Author: Simon Pavey

Tips for safely rejoining the road

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

With many drivers taking to the roads for the first time since lockdown was imposed, it is crucial to ensure your vehicles are roadworthy. The government announced that any car, van or motorcycle MOT due from 30 March 2020 will be extended by six months, however, you should have an obligation to check the safety of your vehicle before you drive it after a long period of time.

Here are a few tips on how to check your vehicles:

Lights

Ensuring your lights are fully functional is vital. However, there are specific lights that can be missed to double check: front and rear headlights, licence plate light, hazards lights, indicators, brake lights. If any of your warning lights are coming on intermittently, it’s worth getting them checked out before booking your MOT.

Tyres

There are two important aspects to maintain when looking after your tyres.

The first is tread. The legal requirement states tyre tread must be at least 1.6mm deep. You can buy tread depth tools that are available in petrol stations or online. Alternatively, you can put a 20p coin in the treads. If you can’t see the outer band, your tyres will need replacing. Plan to ensure you can drive to a garage safely to reduce any unnecessary journeys.

The second feature is pressure. Tyres need to be kept at their optimum pressure found on their sidewall as pressure is gradually lost over time. Even if left stationary for an extended period, the tyres can develop flat spots and lose their roundness. If your car may be idle for several months, roll it carefully now and then to keep them even.

Vehicle liquids

It is sensible to check the levels of fluid to ensure when you do return to the road that your vehicle is car ready.

Ensure your fuel, oil, engine coolant and windscreen cleaner are topped up, so your vehicle is prepared for its next outing.

Here at Fuel Card Services we can help with our new product MyDriveSafe.

MyDriveSafe is our daily vehicle checks app that gives drivers a simple, comprehensive range of checklists, covering almost all vehicles and compliance with up to date safety standards. The Company Managers portal allows the fleet manager or business owner to monitor their fleet in one place easily. Any defects registered can then be actioned by the fleet manager or business owner.

For further information on MyDriveSafe, visit https://www.fuelcardservices.com/my-drive-safe or download our app to improve service, savings, security immediately.

Take care with hay fever medicines, drivers warned

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

The hay fever season is upon us once more and with grass pollen levels rising, many sufferers will be reaching for the antihistamines to calm their symptoms.

However, one motoring organisation has warned anyone who also needs to drive to check their medication before taking it in case it causes drowsiness.

Common medicines may impair driving

GEM Motoring Assist said some common hay fever remedies can have a sedative effect, potentially making drivers groggy and unable to react to hazards in time.

Chief executive Neil Worth added: “It’s important to check with your GP or pharmacist, and to read those warnings contained on the labels of the medicines you plan to take.”

He also pointed out that the same laws cover over-the-counter remedies as apply to illicit drugs when it comes to impacting driving, meaning those caught ‘under the influence’ of antihistamines could face heavy penalties.

GEM has published a new leaflet called Medicine, Drugs and Driving to help anyone unsure about where they stand on taking particular remedies, which is available now.

Meanwhile, IAM RoadSmart also suggests that people who usually suffer from hay fever might want to take extra precautions before getting behind the wheel, including regularly changing the pollen filter of their vehicle and wiping down dashboards and other fixtures.

According to the NHS, 20 per cent of us suffer from hay fever, with the UK and Sweden having the world’s highest number of sufferers.

Tom Cosway, brand representative at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Hay fever is a very common ailment, but it can be really serious for drivers. We recommend that everyone should heed this advice – and we hope the ‘season of sneezing’ proves short for those of you currently suffering.”

Motorists urged to avoid driving if concerned about eyesight

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With much of the high street closed since March, personal care appointments have also fallen by the wayside – and that includes trips to the optician.

However, GEM Motoring Assist has urged drivers not to let this be an excuse for getting behind the wheel with deteriorated eyesight if they feel their vision has altered for the worse.

Strained eyes? Don’t drive

The road safety organisation said anyone with even minor concerns about their eyesight needs to ‘do the responsible thing’ and avoid driving.

“Please don’t put yourself and others at risk. Instead wait to have a proper eyesight test before you get behind the wheel,” advised GEM road safety officer Neil Worth.

The comments come after the furore last week surrounding the prime minister’s aide Dominic Cummings, who sparked outrage when he admitted he had driven 26 miles to a local landmark in order to check his vision upon recovering from apparent COVID-19 symptoms.

It prompted a host of motoring groups to speak out and urge other drivers not to undertake journeys of any length as a way of ensuring accurate eyesight.

According to GEM Motoring Assist, poor vision is linked to more than 3,000 serious road accidents each year. It has long been campaigning for a stricter eye test for drivers than the current one brought in back in 1937.

This only requires motorists to read a number plate at 20 metres and does not test peripheral vision, depth perception or focus.

Tom Cosway, brand representative at Fuel Card Services, comments: “None of us have had our eyes tested recently and while the majority will still be within the recommended two-year timeframe, others may not. We would implore those people and anyone who has noticed a decline in acuity during lockdown not to drive.”

Drivers urged to check tyres post-lockdown

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Many business drivers will now be returning to their vehicles and fleets after a lengthy period of lockdown, but can they be sure these cars are roadworthy?

Road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist has spoken out to remind motorists that they should check their tyres carefully before making journeys once again, as any prolonged periods of inactivity could have detrimental effects on their condition.

Check all tyres carefully

The body wants fleet owners and operators, as well as members of the public, to carry out pressure checks on each main tyre and the spare to ensure they are fully inflated.

Careful inspections of the sidewalls and treads should also be completed prior to taking to the roads, GEM road safety officer Neil Worth advised.

“Correctly inflated tyres with good levels of tread allow all the other safety systems on a car to work at their most effective – vital in an emergency situation,” he added.

This simple process should take less than five minutes per vehicle, yet could make all the difference to a driver’s safety. It is also worth noting that being caught by police with a bald or defective tyre could result in a fine of £2,500 and three penalty points on the driver’s licence.

According to figures from the Department for Transport, tyre-related incidents cause around 1,000 casualties on the roads each year. However, previous Halfords research has shown 13 per cent of motorists admit to having driven with tyres below the legal tread depth.  

Tom Cosway, brand representative at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Even though many cars will have been sitting idle over the past few weeks, they are still likely to be suffering wear and tear from their environment. They might also not have been fully checked before they were rested. We would reiterate GEM’s advice and hope everyone follows it before making any new journeys post-lockdown.”

Why not try our free MyDriveSafe.Expert app for carrying out daily checks to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive.

Satnav and entertainment system on car dashboard

What Car? reveals top infotainment systems to avoid driver distraction

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Fleet managers across the UK should take note of the latest research from What Car? showing how many of the latest infotainment systems could pose a threat to driver safety.

According to the publication’s findings, there are a host of vehicles on today’s market that make use of overly-complicated systems that could be a cause of distraction for drivers.

Distraction poses a serious risk to road users

Editor of What Car? Steve Huntingford said: “Distracted drivers are a factor in a growing number of road accidents, so it’s important to choose a car with controls that are responsive and easy to use while you drive.” 

What Car? tested 20 of the UK’s most popular models and assessed their infotainment systems for the amount of time that the driver needed to take their eyes off the road in order to carry out a range of basic tasks, such as changing heating settings, reconfiguring sat-nav directions or retuning the radio.

Here are the results in terms of the highest levels of distraction:

  • MG ZS with 8.0-inch touchscreen
  • Fiat 500X with 7.0-inch touchscreen and Uconnect Live
  • Skoda Citigo-e iV with colour screen and phone holder
  • Peugeot 508 SW with 10.0-inch Connected 3D Navigation and voice recognition
  • Lexus RX with 12.3-inch multimedia display

Top of the list, offering the lowest levels of distraction, were the BMW 3 Series with Live Cockpit Professional, Mercedes-Benz CLA with 10.25-inch touchscreen, and Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid with Connect Plus and Porsche Communication Management.

“The best systems provide physical buttons and voice control, while those that are most distracting have sluggish touchscreens and require too many steps to carry out commands,” Mr Huntingford concluded.

Ellie Baker, brand representative at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Distracted drivers pose a danger to both themselves and others. Fleet managers should therefore take these findings into account when considering their next purchases and the impact that vehicle choice can have on driver safety.”