Author: Simon Pavey

Three of the most common causes of vehicle breakdown

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Breaking down and finding yourself stranded at the side of the road is one of those nightmare
scenarios no motorist wants to end up in.

One of the best ways to avoid this unpleasant situation is to educate yourself about the biggest
causes of vehicle breakdown and how you can avoid them.

Here are three of the most common reasons why cars malfunction and some tips on how you
can stop these problems affecting you:

1. Flat or faulty battery

Most drivers will know the experience of getting in their car, turning the key in the ignition and
being greeted by complete silence. This is probably because you have a flat battery, which
means you won’t be going anywhere until the car is seen by a mechanic or another driver offers
to help you out with some jump leads.

Car batteries only last for up to five years, on average, but the battery in your vehicle might
reach the end of its life before this if:

● You leave your car unused for a while, or you only use it for short journeys
● There is a faulty component
● The charging system isn’t functioning properly

Regular servicing and maintenance can help you keep an eye on the health of your battery and
reduce your risk of breaking down.

2. Tyre and wheel damage

It’s obviously impossible to drive a car safely if there are problems with the wheels or the tyres,
and the fact these parts are in such close proximity to the ground when the vehicle is moving at
high speeds makes them particularly prone to damage.

There are many hazards on the road that can pose a threat to your tyres and wheels – potholes,
for instance, which you should always be vigilant for when driving on British roads. RAC patrols
attended more than 2,000 breakdowns that are thought to have been caused by potholes in
the fourth quarter of 2019 – 300 more than in the same period a year earlier.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about potholes except try and avoid them, but you
can take steps to maintain the health and reliability of your tyres, like inflating them to the right
pressure and making sure they have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm.

3. Alternator problems

The alternator is another vital part of your car where power generation is concerned. Healthy
running of the engine and your vehicle’s various electrical components depends on the battery
powering the starter motor and the engine turning the alternator, which recharges the battery.
Frequent battery problems could be caused by a faulty alternator, which will eventually lead to
the battery going flat. Warning signs include:

● Dim headlights
● Slow wipers
● Flickering dashboard
● Ignition warning light coming on

If you notice any of these issues, get your car checked by a professional straight away. Taking
swift action could help you avoid a breakdown.

MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services provides benefits and tools including typical savings
of 30 per cent on parts and labour, and access to thousands of garages across the country,
which can help you keep your car healthy and reliable.

Duel exhaust pipes on the back of a yellow sports car

Why it’s important to listen to your car

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

If you’re proud of your car, you probably spend a lot of time looking at it – admiring the curves
of the bodywork, marvelling at the paint job, checking out the alloy wheels and so on.

But how much time do you spend listening to your car? Car lovers have a particular place in
their hearts for the sound of a healthy, powerful engine, but the various other noises your
vehicle makes can be useful indicators of mechanical issues that need attention.

Listening to all of your car’s noises can help you catch small problems before they develop into
major faults that could require costly repairs.

Screeching from the engine

If you notice an unpleasant screeching sound coming from the engine, it could be a sign that
the alternator belt (also known as the drive belt or fan belt) is loose or worn down.
This is an essential part of the engine, responsible for delivering power to other components
including the alternator and power steering. If you hear a screeching noise, get it checked out
straight away to reduce the risk of the belt malfunctioning and damaging the whole engine.

Chugging or rattling

Chugging or rattling noises coming from underneath the car are a common sign of an exhaust
system that is in need of attention from a mechanic.
If the car is chugging, it might be because there’s some sort of blockage in the system, while a
rattling sound might mean the exhaust is out of alignment.

Squealing or grinding brakes

It goes without saying that healthy brakes are imperative for safe driving, so you should be on
alert for any signs of faults in your car’s braking system.
One of the key things to listen out for is a squealing or grinding sound when you apply the
brakes, which usually means the brake pads are worn out and need replacing.

Signing up to MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services will help to ensure that, when you come
across these sorts of issues, you can get them checked as quickly and affordably as possible.

Smiling woman adjusting her car radio in red interior

Drivers urged not to get distracted by infotainment systems

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

In-car infotainment systems are now a major selling point for automotive brands, but a new study has suggested they could be as bad for distracting drivers as mobile phones.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart commissioned research in which motorists were asked to complete laps on a simulated test route while using either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, as well as a lap with no in-car system.

The participants also had to drive while using voice control only and then touch control only as instructors assessed their capabilities.

Significant impairment behind the wheel

It was found that both methods of control significantly distracted the participants, with touchscreen proving especially dangerous for concentration.

Drivers were unable to keep a safe distance from the car in front, reacted more slowly to outside stimuli and regularly deviated from their designated lane.

On average, reaction times at motorway speeds increased to as much as five car lengths – and in one scenario, a motorist took their eyes off the road for 16 seconds.

This meant using an infotainment system while driving could be as bad as texting at the wheel and even driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis.

Policy and research director for IAM RoadSmart Neil Greig said he is seriously concerned by the study’s findings.

“We’re now calling on industry and government to openly test and approve such systems and develop consistent standards that genuinely help minimise driver distraction,” he added.

Last year, Brake hosted a free webinar on reducing driver distraction for fleet owners, so it may be that such initiatives need to be scaled up.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Infotainment systems are handy tools, but they should not be used to the detriment of road safety. Set yours up before you head off and resist the urge to mess with it while you’re behind the wheel.”

Your business can benefit from affordable telematics with no hidden start-up fees or long-term commitments. Find out how at www.tele-gence.com

Distressed man in car being encouraged to take a breathalyzer test

Fleet owners urged to do all they can to stop drink-driving

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Fleet owners have been encouraged to take as many precautionary steps as they can to ensure their drivers are not taking to the roads under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Global Fleet Champions campaign in partnership with D.Tec International has produced a host of new resources for operators that are designed to step up policies on banned substances.

Is your team fit to drive?

Among them is a new short film called Fit to drive: Drug and alcohol testing for a safer fleet, which fleet owners are encouraged to show to their workforce during training sessions.

A series of posters has also been created for businesses to put up around their workplaces in order to remind employees of the dangers of taking drugs and alcohol before driving.

The Global Fleet Champions campaign wants fleet managers to commit to improving safety too, by carrying out screening tests during recruitment and after any accident.

It has reminded managers as part of this drive that should one of their employees be found driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they themselves could also be held proportionally liable and therefore face prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive – or even a jail term.

According to police reports gathered by D.Tec, as many as 30,000 people a year are prosecuted for drug-driving in Britain. One force said 50 per cent of the drug-drivers it caught were driving for work in some capacity.

Meanwhile, 273,000 people die annually worldwide in alcohol-related crashes, according to the International Transport Forum.

Managing director at D.Tec Ean Lewis said: “Fleet managers need to take responsibility and do all they can to ensure their employees are fit to drive. Putting an effective deterrent in place should also help alleviate the pressure these employees are putting on valuable police resources.”

Ellie Baker, Brand Manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “As ever, the figures surrounding drink and drug-related driving are shocking and unacceptable. Let’s hope fleets make good use of these excellent resources to review their drug and alcohol policies and weed out those who continue to make our roads unsafe.”

Row of cars parked with wheels on the pavement

Drivers may face UK-wide ban on pavement parking

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

The Department for Transport has said it is considering bringing in a nationwide ban on parking on pavements in a bid to help pedestrians and increase safety.

Last year, the Commons’ Transport Committee published a report on the phenomenon, calling it ‘anti-social behaviour’ and warning that it puts vulnerable road users at unnecessary risk, as well as making people feel as though they cannot leave their homes safely.

A legal loophole?

Although parking on footpaths has been banned in London since the 1970s under Highway Code rule 244, it is not technically illegal anywhere else in Britain.

In other locations, the law simply states that drivers of vehicles except lorries “should not” do it, unless a vehicle is spotted by a police officer causing a particularly obvious obstruction.

Now, the government has confirmed it will be opening up a consultation on whether or not local authorities do need more power to crack down on people leaving their cars on footpaths.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Vehicles parked on the pavement can cause very real difficulties for many pedestrians.”

Although the news has been welcomed by organisations including residents’ groups, the AA has warned an outright ban could cause “chaos”, pointing out that many highways are so narrow that people have no option but to leave their cars slightly off the road.

Heather Stark, Brand Manager at The Fuelcard People, comments: “Anyone who has ever had to steer a child’s buggy around a car that completely blocks a footpath is sure to be looking forward to the outcome of this consultation. That said, emergency services may be wondering how they will reach some addresses if people don’t park on pavements. Perhaps the government should address increased parking provisions before it implements any kind of outright ban.”