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Group Meetings
The group meets for review drives at our two centres ...
Remember, the first drive is free - so
why not make a booking today!
News from the IAM
"Give drivers the skills to tackle Britain's most dangerous
roads", says the IAM. Read
more.
"Older drivers refresher courses benefit
all", says the IAM. Read
more.
"Crossing case should server as reminder"
Look at for those signs! Overgrown shrubs are a big problem at this time
of year. Read
more.
"Car club provisions a road safety bonus", says
the IAM. Read
more.
"Pedals and Pimms don't mix", says the
IAM. Read
more.
"Londoners 'most supportive' of cuts to camera
funding". Read
more.
"Drivers conflicted over cameras". Read
more.
New French Driving Laws
Are you driving to or across France ? If you are, please be aware that
the French driving laws have changed. Actually, they changed from October 2008,
but the changes weren't publicised all that well, so as a reminder, here
they are.
When driving in France, all vehicles including those registered outside of
France must carry the following ...
- One high visibility jacket for the driver & every passenger
travelling
- One warning triangle in the vehicle
These must be in the car, not just in the boot and are available
from motoring shops & services, ports & ferries etc.
Travelling Abroad
In addition to the above, you should also carry the following when
driving abroad ...
- Your vehicle papers, including insurance & driving licence
- A bulb kit - spare bulbs for your lights
- A working fire extinguisher (in the car, not the boot)
- Headlight beam deflectors (these must be fitted, not just carried,
even if you don't intend to drive at night)
- Valid motor insurance - most policies cover driving abroad but its
best to check
- Click
here for more information from the IAM.
The following are also useful to bear in mind ...
- Breakdown cover - this isn't a requirement but can prove very useful
if you get stuck. Check your existing policy and if required, you can
often upgrade cover for the travel period only
- Travel insurance - in case of delays or medical emergencies you may
wish to consider taking out additional cover
- All speed limits are in kilometres per hour (KPH), not miles per
hour (MPH) so make sure you're checking the right speed Note also that
in some countries, such as France, the motorway speed limit differs
when it is raining.
- Distance signs are also in kilometres, not miles. The numbers seem
high, but go down more quickly!
Last but not least, take time to prepare for your journey ...
- Take a road map & look at it before you set off. Even if you
have a SatNav doing the work, its best to have an idea where it should
take you, in case it doesn't!
- If you have a European SatNav, set it up for travel abroad. For
example, you might want to display details in kilometres instead of
miles as this will tie up with the signs you see
- Consider the time you are travelling and whether the roads at that
time will be busy. Dover, for example, always seems that bit further
away when you're in a hurry to get the boat!
For a one-stop guide to traffic laws, please visit the IAM
web site here. The site also offers full details of seatbelts &
child restraint laws, radar detectors, drink drive limits and other safety
requirements.
Now go and enjoy your holiday and enjoy your motoring.
Tips from the IAM for Summer
- Now is a good time to treat your car to a spring clean. Salt is a corrosive and will cause rusting if left on the bodywork. If possible take your car to a car wash that specialises in under-car cleaning to get rid of every
trace.
- The UK pollen season starts around now and can be pretty miserable for
hay fever sufferers, so replacing your car’s pollen filter annually is a vital investment. Keeping your air-con well- maintained will help,
too.
- Servicing your air-con will help your car smell better. If it smells stale when you turn the heating on, it could well be a sign that mould is building up in your
condenser.
- Flies will soon be out in force so be sure to refill your washer fluid. Habitually washing the windscreen and headlamps when you stop for fuel is also important as windscreen wipers won’t get rid of all the fly
debris.
- Old wiper blades are not only deafening, they can leave marks on the windscreen, so remember to replace them regularly. After the dust that has fallen from the volcanic ash cloud, it is particularly important that you clean them regularly to avoid damaging your
windscreen.
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