Thursday, 25 April 2013
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Monday, 15 April 2013
Motorists favour driving and smoking ban
Fifty-six per cent of motorists think that smoking while driving
should be banned, according to a survey by the Institute of Advanced
Motorists (IAM). However, almost half of respondents (forty-five per
cent) think that such a ban would be unenforceable.
Respondents clearly have concern over the effects of smoking while driving. Seventy-five per cent of motorists think that lighting a cigarette while driving is a serious distraction.
Fifty-two per cent of those surveyed think the act of lighting a cigarette is the greatest potential danger of smoking and driving. While just two per cent believe that there are no dangerous elements to smoking while driving.
Other survey results reinforce the negative perception of smoking and driving. Respondents felt it was:
“The health benefits may be clear but more research needs to be done to determine whether there are actual road safety grounds to act on these concerns by banning smoking and driving altogether.”
Respondents clearly have concern over the effects of smoking while driving. Seventy-five per cent of motorists think that lighting a cigarette while driving is a serious distraction.
Fifty-two per cent of those surveyed think the act of lighting a cigarette is the greatest potential danger of smoking and driving. While just two per cent believe that there are no dangerous elements to smoking while driving.
Other survey results reinforce the negative perception of smoking and driving. Respondents felt it was:
- Irresponsible (forty-eight per cent)
- As dangerous as using a mobile phone (forty-six per cent)
- Dangerous (forty-three per cent)
“The health benefits may be clear but more research needs to be done to determine whether there are actual road safety grounds to act on these concerns by banning smoking and driving altogether.”
Friday, 5 April 2013
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Women Drivers Worse Than Men
Figures revealed by a Driving Standards Agency study into reasons
given by examiners for failing learners showed women clocked up 857,000
major errors last year. Men made 646,000.
The data showed women were most likely to fail for reverse parking, steering mistakes and missed gear changes, though the study did find men are boy racers.They often fail for going too fast, ignoring lights or missing signs.
The most common reason for failing a driving test for both sexes was not spotting a hazard at a road junction just ahead of failing to check mirrors.
Women need praise from men to help them become better drivers, experts said last night.
Psychologist Dr Zachary Estes is quoted as saying “Our research suggests that by making a woman feel better about herself she’ll become better at spatial tasks such as parking the car or reading a map.”
Recent research into 19,000 drivers showed that women were up to a fifth safer than men once they passed their tests.
The data showed women were most likely to fail for reverse parking, steering mistakes and missed gear changes, though the study did find men are boy racers.They often fail for going too fast, ignoring lights or missing signs.
The most common reason for failing a driving test for both sexes was not spotting a hazard at a road junction just ahead of failing to check mirrors.
Women need praise from men to help them become better drivers, experts said last night.
Psychologist Dr Zachary Estes is quoted as saying “Our research suggests that by making a woman feel better about herself she’ll become better at spatial tasks such as parking the car or reading a map.”
Recent research into 19,000 drivers showed that women were up to a fifth safer than men once they passed their tests.
Simple checks to reduce MOT failures
Before you take your vehicle for its annual MOT test, manufacturer
main dealers recommend that you carry out a number of quick and easy
visual checks to give your car the best chance of passing the test –
saving you time and money.
If you do find any faults that you’re unable to easily rectify yourself, it’s advisable to notify your manufacturer main dealer in advance so they can complete the work required before the test is carried out. Identifying the work before an MOT test will allow the problems to be rectified, so the car will be far more likely to pass its MOT test first time around.
Check that all of your car’s lights function properly – headlights, sidelights, rear lights, hazard lights and indicators.
2. Brake lights
Press the brake pedal and ask a friend to check that the rear brake lights come on – including any supplementary brake strip light. Alternatively, carefully reverse up to a reflective surface (window, wall or garage door) and look behind to see for yourself.
3. Number plate
Make sure that the number plate is clean and legible – even a quick wipe with a cloth can make a difference. The font and spacing of letters must also comply with legal requirements to be passed by the MOT station.
4. Wheels and tyres
Check that wheels and tyres are undamaged. The minimum legal tyre tread depth is 1.6mm and any tyres with less than this will be marked as an MOT ‘fail’ (though it’s recommended that tyres are changed when tread reaches 3mm). If you’re in doubt about how much tread is left on a tyre, your local manufacturer main dealer can check for you. The dealer can also advise on the type of tyre that is right for your car if a replacement is required.
5. Seats and seatbelts
The driver’s seat should adjust forwards and backwards and all seatbelts should be in good, working order. Test movement of the seat and inspect the seatbelt’s full length for damage. Tug sharply on all seatbelts to check that they react as they’re supposed to if you have to brake severely.
They save your life in a crash, but only if they work properly – inspect the full length for damage and tug sharply on all the seatbelts to check that they react as they’re supposed if you have to brake severely.
6. Windscreen
Check the view out of the front of the car for damage – any damage larger than 40mm will cause a ‘fail’, as will any damage wider than 10mm in the ‘swept’ area of the windscreen in front of the driver.
7. Windscreen wipers
Make sure your wipers are able to keep your windscreen clean – any tears or holes in the wiper rubber can be an MOT fail.
8. Screenwash
Top up the washer bottle before taking the car in for a test – something as simple as an empty container can cause an MOT fail.
9. Horn
Give a short blast of the horn – if it doesn’t work, your dealer will need to repair or replace it.
10. Fuel and engine oil
Make sure your car is filled with enough fuel and engine oil – you can be turned away from the MOT without suitable levels of either, both of which are required by the dealership when running the car to test its emissions levels. If you are unsure about the type of oil that should be used, ask your manufacturer main dealer.
Note: When checking fluid levels and handling parts that could be become hot to the touch (eg bulbs) it’s always best to ensure that the vehicle has had an opportunity to cool down fully.
Help your car pass its next MOT
Around 1.5 million vehicles fail their MOT due to simple things such as faulty bulbs, too little tyre tread, or even empty windscreen washer fluid bottles. It’s possible to anticipate most of these issues with a quick check of your car. It only takes a ‘Minute Or Two’!If you do find any faults that you’re unable to easily rectify yourself, it’s advisable to notify your manufacturer main dealer in advance so they can complete the work required before the test is carried out. Identifying the work before an MOT test will allow the problems to be rectified, so the car will be far more likely to pass its MOT test first time around.
The Minute Or Two check
1. Headlights and indicatorsCheck that all of your car’s lights function properly – headlights, sidelights, rear lights, hazard lights and indicators.
2. Brake lights
Press the brake pedal and ask a friend to check that the rear brake lights come on – including any supplementary brake strip light. Alternatively, carefully reverse up to a reflective surface (window, wall or garage door) and look behind to see for yourself.
3. Number plate
Make sure that the number plate is clean and legible – even a quick wipe with a cloth can make a difference. The font and spacing of letters must also comply with legal requirements to be passed by the MOT station.
4. Wheels and tyres
Check that wheels and tyres are undamaged. The minimum legal tyre tread depth is 1.6mm and any tyres with less than this will be marked as an MOT ‘fail’ (though it’s recommended that tyres are changed when tread reaches 3mm). If you’re in doubt about how much tread is left on a tyre, your local manufacturer main dealer can check for you. The dealer can also advise on the type of tyre that is right for your car if a replacement is required.
5. Seats and seatbelts
The driver’s seat should adjust forwards and backwards and all seatbelts should be in good, working order. Test movement of the seat and inspect the seatbelt’s full length for damage. Tug sharply on all seatbelts to check that they react as they’re supposed to if you have to brake severely.
They save your life in a crash, but only if they work properly – inspect the full length for damage and tug sharply on all the seatbelts to check that they react as they’re supposed if you have to brake severely.
6. Windscreen
Check the view out of the front of the car for damage – any damage larger than 40mm will cause a ‘fail’, as will any damage wider than 10mm in the ‘swept’ area of the windscreen in front of the driver.
7. Windscreen wipers
Make sure your wipers are able to keep your windscreen clean – any tears or holes in the wiper rubber can be an MOT fail.
8. Screenwash
Top up the washer bottle before taking the car in for a test – something as simple as an empty container can cause an MOT fail.
9. Horn
Give a short blast of the horn – if it doesn’t work, your dealer will need to repair or replace it.
10. Fuel and engine oil
Make sure your car is filled with enough fuel and engine oil – you can be turned away from the MOT without suitable levels of either, both of which are required by the dealership when running the car to test its emissions levels. If you are unsure about the type of oil that should be used, ask your manufacturer main dealer.
Note: When checking fluid levels and handling parts that could be become hot to the touch (eg bulbs) it’s always best to ensure that the vehicle has had an opportunity to cool down fully.
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