Tips for avoiding a road accident this winter

June 17th, 2013

Winter is normally one of the worst times to be on the road. The combination of cold weather, rain, ice and generally slippery conditions can make driving treacherous at the best of times. To add to this, the fact that darkness closes in on us at around 4pm can make it even more hazardous and it can make it difficult to see potential hazards on the road, or to identify the problems associated with dangerous drivers.

Avoiding driving on winter is not practical for many people and if you drive to work, to see relatives or for any other reason then it’s a fact that you will have to continue to drive at this time. So if you are heading out onto the roads this winter then it’s crucial that you take the right precautions to ensure that you and your passengers remain safe at all times!

Avoiding an accident is not always as easy as it sounds, but there are ways that you can cut down the risks involved with travelling through the harsh winter months. Some common ways that you could consider cutting down this travel include:

  • Keep your car serviced – ensure that your car is up to date and serviced and that all of its important safety features are intact. By doing this you are giving yourself the best possible chance if a road accident is to befall you
  • Ensure that you have the appropriate tyres  tyres can make all of the difference in winter, so if you are heading out make sure that your tyres have grip and that they aren’t starting to bald. If you are regularly driving in snowy conditions then an investment in snow tyres might not be a bad option either. You don’t have to spend a fortune on tyres either, cheap car tyres can do the trick just as well.
  • Only travel when necessary – if you don’t have to travel in that bitter rain and snow then don’t. Unless you have necessary travel arrangements, sometimes it’s better just to stay home and wait the harsh weather conditions out
  • Travel on roads that are known to you – if you do have to travel then try and stick to roads that you know well and therefore you won’t be caught out by any unforeseen circumstances or potential obstacles that you might not be prepared for.
  • Make sure that your car number plates are clean and in good condition if they are cracked the cold weather will make the split bigger and you should consider replacement number plates before they get any worse.a

Unfortunately not all road accidents can be avoided, but if you do take the precautions to give you the best possible chances then you can help to dramatically reduce the chances of being involved in any potentially serious road accidents – thus protecting the health of both you and your passengers.

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Vintage Number Plates and Their Popularity

May 20th, 2013

Vintage Number Plates and Their Popularity


Number plates don’t just represent an official vehicle registration, but they can also be much personalised to represent something much more personal and vital to you such as your favourite football team or even a birthday. DVLA has over 25 million vehicle registration number plates available. You get to choose from the wide variety of options available. Older number plates are getting a sudden rush in popularity, these not only from the owners of motorcycles and classic cars.

Immensely enjoyed worldwide

Through an auction conducted recently in Australia for older number plates, it was revealed that older plates were very popular. The auction through Shannon’s’ in Melbourne, included the sale of plates of registration in sequential order. Shannons’ previous auction in 1998 saw three number plates that had numbers 14,15 and 16 each retail for an average of AU $75000. As of today it is expected that those plates could fetch anything between AU $400,000 and AU$ 500,000. Not only do they fetch good money, are highly collectable but they also give buyers a good opportunity to invest as well. Many financial portfolios are indeed including vintage number plates as a secure investment option. So why the popularity for older number plates?



Distinct from the norm

Vintage car number plates are distinct and unique. This makes them the only other alternative to personalised number plates. They are one of a kind making the hard to steal or clone because they are easily noticed.
Aged private plates are more alike to Irish number plates. Many people buy older plates so as to retain identity on the road even if it means registering their car as a mainland vehicle. The plates cannot be re-issued due to the sequence of letters and numbers; this gives the owners certainty of never seeing registration of their vehicles fall in another owner’s hand.

As demonstrated by the Australian auction, the prices of old private number plates are strangely high and are most desired. The auction offers buyers a lifetime opportunity to invest or own a piece of history, whose worth will practically escalate over time. As mentioned, the plates can never be re-issued to another person. This makes it an amazing and excellent opportunity to invest and own a piece of history.

It beats logic to have a vintage motorcycle or vehicle with a modern registration number plate. This practically spoils the look. Vintage number plates match with vintage vehicles and motorcycles and this is one reason why they are loved. If you have renovated a vintage bike or car, but you have no original number plate then getting an old private plate and re-registering the car will give it the classic touch and just the perfect look. It is without doubt that the market of selling older private plates is growing, so be on the look for stiff competition if you are looking into buying one from an auction. You can also acquire information about older registration number plates from a special dealer. He will get to notify you of a particular sequence or plates when they become available.

Author Bio:

Steve Reid deals in revamping of old classic vintage cars. According to torque wrench review he was pointed out as one of the most reliable creative and artistic dealer in the industry.

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The best accessories for your car’s exterior

March 30th, 2013

In the modern age of cars, there are a huge amount of accessories available for us to choose from, some of them functional, some of them cute, some of them weird and wacky. Lots of the items we can buy for our car are focussed on the interior such as car mats, seat covers, even fuzzy dice, however in this article I am going to focus on the accessories designed for the outside of your car, which are undoubtedly seen by many more people than see the ornament on your dashboard or your cute car mats, and in many cases come in far more useful.

Car Snow Cover

If you live in one of the colder parts of the world this can be a really useful accessory. There’s nothing worse than having to scrape the ice and snow from the windows of our car first thing in the morning before we have to go off to work or take the kids to school, a snow cover however makes the process a lot more bearable. Don’t be beaten by those treacherous conditions.

Car-Top Cargo Carriers

Do you need to carry a lot of stuff around with you when driving? Perhaps you make long trips to see relatives or like to travel, if so, consider making more room for comfort in your car by getting a car top cargo carrier, designed to protect whatever you carry in them without taking up your interior space. Great if you have a big family and need all the in car space you can get.

Bumper Stickers and Car Decals

Lots of us love to glam our cars up with car stickers or decals, these can range from inspirational quotes to cute pictures and cartoons or most commonly funny sayings and witty remarks designed to bring a smile (or sometimes a frown) to other road users. Car stickers and decals can be small and subtle or they can be absolutely massive, some of them even cover the whole side of a vehicle!

Number Plate Frames

These are another fun addition to the outside of your vehicle, and though number plates are serious business there’s no harm in adding a bit of fun to them with a frame. These are legal as long as they don’t cover the license, and come in all different designs from cute hearts and flowers to heavy metal designs!

Bicycle Rack

If you love cycling, or perhaps go on family cycling holidays, these are a great way of carrying your two wheels on your four wheels! Usually, they strap to the back of your car to securely and safely bring your bike along with you.

Conclusion

There are loads of original car accessories coming onto the market all the time, and this is merely a selection. Grab yourself the best exterior car accessories for both fun and function!

About the Author:

Ben is a car enthusiast and writer who runs a website about car accessories for girls.

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5 Costly Habits People Have While Driving

February 14th, 2013

Many people have bad habits when it comes to driving on the road. Some more so than others, these can be only minor habits that won’t really have any effect on anything or anybody. However, some personal driving habits can have extreme consequences that may affect others, as well as themselves when driving on any road. Unfortunately many people possess these immoral habits that create accidents or car crashes. Let’s take a look at 5 common occurrences.

Talking on the Cell Phone

There would be a point in your driving career where you have answered or made a call on your cell phone while driving. Nowadays we have hands free devices, which in most countries is legal, however many people still hold their handset while talking on the phone. Huge penalties apply if caught by the police while talking on your cell phone. This is also a highly common result of many car tragedies today.

Speeding

It is so simple to sit a little heavy on the gas or accelerator pedal when driving. Especially if you are in a hurry as you are running late for a meeting or whatever the case may be, speeding can cause fatal accidents. There are speed signs and indicators for a reason. They simply imply that it is the safest maximum speed to travel at on that designated road or area.

Texting or Fiddling with Your Phone

This deserved its own category, separate to that of ‘talking on the phone’, as texting or fiddling actually diverts your eyes off the road. As you are looking at what you are doing, whether it be texting, browsing the internet or checking your Facebook account, you are distracted from you main priority, which is driving and concentrating on the road ahead. This habit takes away your vision and at least one hand, both necessities required for safe driving.

Not Stopping at Stop Signs

Some stop signs, you may think, are situated in silly locations. However, in most circumstances these are allocated to specific roads for a reason. There may be a nearby bend where you can’t see oncoming cars, or a hill or some other diversion which reflects your vision. You’re supposed to stop at stop signs for a minimum of 3 seconds to determine it is safe to continue through the intersection or make the preferred turn.

Concentrating on the Radio

When we are driving, it is soothing or relaxing to listen to music to help entertain us and pass the time. However, many people are highly distracted by their car radio or stereo. Between changing CD’s, choosing songs or whatever the interruption may be, some people become highly distracted and take their focus off the road. There are many bad habits that people become accustom to, and if not altered, can eventually cause major or fatal road accidents.

James T is a retired driving instructor in Brisbane, Australia. After years of experience of teaching young learners to drive, he advises young enthusiasts to learn from a reputable driving service www.mydrivingschool.com.au, to help avoid picking any bad habits from the beginning.

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Are German Cars Really As Reliable As You Think?

February 12th, 2013

German engineering is renowned for its clinical precision and ruthless efficiency. The country that gave the world Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen has what often feels like an unshakeable reputation for solid, reliable cars, but do they still deserve this status today? Does the data support Germany’s image as the home of dependable, consistent car production? Let’s take a look at the figures from the last 10 years.

Data from 2003

Back in 2003, a survey carried out by Which? magazine (a leading publication offering impartial, objective advice to consumers) found that some of Germany’s leading car brands were slipping down in the reliability ranks, with the Audi TT receiving one of the lowest reliability scores in recent years. Meanwhile, manufacturers like US-based Ford were moving up the table. Overall, Japanese cars were shown to be the most reliable, with the likes of Honda, Nissan and Toyota impressing consumers.

Data from 2013

And the latest research, carried out by Warranty Direct (the UK’s leading direct consumer warrant supplier) has revealed that German cars are the most likely to suffer engine problems, with Audi, BMW and Volkswagen coming in for particular criticism. Only MG Rover engines (produced by the MG Group, which went into liquidation in 2005) had a worse record than Audi, with 8% of motors failing in the past 12 months, compared with 4% of Audi engines.

Honda topped the reliability table in the Warranty Direct survey, with a failure rate of just 0.3%, whilst Toyota also scored impressively, with only 0.6% of engines presenting problems in the last year. Restoring some pride for Germany was Mercedes – they were the 3rd most reliable car producer, with a very respectable 0.8% failure rate.

Can Germany Continue to Perform?

Whilst German cars definitely aren’t as reliable as they once were, or at least as they were once perceived to be, this doesn’t mean that the automotive industry in Germany isn’t progressing. When ranked purely by performance (rather than reliability), German cars continue to outstrip much of the competition. Nevertheless, it does seem like some of the major players in the industry are cutting costs wherever they can, and as long as this continues, the reputation Germany has historically enjoyed will keep on diminishing. This may well be symptomatic of a wider shift in manufacturing out of Europe and into Asia; it’s hard to imagine Japan surrendering its current position as paragon of reliable cars, and who knows where China’s burgeoning auto-manufacturing industry could be in 10 years’ time.

Attached Images:

Thanks to Dave Rider for contributing this post. James is an advocate for German cars – so much so that he is always on the he is always on the look out for the best deals on used BMW cars online.

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Minimum Eyesight Requirement for Driving

January 30th, 2013

I was recently involved in a road safety event for 16 and 17 year olds. One of the things we spoke about are the requirements for getting a driving licence. One of these requirements being that you are medically fit and having eyesight of a certain standard.

I asked the group “What standard do you think your eyesight needs to be at to get a driving licence?” A gruff male voice came from the back with a response “You can see.” Followed by a lot of snickering from the rest of the group.  I agreed “You do need to see, yes. But how far?”

Most drivers do not know the minimum eyesight requirement

Many guesses were offered from 10 metres to 150 metres but none of them correct. I turned to 2 school teachers sitting at the back  and asked “Do you know ladies?” They both went scarlet and admitted that they didn’t know either, and they were both drivers.

Later that day I began thinking, if two qualified drivers didn’t know how good their eyesight must be to legally drive a motor vehicle then how many people actually do know? I bet there’s not many.

The fact is that you need to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres or 67 feet away and must meet the minimum eyesight standard of .5 (6/12) on the Snellen Scale. This should of course be done wearing your glasses, or lenses if you wear them.

Driving with one eye

If you have only one eye which has vision you must meet the same standards as above but will be allowed extra time on a driving test. You will need to prove to the Driving Standards Agency, via a doctor’s letter, that you only have vision in one eye and they will make the appropriate allowances for this. The test name is quite controversial but when discussing this with the DSA you will need to tell them that you need a “special test”. If you are not sure then visit your optician and get yours eyesight checked. For students the check is free, so no reason for the younger generation not to know for sure.

Can I drive without my glasses?

So if you were to get pulled over by the Police or VOSA how would they know if you are supposed to wear glasses or contact lenses? The answer is quite simple;

  1. If you have declared that you need to wear glasses or lenses and remember it’s an offence not too, then you will have a subcode of “01” on each vehicle category.
  2. Or they can just do a test on the side of the road if they are not sure.

If you were to get caught not wearing your glasses you could be arrested for “driving other than in accordance with a driving licence” which will earn you points on your driving licence, and a fine to boot.

Drivers with dyslexia 

Dyslexia can often be a problem when trying to read a number plate as many people with dyslexia can see a number plate but cannot read it. In these circumstances the Police, VOSA or driving examiner will ask you to write down or draw what you see. The DSA may ask you to evidence your dyslexia before giving allowances for this.

Now you have the correct information for driving and your eyesight, so don’t be a Mr Magoo! Get your eyes tested and drive safely!

 

 

Author Bio: This article was written by A Pass 4 U Driving school. Providing residential intensive driving courses and hourly driving lessons nationwide.

 

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The Cost Of Running A Car

January 29th, 2013

If you own a car you’ll be aware how much money it costs to run and service. There are however some things you can do to reduce these costs and bring the fun back in to motoring.
Car ownership has a huge number of benefits; however it comes with a price to pay. The costs of running a car are increasing all the time. Here are some of the things you might have to pay for if you own a car:

MOT

A valid MOT certificate is needed for every motor vehicle. The MOT cost for standard cars currently stands at around £55. However, if you look around and phone a few local garages you’ll find that they will drop the price if you agree to a service or other work at the same time. Some will even do a price comparison if you quote a competitive price you’ve found at an alternative dealer.

Fuel

The price of fuel is a bugbear to any type of motor vehicle user. There is a huge amount of tax placed on fuel and even though the government have put a freeze on price increases recently, road transport groups are still calling for the duty on fuel to be reduced. Some of the ways you can save fuel include:

o    Only make necessary journeys
o    Make sure tyres are inflated correctly
o    Take heavy items out of the boot
o    Don’t drive with roof racks in place
o    Drive carefully and conscientiously – putting your foot to the floor is a sure way to burn fuel

Road Tax

The amount of road tax you’ll pay is linked to your specific vehicle and its engine size. This is set by the DVLA and you have to pay the amount every year.
Servicing
Even if you only have the oil changed you should factor servicing costs into your annual vehicle expenditure. As a rule of thumb things which may be changed as part of an annual service include spark plugs, oil filter and oil, fuel filter and air filter.

Non-service parts

As part of the ongoing maintenance of your vehicle you will have to pay for parts which may wear out. Some of these parts include brake pads and brake discs, exhaust parts and tyres. It’s worth putting some money aside to pay for replacement car parts every year so you won’t be shocked when your local garage says you need to have a non-service part replaced.

Fred Charles wrote this article about car service parts such as spark plugs on behalf of eurocarparts.com.

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Your New or Replacement Number Plates – Avoid Confusion

January 10th, 2013
Own legal number plates

Own legal number plates

If you happen to be searching online for information regarding how you can get number plates for your car in the UK you should be very careful. This warning has become quite necessary as there are some sites that say the UK government has allowed car owners to create, and buy, their own number plates.

Now, this could never be further from truth. To start with, imagine if every- and anyone were allowed to just come up with a combination of letters and characters, have them made into number plates and were to put them on their cars. Apart from the obvious chaos that would come from repeated number plates there is and added risk of people coming up with combinations of letters and numbers that spell out words which could be considered offensive to society in general.

To begin with, when you go out to get number plates be it replacement plates for old or damaged ones or brand new ones, you should deal with suppliers that are registered by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) in the UK and the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland.

The reason is that these dealers that are under the supervision of these agencies will only supply you with legally made and regulated number plates.

The confusion that had arisen and which resulted in some sites posting the news about it being allowed by the government for car owners to come up with their own number plates was probably due to one of two main reasons: the first is that people are allowed to buy and sell personalized number plates. Of course, this comes with its own set of rules and regulations (as an example, you can’t put number plates on a car that make it appear to be newer than it actually is). The trade in these plates is usually handled by dealerships that have no control over the production of the number plates. They are just there in the capacity of brokers to bring buyer and seller together. People buying these special number plates could have been taken to be coming up with their own set of characters and numbers.

The second probable reason is that it is absolutely legal to have custom number plates made that can contain any combination of characters or numbers on them. But, the law also states that these number plates are only for show (they aren’t called “showroom plates” without a reason) and aren’t supposed to leave a showroom or placed on vehicles that are used on roads. Again, people seeing these plates might assume that anyone can come up with a customized set of characters and numbers.

Therefore, the next time you are in the market for replacement number plates make sure that you look for number plates dealers that are registered by the DVLA or DVA. That should help with clearing up any, and all, confusions.

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Your Number Plates: A Good Excuse for Road Rage?

January 9th, 2013
ORG 45M - the most expensive number plates

ORG 45M – A hard one to come by?

No matter how hard you try, it seems, you will somehow end up offending some part of your community. Admitted, there is the law of the land that needs to be abided by – anything that trespasses it will get you into hot water. But, what if it were something as innocuous (to you, at least) as your number plates that were causing a furor?

Yes, you read it right – your “number plates”. Almost every country in the world takes the necessary steps, via its public offices, to make sure that no particular section of the community is offended. And accordingly, in the UK, the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) has the authority to have number plates removed that are deemed to be offensive or of poor taste.

The number plates in question here are the ones that spell words that would not be included in polite conversation. But, according to a recent sale for such types of number plates, that hasn’t stopped the public from paying (or at least wanting to) extra large sums of money to become the proud owners of these plates.

Sales have been reported where number plates like “PEN 15” have been put up for grabs – for  a starting price of £90,000. Why so expensive? Well, it is due to the fact that it could be read as spelling the word “PENIS” – one that many would, quite understandably, find to be a little too rude.

The surprising fact is that that wasn’t even the most expensive number plate on sale. The honor goes to one that displays “ORG 45M” – “ORGASM” when translated to normal English. It commanded a price tag of £135,000. A relatively cheaper one, “LUS 73D” or “LUSTED”, was on sale for a “mere” £13,650.

But, for those that are thinking of going the glamorous number plates’ way, there is a warning that should be taken into consideration. The DVLA can, and will, ask the owners of these of sorts of plates to have them removed. Although they are perfectly legal and were even printed before the DVLA came into existence, any complaint from the public will result in having the plates put up for review.

Just ask Alan Clarke, from Chesterfield, who spent £399 on a plate that showed “BO11 LUX” (bollocks). He was the proud owner of the plate for just six weeks when he was sent a letter by the DVLA that his number plates were causing offence and that he should have them replaced.

The moral of the story here seems to be the fact that when considering buying “word” number plates, it is better to take into consideration the feelings of the person driving behind you who might be forced to look at your rear plate and possibly get offended by it. After all, you wouldn’t want to be the cause of a road rage incident, now would you?

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Your Number Plates and You – Expressing Yourself

January 8th, 2013
What do your plates say about you?

What do your plates say about you?

When it comes to owning a car, there is a sense of identity that comes with it. Anyone would prefer owning a car that reflected the tastes and lifestyle of the owner. The young would prefer the zippier models while the more mature ones would probably go for the comfort of a larger, more stable 4WD type. Those with money in their pockets and an image to uphold (real or imagined, it doesn’t matter) would opt for the classics or the more respectable brand names.

But, how many of us have stopped to think what our number plates have to say about us? If you haven’t at all then you are going to find the following plates and their respective owners quite interesting to read about:

HRH Princess Anne

Princess Anne is one of the more outgoing of the British Royal Family. She has the distinguished position of being the only one to have taken part in an Olympic game. An avid horse rider, she has had her equestrian talents formally recognized by being awarded one gold and two silver medals at the European Eventing Championships.

One of the gifts she received, and still owns, on her first wedding were the prestigious plates that read “1 ANN”. Incidentally, HRH Queen Elizabeth II also has one of the most highly prized number plates to her name – “A7”.

Engelbert Humperdink

He is perhaps one of the world’s most popular balladeer. With hits like “Please Release Me”, “There Goes My Everything” and “Help Me make it Through the Night” Engelbert has been entertaining millions with his amazing voice and majestic stage presence.

The owner of a Rolls Royce Corniche, he has also made sure that the world doesn’t forget he is the best by attaching an “EH 1” number plate to it.

Robbie Williams

Coming back to more recent times we find another crooner that managed to steal the hearts of a generation – Robbie Williams. Being one of the most successful British solo artists and one that has sold more albums than anyone can care to count allowed him to be the proud owner of a Ferrari.

He apologized to his fans (who were apparently offended by his spending too much money on his car) by attaching a “S8 RRY” (SORRY) plate to it.

Vinnie Jones

Before he became the tough guy on the screen, Vinnie Jones was a football player. He won the 1988 FA Cup with Wimbledon, played for Leeds United, Sheffield United and Chelsea and played and coached for Queens Park Rangers.

Once he turned to movies he comfortably settled into the villain role as can be seen from movies like “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”. He is the owner of the number plates that read “100 VJ”. Right behind him, his wife Tanya owns “99 TJ”.

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