Potholes are becoming a regular occurrence on Britain’s roads, resulting in damage to vehicles and posing a potential hazard. Although it is the responsibility of the council to deal with potholes, they can only act accordingly if members of the public (including you!) report them in the first place.

Potholes are the result of moisture entering the cracks in the road, which expands when it freezes in cold weather conditions. The holes get larger as they are driven over which causes further damage to the structure of the road.

The impact potholes may cause to a vehicle can vary from buckled wheels, tyre damage, cracked alloys and in more severe cases, loss of control that can result in an accident.

Protect yourself and your vehicle by keeping alert and your eyes peeled for dreaded potholes. Watch your speed, too – the faster you go over a pothole, the greater the impact. Be mindful when driving in wet weather, for potholes may be hidden under puddles.

Finally, always keep a firm hold of the steering wheel with both hands when driving on a road with potholes so as to maintain full control of your vehicle.

Safe driving from Britannia!

When driving it goes without saying that you will want maximum visibility. A mucky windscreen will impede your vision and cause distraction, so always keep it clean and free of bird droppings, squashed bugs, tree sap and nasty smears.

Cold water won’t shift diesel and oily deposits, and a soapy sponge will prove difficult when trying to remove stubborn blotches. Your local home and motor store should sell a good wax polish or alcohol-based cleaner you can use, which you’ll find proves far more effective.

You should regularly check your widescreen wipers for any damage or wear and tear. If the rubber of the blades is nicked in places, not only will they fail to clean the glass properly, but will leave annoying streak marks across it, that you can live without!

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Coming back to your parked car to find that it has been broken into can be a horrifying discovery. To avoid it from happening, you’ll do wise to ensure you park safely and securely to keep thieves at bay.

Popping back into the house to get something is a perfect scenario for opportunists who may be in the area. Always lock your car and never leave the keys in the ignition, even if you are only leaving it for a couple of seconds.

Leaving your windows open invites thieves to reach in for items through the gap by hand or with a tool, which could also be used to unlock the door for them to get in. If you’re parking at night, be sure to leave your car in a well-lit area and preferably as close to a populated area as possible. Leaving it in the dark in the middle of nowhere is simply asking for trouble!

Always think before leaving your vehicle, no matter how long for. Thieves are clever – don’t present them with any opportunity to rob you and/or cause damage!

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It can happen to anyone of us, particularly in stop-start traffic and/or if we become distracted while driving. If you go into the back of another vehicle, the first thing you should do make sure that no one (yourself included!) is hurt. Stay calm – crashing your car can be an alarming experience but losing you head will not achieve anything.

It is a legal requirement to stop if your vehicle has been damaged following a collision. Consider whether the area is hazardous – for example, did the accident occur on a blind bend or brow of a hill?

Having to exchange details with the other driver involved may be the last thing you feel like doing in view of the circumstances, but it is a legal requirement and will likely help protect you further down the line. Exchange as many details as possible, such as car registration numbers, contact telephone numbers, names and addresses, and any details of the registered keeper if different from the driver. If they are present, you’ll need to show the police your motor insurance documents. If you don’t have it with you, you will be required to take it to your local police station within seven days.

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According to the DVSA (The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency), the driving test in England, Wales and Scotland is set to change as of December 2017 and will include new features and requirements.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones reported that our roads are among the safest in the world. That said, traffic collisions are the biggest killer of young people today. Implementing these changes to the driving test aims to reduce the number of people killed or injured on our roads, and equip new drivers with the skills they need to use our roads safely.

The test will be doubled in length of time, during which candidates are required to drive without turn-by-turn directions from the driving examiner. The candidate will be asked two random ‘show me, tell me’ vehicle safety questions. During the new test, they will also be required to follow directions from a sat nav, which will be provided and configured by the examiner.

Furthermore, the ‘reverse around a corner’ and ‘turn-in-the-road’ manoeuvres will no longer be tested, but learner drivers should still be taught how to do them.

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Many people forget the law about box junctions and will drive into them without checking that they won’t end up stationery in one. By understanding correctly how to use a yellow box junction you can help keep traffic flowing and promote safe driving. Obstructing a yellow box junction can result in a fine, and it goes without sayings that inappropriate use of a yellow box junction will fail a driving test.

Yellow boxes have criss-cross yellow lines painted on the road and are easy to spot. They’re usually found in busy areas, where traffic flow is important. You should never enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. That said, you may enter the box if you are waiting to turn right, and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right. At signalled roundabouts you must never enter the box unless you can pass over it completely without having to stop.

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Finding your perfect car can be a tough process; the most important thing to bear in mind is your budget. After all, your choice of car will be limited to what you can afford. Secondly, what will you be using your car for? If you take the motorway to work and back, you’ll perhaps want to consider a motor that does more miles to the gallon. You’ll do wise to consult the web for the top most economical cars.

There’s also the fuel type to consider; generally if you do fewer than 12,000 miles a year, a petrol engine is recommended. Diesel cars cost more to buy, and you’ll need to cover quite a lot of miles to make up the difference in fuel savings.

Does it matter to you whether you go for a used car, or would you prefer to buy a brand new model fresh out of the showroom? Buying a new car means you’ll benefit from the peace of mind of a manufacturer’s warranty, which should last for at least three years. That said, used cars will almost always be cheaper, plus their previous owners are likely to have taken the initial hit of depreciation, so you won’t have to! Why not take a wander down to your local approved used car dealer?

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We are all guilty of growing attached to our cars, and it can be a sad experience trading it in for a new one – so here’s some sure-fire tips on how you can prolong the life of your beloved motor and keep it in tiptop condition!
Driving smoother and less aggressively will reduce wear and save miles per tankful. Smooth inputs through the steering wheel, gearbox and pedals are also vital factors, along with keeping your eye on the bigger picture when driving to reduce the need for sudden braking.
Keep your car clean to prevent grit, grime and rust. Use correct cleaning solutions that do not contain aggressive chemicals that can damage the paintwork.
Have your car serviced regularly – check your vehicle handbook to know when your car is due a service and what work may be required.
Check your tyres’ inflation and tread once a week; they are your car’s most important safety feature. Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.
Make sure your vehicle’s fluids are topped up on a regular basis. Failure to do so may have calamitous consequences. Check your oil level once a fortnight by lifting the bonnet and removing the dipstick. Dark, dirty oil should be replaced.
When topping up your coolant reservoir and windscreen washer bottle, use 50% distilled water and 50% antifreeze. Do not use washing-up liquid as it contains salt and other nasty additives that will damage your car’s paintwork.
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Number plates (also known as licence or registration plates) should show your vehicle registration number correctly. You should always ensure that your number plate is clean so that it can be read clearly not covered in dirt or exhaust. Damaged registration plates that cannot be read can result in being pulled over by the police and a failed MOT.

The current vehicle registration plate format was introduced in 2001. It consists of 2 letters, referring to the region in the country where your vehicle was first registered, followed by 2 numbers which tell you when the vehicle was issued, then 3 letters chosen at random.

It is possible to get theft-resistant number plates, which are designed to make it harder for someone to remove them from your vehicle and reuse them. For more information ask your local car dealer or registered number plate supplier about theft-resistant plates.

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Would you have a personalised registration plate? If not, what are your thoughts on people who do? With countless types of number plates available for all kinds of individuals, it has become something of a trend to have a customised plate on your vehicle.

Rather than having a plate that matches their name, a lot of drivers now prefer to have something relative to their job or hobbies and interests; for example “K9” if they work with dogs, “CH1PPY” if they run a fish and chip shop or “G4MER” if they love gaming in their spare time! Motorsport enthusiasts might be drawn to the assortment of F1 plates currently available and darts players or fans may find the number 180 to be of relevance.

There are literally millions of personal plates and private registrations to choose from but also many laws and procedures that must be complied with.

Safe driving from Britannia!