Category: Servicing and Maintenance

Winter is here and that means driving is far more hazardous than at any other time of year.

If you want to stay safe this winter, then it pays to be smart about your driving behaviour. Indeed, research shows that accident rates increase by 20 per cent on average during the winter months.

Motorists can do something about this, however, with some simple steps helping to make all the difference when it comes to staying safe when there is snow and ice on the ground.

Top tips on safer winter driving

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that with the inclement weather common in winter comes the need to be extra vigilant when taking to the roads.

For example, when it rains, stopping distances can be doubled, so you should always remember to cut your speed and leave ample distance when following other road users.

Moreover, when it’s icy, stopping distances can be ten times what they are in the dry, so slow down when faced with ice or snow. Always adjust your speed to match the conditions you face.

As traction can be reduced when its cold and wet, remember to apply smooth driving practices that will help to maximise grip. This means avoiding aggressive braking and acceleration, as well as looking ahead on the road to anticipate potential hazards.

Darker evenings also mean it is imperative that motorists have good visibility, so take the time to ensure windows and mirrors are clean and clear at all times.

Finally, it’s important to stay connected when travelling in adverse weather, so charge up your mobile and have it ready to be able to call for assistance in the event of an emergency.

Make sure your car is in top condition

Winter can be a particularly harsh environment for vehicles, with freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, snow and grit on the roads meaning there is the potential for higher levels of wear and tear than at any other time of the year.

As a result, keeping your car clean and well maintained during the winter months should be a top priority for all drivers, as doing so will help to ensure excessive wear and tear and corrosion of parts and bodywork can be avoided.

Simple checks that every driver should aim to undertake each time they embark on a winter journey include checking the battery to ensure it is holding a good charge, the condition of tyres to ensure they have sufficient tread depth and are not overly worn, as well as cleaning your lights, windscreen and mirrors to maximise visibility.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Driving in the colder winter months is never easy, especially when faced with freezing temperatures, ice, wind, rain and darker days. Taking the time to properly prepare for every journey and being extra vigilant when behind the wheel is therefore essential.”

An MOT is essential for every car that is more than three years old in the UK. It’s a document which states the road worthiness of your vehicle and you can get into considerable hot water if you’re driving without one.

Every year, millions of vehicles are assessed in this manner, with many cars passing but a significant proportion seeing potentially dangerous issues flagged. Knowing what an MOT involves is therefore crucial if you want to ensure your vehicles are fit to face the rigours of the open road.

What does an MOT cover?

You can book an MOT at any one of thousands of registered MOT providers up and down the country, with the MOT itself usually taking no more than an hour to complete.

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the different elements that will be specifically examined during an MOT:

• Horn: Must emit a continuous uniform note that is loud enough to be heard by other road users.
• Battery: Must be secure and show no signs of leaking.
• Wiring: Should be secure and undamaged throughout, with no risk of causing a short circuit or becoming detached.
• Towbar: Mountings must be secure and the bar itself must be in usable condition. All electrical connections must be working.
• Steering: Steering is assessed for strength, wear and tear and accuracy of moving the wheels. Vehicles with power steering will be tested to ensure their power steering fluid is sufficient within the reservoir. Steering lock is also checked.
• Suspension: Suspension components and shock absorbers are examined for signs of excessive wear and tear, corrosion, distortion or fractures.
• Brakes: Brake pads, pedals and levers must be in good condition, while all warning lights must work effectively. A brake efficiency test will be carried out, while ABS and ESC systems are also checked.
• Tyres/wheels: Tyre tread depth must be above the legal limit of 1.6mm and tyres must not have excessive wear and tear, lumps, rips or exposure of the inner cord. Wheels must be in a general good condition.
• Seat belts: Each seat belt is checked for condition (including attachments and fittings) and that it will restrain the occupant in the event of a sudden stop.
• Bodywork: A general inspection of body panels, chassis, engine, mountings, seats, bonnet, boot and doors for areas of excessive corrosion/sharp edges is carried out.
• Registration plates: Must be clear and legible up to 20 metres from the car and in line with DVLA requirements.
• Exhaust: Must be secure and have no holes. If a catalytic converter is required, this must be present and functional.
• Fuel system: Will check for leaks throughout the system. Fuel cap must close securely.
• Emissions: A gas analyser probe will be used to be used to test smoke emitted from the exhaust. Emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons must fall within the legal limit.
• Mirrors and wipers: Wiper blades must be tear-free and in good condition. Mirrors are examined for cracks/damage that could obscure vision of the driver.
• Windscreen: Must be no damage or obstructions directly in front of the driver’s seat of more than 10mm. Outside this area, must be no damage or obstructions greater than 40mm.
• Speedometer: Must be fitted correctly, accurate and must be illuminated.
• Seats/doors: Must be fitted securely. Doors should close seamlessly and seats must be fully adjustable.
• Boot/tailgate: Must close securely.
• Lights: Must be correctly positioned, in full working order, not obscured, show the correct colour and not be adversely affected by the operation of other electrical equipment.
• Bonnet: Must latch securely when closed.

What isn’t checked on your vehicle’s MOT?

It’s important to understand that while an MOT is a comprehensive check on the road worthiness of a vehicle, it does not cover every aspect of the car.

Mechanics will not examine the engine, clutch and gearbox of a vehicle when carrying out an MOT. So, if you’re having difficulties or faults with any of these systems they will not be flagged.

Keeping up regular maintenance and ensuring you pay close attention to the general working of your car is therefore highly important.

At MyService.Expert, we offer competitive savings on all vehicle servicing, maintenance, repairs and MOTs for our customers. We can help to save fleets up to 30 per cent on the cost of all parts and labour, helping to take the hassle and expense out essential vehicle upkeep.

Visit My Fleet Hub for additional services information.

 

With some forecasters already suggesting this winter could be a harsh one, Volvo Car UK is helping fleet owners prepare by offering tips on how to ensure their drivers stay safe in inclement weather.

Simple tips to be prepared

Among the advice offered was encouraging company car drivers to carry out weekly maintenance checks on their vehicles, including tyres, headlights, windshields, oil levels and screenwash.

As potholes once again become more of an issue in freezing weather, fleet drivers should also check their cars for damage every day, Volvo said. This will flag up tyre rips and any other problems that may otherwise pose a danger to the structure and integrity of the vehicle.

Another good tip is swapping the whole fleet to snow tyres once the temperature dips below seven degrees C to provide additional grip on road surfaces.

Among Volvo’s other suggestions for fleet owners were:

• Not putting pressure on drivers to take to the roads in extremely bad weather
• Implementing a winter driving policy company-wide so employees know what to do during snowy episodes
• Providing drivers with in-car emergency kits containing blankets, torches and high-visibility vests should they be caught out in a storm

Volvo UK’s Steve Beattie said: “Businesses should remind their company car drivers to take journeys steady in poor conditions. If visibility is reduced or roads are extremely wet or icy, unnecessary journeys should be avoided.”

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “We don’t yet know what this winter will bring, but being prepared in advance of any bad weather will ensure your fleet can cope with every eventuality. We’d definitely agree with all the advice above.”

The clocks are preparing to turn back later this month and that means only one thing for motorists; evenings will be getting darker earlier.

Driving at night can come with significant dangers, so anyone taking to the roads after dark should always have their wits about them. With that in mind, here we’ve offered some sage advice for all road users when driving during the upcoming darker months of the year.

Top tips for safer night driving

Autumn and winter are notorious for having dark nights and poor visibility, with motorists also having to contend with harsh conditions that can further impact visibility. As a result, it’s important for drivers to understand the dangers of night driving and to adopt different behaviour when they get behind the wheel after dark. We advise:

1. Avoid staring at oncoming traffic: The headlights of oncoming traffic can have a hypnotic effect on drivers, especially when travelling on motorways. As a result, it’s important to maintain your eyes on the road ahead and not oncoming traffic.
2. Don’t dazzle other drivers: High beam headlights are useful when faced with roads without lighting. However, be aware that high beams can be dazzling to other road users and should only be used when there is no oncoming traffic.
3. Keep your windscreen and mirrors clean: Maintaining good visibility is paramount when the light fades. Therefore, keeping your windows and mirrors clean will help to ensure you can see further.
4. Watch out for vulnerable road users: Darkness can mask a range of vulnerable road users, including cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. Be extra vigilant and on the lookout at all times.
5. Drive at an appropriate speed: When it’s dark, the visible distance in front of the vehicle will be lower. As a result, you should cut your speed to ensure your vehicle will always stop within your visibility.
6. Don’t drive when tired: Tiredness can cause motorists to lose concentration and in extreme cases to even fall asleep at the wheel. Always aim to be well rested when embarking on any journey and try not to drive in the early hours of the morning, if possible.
7. Get regular eye checks: Your vision is key to being able to discern hazards in the road and to generally drive safely. As a result, you should schedule regular eye tests to ensure you are able to see clearly even when it is dark outside.
8. Wear the right eyewear: Following on from our last point, be sure to wear the correct eyewear that limits the impact of glare when travelling at night, as headlights from other vehicles could dazzle you more easily when wearing inappropriate glasses.

October’s the time to be extra careful

According to figures published by the Department for Transport, accident rates increase by 15 per cent on average in October each year in comparison to the preceding six months. This is largely due to the impact of darker evenings, falling leaves resulting in “greasy roads” and motorists failing to adequately adapt to the change in conditions.

Gordon Grant of Accident Exchange recently told the Telegraph: “October delivers some of the worst driving conditions of the year as the weather changes and the clocks go back but drivers continue as if they were in the summer months.

“They need to remember the basic laws of physics and common sense when the conditions change under their tyres.”

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “As the nights draw in at this time of year, all road users should be prepared to take on the additional challenges of driving in the dark.”

Autumn is here and that means the nights are drawing in, days are getting shorter and wet weather is undoubtedly just around the corner (if it’s not already here).

As a result, we all need to remember the importance of driving safely when the weather takes a turn for the worse, with wet conditions having the potential to cause havoc for motorists who are unprepared.

How to stay safe in the wet

When the heavens do open and the rain begins to pour, motorists must remember some simple rules and behaviour that can help to keep them as safe as possible:

• Slow down when faced with heavy rain – Visibility will be reduced and braking distance can be more than doubled on wet roads.
• Avoid use of Cruise Control – As a driver, you want to be in full control of your vehicle when conditions are less than perfect. Systems that will automatically try to speed you up can be dangerous.
• Check your wipers and keep windows clean – Regular checks on your windscreen wiper blades and keeping your windows clean will help to ensure good visibility all around the vehicle.
• Don’t enter flooded areas – Never enter into an area where flooded roads could obscure potential hazards or obstacles – you never know how deep a flooded area could be.
• Watch out for spray – Driving on busy roads undoubtedly means spray from other vehicles will create poor visibility. Tackle this by maintaining a safe distance from any cars ahead.

Imran Malek, operations manager at www.trackdays.co.uk, highlighted the importance of being prepared for changeable autumnal conditions: “As the weather starts to turn nasty and we head towards the wettest period of the year, it is vital that motorists understand the hazards of driving in the rain.”

Avoid the perils of aquaplaning

One of the scariest hazards drivers can face at this time of year is aquaplaning. This is when the tyres lose contact with the surface of the road and the whole vehicle slides on a thin layer of water.

It is a situation that occurs when the amount of surface water exceeds a vehicle’s tyres’ ability to displace sufficient liquid to maintain contact with the road. This can be an extremely dangerous situation, as the driver effectively loses all control of the vehicle and cannot steer, brake or accelerate.

What’s more, it is a problem made all the more likely when motorists fail to regularly examine the state of their tyres. In order to address this dangerous issue, carry out regular tyre safety checks – this means examining tread depth and looking for signs of excessive wear and tear.

Indeed, Mr Malik notes: “Aquaplaning is a terrifying experience. Knowing what to do could make a real difference, as sometimes our natural reactions could be the wrong ones and make the situation worse.”

What should you do?

If the worst does happen and your vehicle begins to aquaplane, these are the steps you should take to regain control in the safest manner:

1. Gently take your foot off the accelerator – avoid the urge to brake, as this may cause you to skid and further lose control of the vehicle.
2. Grip the steering wheel firmly and ensure the wheels remains pointed in the preferred direction of travel.
3. Allow engine braking to slow you down and, when the tyres regain traction, maintain a slower speed to avoid further aquaplaning.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Autumn in the UK is a time renowned for its wet, blustery days and nights. It’s not always easy to stay safe in the wet, but by following our simple advice, it can be done.”