Colder temperatures can increase the thickness of the engine oil, making your engine harder to turn over, thus causing the battery to have to work harder. That said, high heat can be just as damaging to your battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, thus damaging the battery’s internal structure. For this reason it’s always wise to check your battery this time of year, as the season changes from hotter to cooler.

Another thing that can shorten the life of your battery is overcharging it. That is, a malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, can allow too high a charging rate, leading to slow death for a battery.

When charging your battery, be sure the electrical system is at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging. If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly. Add distilled water when necessary.

Have your battery checked if you notice your car’s headlights and interior lights dim, any accessories that fail to operate, or if the “check engine” light on your dashboard is illuminated.

Always keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals, it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

Safe driving from Britannia!

If you are the proud owner of a classic car, it’s important that you take care of it with a Classic Car Insurance package, tailored to meet the requirements of you and your beloved vintage vehicle.

As you know, car insurance is in place to protect you and your vehicle against accidental damage, vandalism and theft. As some classic models are extremely rare and valuable, this can make them highly desirable and vulnerable. It’s therefore imperative to have the necessary coverage.

Classic cars might also be referred to as retro, vintage, collectible or antique cars. Unlike modern cars, they require a little extra care, usually because they aren’t equipped for the daily commute to and from work, or built for racking up the miles. Some classic cars may be for show purposes only, and never used on the road, while other owners might like to keep their classic car as a weekend treat, something to enjoy on a sunny relaxing day when the roads are a lot quieter.

The RAC can provide specialist insurance for such vehicles, providing that your classic motor is used as a second car only, was manufactured before 1990, and does not exceed 5,000 miles a year.

Safe driving from Britannia!

There’s no doubt about the increasing cold at this time of year and a surprising amount of drivers are still tempted to drive off with a partially de-iced windscreen.

Many are guilty of navigating through a small visible area on their windscreen while the rest is still heavily coated with ice, just so they can make it to work on time. It is illegal to drive with a blocked windscreen in less than ideal weather conditions and doing so could result in a hefty fine and points on your licence.

It is essential to clear snow and ice from every window of your car before driving off, as per The Highway Code, but it should also be basic common sense to do so!

Rule 229 also dictates that drivers must demist and clear all mirrors and lights, ensure that their number plates are visible and remove any snow that might fall off their vehicle into the path of other drivers. Also be sure to check your planned route is clear of any delays and that no further snowfalls are predicted.

Safe driving from Britannia!

More than 4,000 motorists in England have been spotted driving offensively over the past two years, following a special operation using an unmarked police lorry. Since April 2015, officers from various forces have used the HGV to film examples of dangerous driving. One man in the East Midlands was caught steering with his knees while eating lunch and using his mobile phone.

Highways England, which funded the vehicle, said it would continue to use the HGV to catch offending drivers. The position of the cab in the lorry allowed police to see inside vehicles on motorways and busy roads. Mobile phone users made up around two-thirds of those pulled over by police.

Other offences included breaking the speed limit, not wearing a seat belt and not being in full control of the vehicle. In Surrey, one driver was caught trying to put toothpaste on a toothbrush, while another person managed to send 10 text messages in an hour while at the wheel. Some 4,176 people were reprimanded during the initiative, with about 400 receiving verbal warnings, and more than 830 being given fixed-penalty notices. More than 100 cases resulted in prosecutions.

Highways England said footage of one driver with his foot on the dashboard while travelling was “particularly alarming”.

Head of road safety Richard Leonard said: “I dread to think what would have happened if he had needed to brake suddenly.

“We will continue to use the HGV to tackle deaths and serious injuries and to encourage people to improve how they drive.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said the HGV is “an important element of our intelligence-led operations against dangerous driving”.

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, NPCC lead for roads policing, said: “People have to think about the consequences of their actions. A moment’s distraction can change innocent lives. It is never a risk worth taking.”

Safe driving from Britannia!

Always remember to obey the speed limit. If you’re travelling too fast, you’ll have less time to react. Speeding is one of the main causes of teenage accidents.

Wear your seat belt and make sure your passengers are buckled up too. And by no means necessary should you try to fit more people in your car than you have safety belts for them to use!

Your car’s head rest should be adjusted to a height directly behind your head, not your neck. This is to minimize whiplash in case you’re involved in an accident.

Always keep your windscreen and windows clean. Sunlight reflecting off a dirty windscreen can impede your vision.

Driving experts recommend that you hold the steering wheel at either 3 and 9 o’clock on the wheel, or even lower at 4 and 8 o’clock. If you’re involved in an accident and the airbags release, you’ll be safer with your hands not hitting your face from the impact of the airbags.

Don’t assume the actions of other drivers on the road. Especially look out for aggressive drivers, and do your best to stay out of their way. Aggressive drivers are the cause of a many road accidents – particularly on multi-lane carriageways.

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A speeding driver whose car had to be rammed by police to end the chase will be sentenced this month. Colchester magistrates heard the 30-year-old man panicked when police started following him after checks flagged up no insurance for the Volkswagen Golf he was driving. After failing to stop, mobile patrol officers pursued the offending driver for five minutes through the Stanway area of Colchester.

According to the prosecuter, the offending driving was travelling at twice the speed limit. “Oncoming traffic swerved to avoid a head-on collision, which resulted in police having to make tactical contact with the car to stop him driving any further. When he was being cautioned, the offending driver repeatedly apologised.”

The Colchester builder, whose employer gave a character reference in court, admitted to dangerous driving without insurance or a valid test certificate, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and for failing to stop. Apparently he was late for work and in desperation drove a car which was not road ready.

Upon realising he was being pursued by police the driver panicked. Eventually he came to an abrupt halt, resulting in the police colliding into the back of his vehicle.

The man was granted unconditional bail until he appears at Ipswich Crown Court later this month for sentencing. Until then he is banned from driving.

Safe driving from Britannia!

Every wondered why in some countries people drive on the right while we drive on the left hand side of the road?

It might surprise you to know that only around 35% of the world’s population drive on the left. As well as England, Scotland and Wales, other parts of the world where people drive on the left include Cyprus, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Uganda.

Many years before cars were invented, everyone all across the world kept on the left hand side when travelling. The reason for this was dates back way before the 1700’s. The majority of people were, and still are, right-handed. Knights would hold their lances under their right arm and so naturally passed on one another’s right to allow attack. It therefore made sense for them to keep on the left when passing strangers as a protective measure.

It all began to change when Napoleon, who was left handed, reversed this practice as part of France’s social reorganisation. Any country that was part of the British Empire remained left handed, while those inhabited by the French were right handed.

The British played only a minor part in shaping the side of the road that Americans drive on today. This was because the French inhabited most of the southern states, the Dutch inhabited New York and the Spanish inhabited areas in South America.

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Thousands of drivers are breaking the law by using diesel cars without pollution filters, experts have told BBC 5 live Investigates.

The DVSA reports that just under 2000 cars have been caught since 2014 – but experts believe the number is much higher, claiming the current MOT test, which requires only a visual inspection, isn’t fit for purpose.

The DVSA plans to introduce new changes to improve the MOT test in 2018. All new diesel cars produced after 2009 have specially designed diesel particulate filters to help reduce pollution, but they can sometimes clog up and break down, costing a great deal to replace. It is illegal for people to drive a car with the filter taken out, however it isn’t illegal for garages to remove them.

5 live Investigates followed the progress of a car which had its filter removed through MOT tests at three different garages.

A spokesman for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said: “DVSA is making further changes to the MOT manual and to the diesel emissions limits for modern vehicles, in May 2018.
“These will make the test more robust and better able to detect where emissions control equipment has been tampered with.”

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Restricted visibility through your windscreen is a common reason for your car to fail its MOT. This could be due to worn wipers, a dirty windscreen or no washer fluid – but cracks and chips caused by stones and road debris, extreme cold or structural weakness are a major cause.

A small crack of about 1cm in size might not seem like a big deal, however if in the driver’s line of vision it can easily obscure vision and distract you while driving. Furthermore, if you go over a road jump or pothole the small chip could dramatically increase to a much larger crack which becomes a bigger (and more expensive) problem to contend with.

Most cracks that are 4cm or smaller can be easily repaired. The area is cleaned and dried, then a clear resin is used to fill the gap. You might want to considering purchasing a DIY windscreen repair kit for under £20, however you need to be confident you can use the kit correctly as a botch job can result in making the damage worse. There are plenty windscreen repair services like Autoglass who can do the job for you while you wait.

To help keep your windscreen in best possible condition, make sure you always have working window washers and there is plenty of fluid in your washer tank. Also be sure that your wipers are in good condition and leave a clean surface.

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A teenager has pleaded guilty to five motoring offences including a hit-and-run collision – with a vehicle he was not yet legally allowed to drive.

Appearing at Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, the 18-year-old man from Torquay was informed that the most serious of the five offences was driving without due care and attention, while the other offences included failing to stop and provide details after an accident, using a vehicle without third party insurance or a valid MOT, and driving without a licence.

Prosecutor Phil Sewell said a silver Ford Fiesta struck a wall and was driven away. The vehicle was later found unattended near the defendant’s address, leaking liquid and missing its front bumper.

Mr Sewell said: “It was a sharp corner and the car struck the wall. After the accident the driver stopped around a corner to examine the vehicle. His friend then parked the vehicle in Lower Warberry Road and they both ran off.”
Anthony Gillies, mitigating, said there was only ‘minor damage’ to the wall, with one brick being dislodged.

Unfortunately there are still far too many people out there who think it’s OK to drive without a full licence or motor insurance – which is why it’s important to always keep your wits about you and stay safe when behind the wheel.

Safe driving from Britannia!