Author: Simon Pavey

Tire of a car narrowly missing a pothole on road

UK drivers ‘want to see fuel tax invested in fixing roads’

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Most drivers in the UK would be happy to continue paying the same amount of fuel tax if the money raised was invested in fixing potholes and maintaining the country’s roads, according to research by the RAC.

On the eve of the government’s next Budget on March 11th, the breakdown recovery firm published a survey of 3,200 motorists indicating that road quality is a big issue for people across the country.

Reinvestment to help improve roads

Past research by the RAC has shown that vehicle breakdowns caused by potholes increased by a fifth in the last three months of 2019, compared to a year earlier. Holes in the road can cause damage to tyres, suspension and other vital vehicle components.

This is clearly a big concern for many drivers, with 59 per cent of respondents to the latest survey saying they would be happy for the government to keep fuel duty at its current level and reinvest 2p from every litre of fuel sold back into the road network.

Only 26 per cent of people said they would rather see fuel tax reduced, while ten per cent were in favour of an increase.

Nicholas Lyes, head of policy at the RAC, noted that the government’s plans for fuel duty always prompt a lot of discussion before any Budget, and this year is no different.

He added: “With one of the wettest February’s ever recorded fresh in the minds of so many motorists, we’re concerned we’re on the verge of yet more pothole misery if action is not taken soon.

“We believe the only hope for getting the UK’s local roads up to a standard fit for the 21st century is by ring-fencing a small proportion of the tax drivers already have to pay every time they fill up.”

You can reduce the risk of your vehicle sustaining damage from potholes by driving carefully and also by making sure vital parts of your car – like the tyres and suspension – are always in good condition.

With MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services, you can save money on servicing and maintenance at thousands of garages up and down the country.

Close up of a car engine in need of repair

5 costly repairs that can be avoided by regular maintenance

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Taking your car to the garage and being told that you need to have hundreds (or even thousands) of pounds’ worth of repairs done will top the list of nightmare scenarios for most drivers.

One of the best things you can do to avoid paying out eye-watering sums for remedial work is conducting regular checks and servicing to keep your vehicle in good working order.

Here are some of the costliest repairs you can avoid with frequent maintenance:

Head gasket replacement

The head gasket sits between the cylinder head and the cylinders or engine block. It performs the important job of keeping the combustion chambers, oil and cooling systems separate, which is vital for the engine to run properly.

While a head gasket itself is not a hugely expensive part, the process of replacing it can be costly because of the labour involved. Regular servicing to change the engine coolant and check the cooling system is working efficiently will help you avoid a head gasket failure.

Timing belt repair

Failure of the timing belt (also known as the cambelt) is a problem that is most common in older cars, particularly those that haven’t had regular servicing. Frequent inspections can help you spot signs of wear and tear, reducing the risk of a full-blown failure that could spell the end for the engine and possibly the entire car.

A professional mechanic will be able to tell you when you should replace the timing belt.

Battery replacement

It’s true that switching your old battery for a new one isn’t the most expensive of jobs, but if you fail to look after the battery and have to replace it regularly, the cost can really add up over time.

There are various things you can do to look after the battery and preserve its long-term health, such as getting the terminals cleaned at regular intervals. You can also charge the battery by going on frequent long drives.

Clutch replacement

The clutch in your car will wear over time, and if you find yourself in a situation where it needs to be replaced, the bill is likely to be pretty steep.

Truth be told, there isn’t a lot you can do in terms of maintenance to stop the clutch from wearing out, but you can prolong the health of this vital component by adopting good driving habits like:

  • Not ‘riding’ the clutch
  • Changing gears smoothly and not grinding them
  • Taking the car out of gear and using the handbrake when stationary

Turbo repair

If your car has a turbocharger, you might already know that this component is prone to failure because of problems linked to oil starvation, contamination and leaks. If you want to keep it in tip-top condition, it’s worth carrying out regular oil and filter changes to combat gradual damage and wear and tear.

With MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services, you can keep on top of all the checks and maintenance your car needs with regular reminders and access to thousands of garages across the UK.

Brake light of a black car

5 good habits every driver should get into

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Many of us spend so much time behind the wheel that it’s easy to get complacent and overlook basic maintenance, but it’s always wise to try and stick to good habits, particularly where the safety and reliability of your car are concerned.

Here are five of the best habits any driver can get into, all of which can help you keep your car in good health:

1.Paying attention to warning lights

It’s tempting to ignore those lights that occasionally illuminate on your dashboard, especially if there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with how your car is driving, but this can be a dangerous habit.

The lights are there to warn you of problems with essential components like the engine, brakes and electrical systems, so you should always get it seen to when a symbol lights up.

2.Checking the tyres

Healthy, properly maintained tyres are an essential part of a well-running vehicle, so you should make a point of regularly checking yours.

Make sure they’re inflated to the right pressure (based on manufacturer recommendations) and keep an eye on the tread depth to ensure it’s above the minimum legal level (1.6mm in the UK).

3.Monitoring engine fluids

If you want your engine to run well and your car to be reliable, you need to make sure all vital fluids are at the right level. Oil is particularly important to lubricate the engine, but you should also keep an eye on the coolant and other liquids.

Don’t forget to keep your washer fluid topped up as well, so you always have maximum windscreen visibility.

4.Keeping an eye on the battery

A healthy battery is essential to a well-running car, so it’s always a good idea to do some basic checks on the battery.

Look at the terminals for signs of corrosion or mineral build-up, and if you notice anything, use a brush designed specifically for batteries to clean it off.

5.Fixing broken lights

Broken lights are another car problem that’s easy to ignore, especially in the case of indicators, brake lights and reversing signals, but all lights should always be kept in good working order so you can stay safe on the road.

When you notice a broken light, don’t hesitate in getting it fixed.

MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services can give you affordable access to thousands of garages across the UK, making it easy to keep up with car maintenance and repairs.

Man in car asleep at the wheel

AI to boost road safety by warning drivers when they suffer from fatigue

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

Tiredness is one of the nation’s leading causes of road accidents, but now new research is being carried out to help warn drivers when fatigue could cause them to become a danger behind the wheel.

SEAT is working in partnership with Eyesight Technologies to develop a new AI system that could help to make the roads safer for everyone in the years to come.

Addressing the dangers of driver fatigue

Stefan Ilijevic, head of product innovation at SEAT, commented: “In total, more than 90 per cent of the road accidents in Europe are caused by human factors. The main reasons include distraction and tiredness, excessive speed and alcohol and drugs.

“At SEAT, we are working on solutions to prevent negligence behind the steering wheel and significantly reduce road accidents.

“We partner with some of the world’s brightest companies on important technology to save lives, since our long-term vision is a world with zero accidents.”

As part of this commitment, SEAT’s Xplora design team are working on a new algorithm that can identify an individual’s level of wakefulness by analysing eye openness, angle of vision, blink rate and head position. In the event that it detects unacceptable levels of fatigue in the driver, the system automatically triggers an alert.

In future, the developers also hope to add other functionality to the system as well, such as detecting nearby pedestrians and assessing whether or not the driver has seen them.

What are the warning signs and how to combat fatigue

When you’re suffering from fatigue, this can have a significant impact on your ability to drive safely. Drowsiness at the wheel should be taken seriously, as it can lead to serious accidents that not only injure the vehicle’s occupants, but also other innocent road users and pedestrians.

Combatting tiredness can be easier said than done, however, so you should always plan your journeys to include rest stops every two to three hours. Getting out of the vehicle, stretching your legs and getting the blood pumping should all help to ward off tiredness for the next leg of your journey.

In the event that you feel yourself becoming drowsy, you should pull over at the earliest safe place to do so for rest. Consider drinking a caffeinated drink and then taking a short nap, by the time you wake up, the caffeine should be making you more alert and will allow you to continue.

Jenny Smith, general manager for Tele-Gence, commented: “Tiredness kills, it’s as simple as that. All drivers should know the dangers of fatigue and they should be taking the necessary precautions to remain alert at all times. Developing new systems that can warn the driver if they are too tired to continue is a positive step towards enhancing road safety.”

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

Aerial shot of a smart motorway with four lanes open on each side

Top tips for navigating the UK’s smart motorways

Posted on | by Simon Pavey

In late 2019, Highways England revealed that 300 miles of smart motorway will be rolled out across England by 2025 as part of a commitment to better monitoring and managing traffic flows when things get congested.

Essentially, this means that during times when traffic starts to ‘jam’, a variable speed limit can be implemented via gantry signs or use of the hard shoulder allowed to slow the build-up of traffic in certain areas.

How to stay safe on smart motorways

It means millions of drivers are now faced with using a new type of carriageway they might not necessarily understand. As a result, there’s a growing need for drivers to make themselves aware of best practice advice when it comes to tackling the nation’s new smart motorways.

Our top tips for using a smart motorway are:

  • Pay attention to the gantry signs
  • Stick to the national speed limit
  • Never drive in a lane that has a red ‘X’ displayed over it
  • Only use the hard shoulder to drive in when directed
  • If you break down or have car problems, move to the left-hand lane (if you can) and put your hazards on, or;
  • exit at the next services

By paying close attention to the overhead signage and knowing what to do in the event of an emergency, motorists can safely use this new form of infrastructure, even if for some it will take some getting used to.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “The introduction of smart motorways will no doubt cause debate among many drivers; however, they are here to stay and a step in the right direction to easing the UK’s future congestion problems.”