Category: Servicing and Maintenance

Regular tyre maintenance should be an essential part of any effective fleet management regime.

This is the sentiment of UK tyre safety charity TyreSafe, which has launched a new campaign to get this message more firmly across to businesses.

The new campaign is entitled ‘Britain Works on Tyres’ and was unveiled at the organisation’s annual Briefing.

Tyre safety should be paramount

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, commented: “TyreSafe hopes that by sharing this message with van drivers we can help affect a change in attitude among them to consider their safety, and the safety of others on the roads, as their first priority.

“Britain Works on Tyres, but those tyres need regular maintenance.”

Companies should carry out regular tyre checks and crack down on the problem of overloading vehicles, as this can have a significant and detrimental impact on the level of wear that tyres suffer over time.

BVRLA advice also includes checking tyre pressures at the outset of every journey and topping up if needed, as well as inspecting tyres for lumps, cuts or anything “out of the ordinary” that may indicate a potential failure is getting close to happening.

The campaign aims to ensure the nation’s van owners are fully up to scratch when it comes to tyre maintenance, as figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show these vehicles add £56 billion to the UK economy every year.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Vehicle maintenance is essential for the smooth operation of any fleet. Examining tyres and replacing them when necessary should be a top priority for all fleet managers.”

GEM Motoring Assist believes every driver should understand the basics of vehicle maintenance.

As a result, the organisation has created a range of short ‘how-to’ videos explaining everything from how to change your car’s oil to how much tread depth you need on the tyres.

Regular maintenance is key

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth commented: “These engaging videos are helpful and practical. With school holidays fast approaching and lots of long journeys in the planning, we recommend putting them to good use to ensure you’re looking after your car.”

The videos can be found on the GEM website and are hosted by feature presenter Katy Brody. Ms Brody talks viewers through a range of practical tips on home MOT checks, including how to check tyre pressure, tyre tread depth, oil levels and screen wash.

Regular vehicle maintenance is essential for drivers and fleet operators should be reminding their users of this fact. It ensures cars continue to operate safely and with top efficiency, meaning the likelihood of a vehicle breakdown is greatly reduced.

A few simple checks can make all the difference to vehicle safety and to help drivers steer clear of trouble when out on the roads.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Some drivers might not appreciate the importance of regular vehicle checks, so to have these videos to refer to should be a great reminder of why vehicle maintenance is always best practice to avoid unexpected hiccups in your journeys.”

Anyone who regularly takes to Britain’s roads as part of their job or business will know what a poor state some of them are in.

Now, a new study has revealed which highway in Britain can take the dubious honour of being the very worst for pothole damage.

A rocky road ahead

Car Parts 4 Less analysed data from councils across the country to compile a list of the roads that have been complained about by drivers the most over the past 12 months.

Although the north-west has typically performed badly in terms of its road surfaces, it didn’t prove to be the worst offender in 2019. This year, Bath Road in Hounslow, London was given that title, with an enormous 828 complaints lodged against it last year.

Second place went to Seven Hills Road in Surrey with 628 complaints, followed by Oxford Street in London (530), Burnley Road in West Yorkshire (465) and the A390 in Truro/Chiverton (391).

It isn’t likely to come as much of a surprise to fleet owners that so many of the country’s roads are in a poor state of repair, with the annual repair bill for all motorists coming in at £1.7 billion every year. The average repair bill is £157.75 – which could really mount up when extrapolated across a set of company cars.

Meanwhile, almost 40,000 miles of British roads are in a ‘poor condition’ and may start to wear within five years, according to the Asphalt Industry Alliance.

The government plans to spend a total of £28.8 billion on improving Britain’s roads over the coming years, while it also announced last year that councils in England will receive an extra£420 million to deal with potholes specifically.

“It’s always valuable to us to look at the country’s worst roads so we’re able to pass this insight onto our customers. Although this tool won’t fix the offending roads for drivers, it should help build drivers’ awareness of the worst roads and which ones to avoid to protect their car from damage,” a Car Parts 4 Less spokesperson said.

Last year, the pothole problem was becoming so bad after a period of cold weather that the AA urged fleet managers to give their drivers special tips on how to avoid them. It pointed out that fleet drivers are at greater risk from vehicle damage because they clock up more miles than average and are often on unfamiliar routes.

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “London has some of the busiest roads in the UK, so it is perhaps inevitable that those surfaces are now starting to suffer. However, we believe the government has a responsibility to act everywhere to prevent drivers and businesses experiencing damage to their vehicles.”

Drivers using the motorway network this summer have been urged to take extra care, with Highways England warning that more breakdowns take place at this time of year than any other.

According to the organisation, more than 48,500 motorway breakdowns occurred between the final week of June and the first week of September in 2018 – and it is anticipated that an extra 700 a week on top of the usual figure will be recorded during the same period this year.

A busy summer season

This means the average number of breakdowns per week could hit almost 5,000, something that has the potential to cause significant disruption on major routes.

The first weekend in August was the busiest single weekend last year, followed by the final weekend in July, when one breakdown was reported roughly every two minutes. This was attributed to heavier traffic as people set off on their summer holidays and took day trips.

To help road users during the summer season, Highways England has launched a new safety campaign aimed at keeping the roads moving.

Its tips include always checking tyres, oil, water and headlights before setting off on a longer journey, as simple vehicle maintenance can make a lot of difference towards performance.

The organisation also reminded drivers that should they break down, it is essential to get away from remaining traffic by exiting the vehicle and getting behind the safety barrier if possible.

Only then should they call for assistance using either their own phones or the free ones provided along the motorway.

Head of road safety at Highways England Richard Leonard said: “We want everyone to get to their destination safely and we can all play a part in that. We’re urging drivers to remember the basics of motorway driving, including carrying out simple vehicle checks before setting off, to help keep us all moving.”

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “No one wants to have their journey ruined by breaking down on the motorway, let alone cause a hazard for other road users. We’d encourage everyone to heed this new advice and ensure being on the motorways is a stress-free experience for all.”

Many parts of the UK have faced lashing winds and rain in recent days, with flood and storm warnings issued for many areas.

As a result, UK road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has urged drivers to be prepared to tackle wet conditions when taking to the roads.

Always pay attention in the wet

Heavy rainfall can affect driving conditions in a number of ways, so here are a few challenging examples that IAM reminds all motorists to be aware of:

• Reduced visibility: Spray from the road and heavy rain mean motorists will not see as clearly in the wet. As a result, drivers should always slow down to maintain a clear gap to other road users.
• Risk of aquaplaning: Pools of water on the road’s surface can result in aquaplaning under braking. To recover from this, ease off the accelerator, maintain a firm grip on the wheel and avoid any sudden changes in steering.
• Deep standing water: Flooding can be a serious issue, especially on rural roads. Always remember that deep water is a hazard and can result in your car becoming stranded.

IAM RoadSmart head of driver and rider standards Richard Gladman commented: “In the recent extremes, we have seen that standing water and floods are becoming more commonplace, so take extra care and if possible avoid driving through standing water.

“If you’re in any doubt about the depth or surface underneath a flood, then it’s best not to take any chances.”

Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Thankfully, the worst now appears to be over in terms of heavy rain for many parts of the country. That said, you never know when the temperamental British summer will bring another downpour.”