
A runny nose, headache and constant sneezing – these are just a few of the symptoms hay fever sufferers deal with during the summer. These symptoms can affect motorists in a number of ways.
Here’s some advice from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman, about what you can do to better cope with it before taking to the road.
• Try to minimise the effects by ensuring your car is clean and dust free and that you operate the air conditioning or ventilation to your advantage, making use of air recirculation where possible.
• For anyone who hasn’t been diagnosed with hay fever and is feeling under the weather, avoid driving or riding and arrange to see your GP as soon as possible. What you might think is just a slight cold can become a major distraction – so get it checked before it gets worse.
• While over-the-counter medicines will help with a runny nose and sneezing symptoms, a lot of these tend to contain codeine, which can blur vision and make you feel drowsy – check with your GP what the best course of action is.
• Your GP may advise you to take anti-histamines to control the symptoms, but make sure you take the non-drowsy ones. If you’re unsure, read the leaflet or speak to your pharmacy for more advice.
• If you need to get somewhere but don’t feel well enough to drive or ride, then see if someone you know can take you and drop you back. Whatever you do don’t take yourself - you may just end up sneezing and travelling up to 50ft with your eyes closed and losing control of your vehicle!
Richard said: “If you are stopped by the police after taking a hay fever remedy and driving whilst impaired you could find yourself falling foul of drug driving regulations.
“Be sure to check the medication thoroughly and see if it is suitable. But most importantly, concentrate on your route to recovery so you can get back onto the road sooner rather than later.”
For more information, please check the link on the GOV website.
The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank IAM Roadsmart for this useful information.
Visit IAM Roadsmart website for more advice.
The warm weather has finally started to make an entrance and this has had many of us turning on the car’s air conditioning unit for the first time this season. Have you noticed a musty smell or worry that it might not be blowing clean air into the cabin of your vehicle?
The Good Garage Scheme, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, recommends that air conditioning systems are checked, especially if they have been inactive over the winter. It has been proven that harmful mould and bacteria can grow in the ducts while the system remains unused over many months. Drivers can be blissfully unaware of the dangers it can pose when switched back on.
Breathe easy with the Good Garage Scheme
There is good news for motorists looking for a garage to check their car’s air conditioning. Simply visit your nearest Good Garage Scheme member garage and ask them to sterilise and deodorise your car’s air conditioner. It is a simple way to ensure you and your passengers are breathing healthy air.
Now widely accepted as a mark of quality for independent garages across the UK, Good Garage Scheme member garages are recognised as providing exceptional service to their customers based on a rigorously monitored mandatory Code of Conduct.
Find your nearest member garage using the easy-to-use search facility on the Good Garage Scheme website www.GoodGarageScheme.com.
The Good Garage Scheme – it’s like having a friend in the know.
In the running theme of the Good Garage Scheme's 10th Anniversary Year, we look at the Top 10 worst roads in the UK for driving as reported by the Road Safety Foundation, a UK charity advocating road
casualty reduction.
With hundreds of scenic views, advanced safety measures and regular maintenance, many of the UK’s roads offer a brilliant driving experience. And with a comprehensive network of criss-crossed roads small and large, there are a variety of options to take us comfortably from A to B.
However, a recent report from the Road Safety Foundation confirms that some roads are much safer for motorists than others. The charity states that in the past 10 years, more than 375,000 people have been killed or seriously injured on Britain’s road network.
We take a look at the most dangerous, higher risk roads in the UK – if you’ll be driving through any of these routes, it’s even more vital to check that your car is running properly and that you’re driving safely!
1. A18: Laceby - Ludborough
This 16km route has been reported as having the highest risk for UK drivers. Single carriageway ‘A’ roads have 8 times the risk of motorways, and the A18 forms part of the area with some of the highest average risk of death or serious injury.
2. A36: Totton
The most dangerous ‘A’ roads and motorways lie in the South East of England, with the lowest risk roads in the West Midlands. The A36 and A3090 connection in Totton, in the South East, is the second worst road for UK drivers.
3. A588: Blackpool - Lancaster
The North West route by the A585, has the third highest risk rating from the report. From 2011-2013, there were 26 fatal or serious crashes from this route.
4. A44: Llangurig - Aberystwyth
This A44 route runs for 39km in Wales, with 50% of its total crashes between 2011 and 2013 involving a motorcyclist.
5. A532: Crewe
Another road in the North West region of the UK, the A532, running between the A530 and A534, is the fifth most dangerous driving route according to statistics.
6. A291: Canterbury - Herne Bay
The A291 is in the South East, the 6th ‘A’ road and route in the highest risk roads to drive on. The single roads, particularly rural routes with sharp bends, are more likely to have unforeseen hazards and place less restrictions on speed limits.
7. M6 J33: - Lancaster
This junction makes for the highest risk part of a motorway in Britain. The route is 9km long and saw 23 fatal and serious crashes between 2011 and 2013.
8. A361: Chipping Norton - Banbury
The A361 is another road in the South East, in 8th place. 46% of crashes on this route resulted from a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist in the reporting period.
9. A40: High Wycombe
This South East road, at the M40 J5, has a high risk for UK drivers, with 20% of crashes caused by road run-offs and rear end shunts.
10. A643: Brighouse – Morley
Finally, this ‘A’ road in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, is the 10th highest risk road in the UK. The 12km route lies in one of the highest risk regions for fatal or serious injuries, alongside the East Midlands and South East regions.
Motorists driving on these higher risk roads need to ensure that they have taken the proper measures to maintain their vehicle. A badly serviced or unattended vehicle could further increase the risk of serious accident or injury on some of Britain’s worst roads.
Using the Good Garage Scheme, you'll find local independent garages you can trust. Be assured every garage listed on the Good Garage Scheme performs car servicing to a strict standard and will have your best interests at heart.
Car Servicing Nationwide - What you should expect.
Car Service - What you should expect ?
When organising a car service, it's important that you establish what the service includes.
Some garages will change only your oil filter, others will carry out a full service. A good garage will follow a service checklist and give you a copy of that completed checklist as confirmation of a job well done. Good Garage Scheme members carry out your service incorporating the Industry Standard Service Checklist.
Does your car need a service?
Most modern cars only need a service once a year, but older cars require a service once every six months. The manufacturer's service handbook will set what is best for your car. The type of service you need will also be affected by how you use your car. For example, lots of short journeys where the engine does not have a chance to warm up properly will probably mean more frequent oil and filter changes.
Running faults and repairs
Ask to speak to a mechanic or technician about the problem. Explain the problem in as much detail as you can. If you can, include when the problem occurs, for example only when engine is cold, or after the vehicle has been left standing.
Collecting your car
Ask to view the old replaced parts and check that
• The bill is for the amount agreed, or is not significantly more than any estimate you were given.
• The work and parts are fully itemised (this will be proof of purchase if a problem occurs as a result of the work or replaced part fails)
• The service record book has been stamped with the garage stamp
Rather than replacing parts that are not fully worn out, a good garage will advise you when they will probably need replacing, based on the way you use your car.
With just under half a million visitors to its website each year, the Good Garage Scheme periodically asks visitors their views and opinions on a variety of topics in our seasonal polls.
Posts
