Tuesday, 26 March 2013
Monday, 25 March 2013
Friday, 22 March 2013
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Monday, 18 March 2013
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Saturday, 16 March 2013
Friday, 15 March 2013
Thursday, 14 March 2013
motorists are waiting longer before replacing worn tyres
Figures show that motorists are waiting longer before replacing worn tyres
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/63154/more-drivers-running-illegal-tyres
Data from the UK’s largest tyre fitting centre has revealed that more
drivers are waiting until their tyres are illegal before replacing them.
Between March 2012 and 2013, 57 per cent of the 39,676 tyres removed by Micheldever Tyre Services had less than 1.6mm of tread. That means the firm’s 59 depots removed 21,719 illegal tyres. In 2008, that figure was only 15 per cent, which suggests that the recession has caused motorists to wait longer before fitting new tyres.
Micheldever’s Wholesale Director, Alan Baldwin, said: “This has to be a direct result of the current economic climate, with consumers delaying tyre purchases wherever possible. Sadly, UK motorists tend not to place the same importance on tyres as drivers in Germany”.
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 act says that a tyre must have a minimum of 1.6mm in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width. The penalty for breaking this law is a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per illegal tyre – so you could face a £10,000 bill and 12 points if all four tyres are illegal.
Worse still, a tyre’s braking performance significantly drops when there’s less than 3mm remaining, so it’s risky, too. An Auto Express test in 2009 found that a car with barely legal tyres took 30-44 metres longer to stop from 70mph than when running tyres with 3mm deep tread – that's nearly four-car lengths.
Worryingly, just three per cent of tyres removed by Micheldever in the last year had more than 2mm tread remaining. “The increasing number of drivers running illegal tread depths is terrifying,” said Baldwin, “Sadly the figures speak for themselves. In 2011 the number of deaths from tyre related accidents doubled against those in 2010.”
Have you been running your tyres for longer to save money? When was the last time you checked your tread depth? Let us know in the comments below.
Between March 2012 and 2013, 57 per cent of the 39,676 tyres removed by Micheldever Tyre Services had less than 1.6mm of tread. That means the firm’s 59 depots removed 21,719 illegal tyres. In 2008, that figure was only 15 per cent, which suggests that the recession has caused motorists to wait longer before fitting new tyres.
Micheldever’s Wholesale Director, Alan Baldwin, said: “This has to be a direct result of the current economic climate, with consumers delaying tyre purchases wherever possible. Sadly, UK motorists tend not to place the same importance on tyres as drivers in Germany”.
The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 act says that a tyre must have a minimum of 1.6mm in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width. The penalty for breaking this law is a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per illegal tyre – so you could face a £10,000 bill and 12 points if all four tyres are illegal.
Worse still, a tyre’s braking performance significantly drops when there’s less than 3mm remaining, so it’s risky, too. An Auto Express test in 2009 found that a car with barely legal tyres took 30-44 metres longer to stop from 70mph than when running tyres with 3mm deep tread – that's nearly four-car lengths.
Worryingly, just three per cent of tyres removed by Micheldever in the last year had more than 2mm tread remaining. “The increasing number of drivers running illegal tread depths is terrifying,” said Baldwin, “Sadly the figures speak for themselves. In 2011 the number of deaths from tyre related accidents doubled against those in 2010.”
Have you been running your tyres for longer to save money? When was the last time you checked your tread depth? Let us know in the comments below.
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Monday, 11 March 2013
Sunday, 10 March 2013
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
With so many people taking up driving instruction how do you
know who is the best instructor for you?
Here are a few questions you might want to consider before
you sign up with an instructor:
1.
All DSA approved driving instructors are graded
via a check test process. Confirm what
grade your instructor is at (grade 6 is the highest) and when their next check
test is due.
Grade
6: Only 6% of Driving Instructors are
grade 6. Top grade available.
Grade
5: Good instruction given. Around 20% of
Driving Instructors are grade 5.
Grade
4: Competent instruction given. A grade 4
Driving Instructor with a good attitude can still get you through your driving
test first time.
Ungraded: This would a newly qualified instructor who will be
ungraded until their first check test.
A
green octagonal badge shows the instructor is a fully qualified ADI and
completed all necessary DSA tests in order to teach pupils without any form of supervision.
A
pink triangular badge shows the instructor is part qualified and is currently
undertaking practical training with an approved college or ADI. Instructors with a pink badge qualification
have undertaken most of the DSA tests required and are allowed to teach members
of the public as this is part of their training until they complete the course,
passing all required DSA tests.
2.
Aside from the DSA, does your instructor have
any other qualifications above the minimum DSA tests? The higher the qualifications your instructor
has, the higher the chances in you obtaining that all important FIRST TIME
PASS!
3.
How will you be taught – will your instructor
design lesson plans and structure a programme for your learning or will you
just drive around and hope for the best?
4.
Can you try before you buy – ie is your first lesson
free? If your first lesson is free of
charge this will allow you to see how comfortable you are with the driving
instructor and give you a good gauge of how you will be taught should you take
up further lessons with that school.
5.
Is there any other assistance your instructor
will provide to get you through the Theory and Hazard Perception tests or will
you be left to figure this out yourself?
6.
Does the driving school offer a discount for
block bookings? Many schools will offer
incentives for you to block book which will not only help keep your costs down
in the long run, but also enable you to pre-book the particular date and time
slot that would best suit you in advance.
7.
What is the driving schools policy for
cancelling a driving lesson? Confirm
with your instructor or school if there is a cancellation policy in order to
avoid cancellation charges.
8.
Is your instructor available when you will want
lessons? Many learners have work/family
or education commitments; confirm that your instructor can take your lessons
when it will suit you.
There are several factors you should consider before signing
up with a driving school, but the most important is that you are comfortable
with what you and your instructor have agreed upon. Remember if there is something you are not
happy with, you need to discuss this with your instructor and work out what can
be done. Learning to drive is not cheap,
quality is always better than quantity,
so ask the right questions and ensure you are getting value for your
money!
Friday, 8 March 2013
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Monday, 4 March 2013
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Night Time Driving Lessons
 |
| www.streetwise-drivingschool.co.uk |
Driving lessons at night are a completely different
sensation to when you are on a lesson during the day. As visibility is reduced you will once again
be out of your ‘comfort zone’ throughout the lesson and may feel as though you
are back at lesson one!
Although driving at night may be a daunting prospect for
some, it is and essential stage in learning how to drive safely and
efficiently. Once experienced, many
learners feel far more confident in their driving ability and look forward to
booking the next night time lesson.
Take advantage of the last of our winter nights and improve
your driving skills with some night time lessons. Don’t leave it until next winter, be
prepared, be pro-active, you’ll be glad you did!
Friday, 1 March 2013
One Lump or Two
Did you know that on average, people who pass their driving test have
had 47 hours of driving lessons with a Driving Instructor combined with
a further 20 hours of private practice from a friend or family member?
With the national average cost of a driving lesson now standing at £24
per hour, any new learner driver is looking at well over £1,000 to pass
their test. As if the cost of lessons and private tuition wasn’t
enough, today learners will also have to pay for a Theory and Hazard
Perception Test (£31) and then the Practical car test (£62 weekday / £75
weekend) before they can get that all important licence. Fair to say
that learning to drive in today’s world is NOT cheap!So what can learners do to keep the cost at a minimum?
Simple! Book two hour lessons instead of one hour and take a very minimum of one lesson per week. Learners who take two hour lessons are more likely to pass their test in less than half the time of those only taking one hour tuition each week.
Why does STREETWISE believe a two hour lesson will make such a difference?
First of all by taking a two hour lesson your Driving Instructor can take you on far longer routes, teaching you how to READ a road and not just learn what to do in your local area. You will learn to drive more independently, build your confidence and driving skills quicker by being out of your comfort zone in an area that is completely new to you.
Taking lessons close together will help build your long term memory of new and difficult subjects. It stands to reason that the more often and more frequently you practice a subject, the more likely you are to remember how to do it if there haven’t been long periods away from your lessons.
Overall taking longer lessons more frequently may be a big cost initially, but in the long run you will pass your driving test quicker and therefore have saved yourself a small fortune.
At www.streetwise-drivingschool.co.uk All of our pupils take a least one two hour lesson per week with their instructor. Almost half of our pupils will take four hours tuition per week, either as one afternoon of driving with a short break or as two lessons throughout the week. Combine the duration of lessons and the structured STREETWISE teaching methods this is the reason we maintain one of the highest first time pass rates in the south side of Glasgow.
Save your time and your money and achieve your goal quickly – book two hour lessons!
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