Car Race Systems

Driving conditions during the winter can be extremely difficult, even for experienced drivers.  All motors need to be adequately prepared to face winter weather and there are a number of items that you can bring to ensure you can face anything winter has to throw at you.

A number of items will help in case of break down or emergency.  Keep a set of warm clothes, coats, jackets and blankets to ensure that you can stay warm if you need to wait for help.  Non-perishable food and water will help sustain you if you and your family are stuck.

As the days grow shorter during winter, there will be less hours of sunlight.  This is why it is important to keep sources of light on board at all times.  A torch is crucial in addition to matches and candles.  You can also keep an old tin in the car to light a candle in which can be used for quickly melting snow.  Tyre chains and a shovel can come in useful to clear ice or snow.  A set of jump leads can be used in case of roadside breakdowns.

You should check under the bonnet as there are a number of problems that can arise in the winter.  You should check that your battery is not low or flat from frequent short journeys.  Check your battery connections are secure and corrosion free.  You should also ensure that in icy weather that you have topped up the engine with antifreeze.  A common cause of vehicle breakdown can be low temperatures.

Whilst everyone may have a differing view as to what constitutes essentials for travelling, there are a few things that everyone should try and ensure are contained in their car. 

Firstly, a camera is incredibly useful for insurance purposes if you find yourself in an accident, no matter how small.  As many phones now come equipped with an in-built camera, this is not an unrealistic aim.  Keeping a bottle of water on board is also a good idea, just in case you breakdown and end up having to wait a while without being in easy reach of a shop or garage.  A blanket is also useful, if you can’t get your car started and you get stuck somewhere out in the cold, this will keep you warm.  A charger for your mobile phone is a wise choice to keep in your car and if your phone is ever low on battery then it’s a good idea to charge it, just in case you break down and don’t have enough charge to call for help. 

A list of essential information such as your breakdown telephone number and registration details ensure that if you do breakdown, you’ll be able to save time by having all the details to hand.  Lastly, a map is an onboard essential just in case you get lost or your Satellite Navigation System loses signal.  When travelling any kind of distance, consider the things you will definitely need to cover possible eventualities and keep a stock in your car so that you’re never caught short.

Whether you have bought your car outright, in part exchange, or have financed it over a period of time, you need to check it regularly for roadworthiness, and be able to make a few running repairs yourself.  Otherwise, you will end up spending a fortune in garages, or else have a vehicle that quickly deteriorates.

Your tyres, for example, provide the vital link with the surface of the road, and need to be in pretty good condition to ensure passenger safety and comfort when driving.

Evenness of wear over the width of the tread should be checked for, making note especially of nails or other sharp items that might have penetrated the casing. The more a tyre is inflated, the narrower the part in contact with the road.  If it is over-inflated, it will wear more along the middle part, whereas an under-inflated tyre will wear most quickly along the edges.

Incorrect alignment or faulty suspension could be the cause of uneven tyre wear, and if it is in patches, then the wheel may be unbalanced. With any form of uneven wear you should pop along for advice to your local garage for checks.

Examine the walls of the tyre for damage from potholes and other irregularities in the road, and make sure the valve cap is secure when you do so. Remove gravel from between tread blocks, and fit the spare if you find a nail in the tyre.  Take the tyre to a tyre specialist to see whether it can be repaired or needs to be replaced.

The importance of car maintenance on a regular basis can hardly be over emphasised, and is absolutely vital for ensuring that your car remains roadworthy. Of course, you can always take it to the garage for regular servicing, usually once a year, but if in the meantime you check a few things on a weekly and monthly basis, like tyre pressures, brake fluid, and oil, your car will certainly last longer. It will also be easier to sell when you get round to it.

Serious car owners carry all the tools they need in the boot for doing things such as changing the tyres, but anyone can do running repairs, such as cleaning and adjusting the windscreen wipers, and topping up the screen wash and brake fluid regularly.

Even in modern cars, where computers monitor and adjust automatically many of the systems, if you do regular maintenance you will help avoid problems, or at the very least, spot them before they have a chance of getting out of hand and cause your car to break down in the middle of nowhere.

Even though there are lots of different makes and models, most engines and systems have the same essential function. There are variations of layout and design within these basic parameters, and your car handbook will specify your particular details.

It is useful to get a general car maintenance book and read through it to familiarise yourself with the overall functioning that most cars have in common. This will help enormously when it comes to doing your own repairs and talking knowledgeably with garage staff. 

The speed limits on our roads are often the subject of discussion – both positive and negative.  However, it is extremely important to appreciate they are there for a reason, and must be respected.

The faster a car is travelling, the longer it will take that car to come to a full stop in an emergency situation.  Particularly in school and residential areas where a large number of children are present, lower speed limits are put in place for safety reasons.  However, this does not seem to prevent many drivers from believing the speed limits on our roads do not apply to them.

You should always allow yourself plenty of time before you begin a journey, regardless of the distance you will be travelling.  If you leave with little time to spare, you are more likely to break the speed limit of the road you are using, and more likely to be involved in an accident.  Speed limits are there to ensure that all drivers are travelling at a speed deemed safe for that particular road.  If they were not in place, the results would be catastrophic.

Not only do you want to avoid an accident, you also want to avoid an unnecessary fine and the inevitable penalty points on your driving licence which you will receive if you are caught driving too fast.

Remember, as frustrating as you may find the speed limit on a particular road, they are there for a reason and need to respected for your safety as well as the safety of drivers and pedestrians.

Vehicle emissions are known to be a major contributor to climate change, and driving is viewed as a particularly environmentally-unfriendly activity.  However, there are ways in which we can improve our green credentials when driving.

Regular car servicing and maintenance will ensure the engine in your car performs as well as it possibly can, reducing fuel consumption and therefore emissions.  It is vital to monitor the oil and water levels, and tyre pressures.  Having properly inflated tyres will improve your driving and lower your fuel consumption.  One of the simplest ways to be a greener driver is to slow down, as this saves fuel and reduces emissions.  It is also advisable to remove extra weight from the boot, as well as roof-racks and luggage boxes, as these create extra resistance which, in-turn, uses more fuel. 

It is a good idea to plan your route before setting off, as this lessens the risk of getting lost and using more fuel than necessary.  Motoring organisations, such as the AA, recommend only starting your engine once you are ready to leave.  Many people start the engine and idle for several minutes before departing, which is a waste of fuel.

You can also adjust your driving style in order to decrease fuel consumption, such as driving smoothly and consistently, rather than accelerating and braking sharply.  It is also advisable to change gears as soon as possible, as this reduces the strain on the engine.  The AA recommends changing gears at 2000rpm in a diesel car and at 2500rpm in a petrol car.

You would probably rather not drive your car in bad weather, but there are times when you must do so.  The worse the weather conditions, the more the chances are that you could be involved in a skid or a collision.  Your car could break down, leaving you stranded, something that could happen at any time, but it is especially inconvenient when the weather is bad or if repairs are required. 

You should always carry an emergency kit in your boot for just such occasions.  When heading out into inclement winter weather it might make sense to place it in the back of the car, on the floor, where you can easily access it without having to step out in the weather to retrieve it from the boot.  You can always put it back in the boot when you arrive home.

Here is a list of the items you should carry with you in your inclement weather emergency pack.  A torch, hat, gloves, warm shoes, extra pair of socks, extra warm coat, blanket, inflatable pillow, shovel; a reflective jacket, in case you have to stand near the roadway, tea; candles and safe holders to help with heat and light; 12V in-car kettle, tea bags, packets of instant soup, powdered coffee and several chocolate bars or energy bars, portable radio and batteries. 

Electronic items can be useful too, of course.  Keep your 12V phone charger with you.  Ideally, the torch and radio should be the wind-up type, so they do not need batteries.  If you do not have a travel kettle, before leaving home you should boil up some water for a flask or two.  If there is snow on the ground you can melt some to use as water for the kettle. 

The cost of fuel is ever-increasing, and we are all looking for ways to save money in the current economic climate.  At one time, driving a diesel motor was a cheaper option than petrol, but this is no longer justifiable, with both diesel and petrol prices rocketing every day. 

However, it is possible to drive your car in the most economical way, saving fuel and therefore saving money.  Efficient driving tends to reduce everyday wear and tear on a car too, which also reduces expensive trips to the garage.

The most obvious but truly effective thing to do to save fuel is to slow down.  When you drive over 50mph, the increased air resistance burns up to 20% more fuel.  By keeping your speed down, you will certainly save money.  It is also safer, as you will have more time to react to things as they happen in front of you.  Another good tip is to keep your car relatively tidy and free from clutter.  Extra items in the boot weigh the car down and cause the engine to work harder, which of course burns more fuel.

It is also a good idea to check your tyre pressures regularly.  Your car’s user manual will advise you what the pressures should be.  Having properly inflated tyres will improve your driving and lower your fuel consumption.  Other ways to drive more economically are to switch off the air conditioner when travelling at slow speeds.   However, at high speeds it is better to close the windows and turn on the air conditioner, as open windows create air resistance which uses up more fuel. 

In the past, deciding whether to buy a petrol or diesel car was often a decision to be made based on the type and length of journey you would make in your new car the majority of the time.  However, recent European regulations regarding exhaust emission limits have made the decision a somewhat more complicated and important one.

Diesel

Diesel cars are more costly than their petrol counterparts but they will generally hold their value better in the long term.  They may be the better option if you are looking at making frequent long journeys, especially on motorways.  Though they were generally more suited to shorter journeys in the past, the modern fitting of diesel particulate filters require long runs at high engine speeds.  A diesel car will cost less per mile in fuel on average and will also have lower C02 emissions despite the fuel’s more toxic nature.

Petrol

Petrol cars are more suited to the driver who will make short journeys around local roads.  However, they are not as efficient as a diesel engine car due to higher combustion temperatures.  There are several other advantages for choosing a petrol car, including lower noise levels when driving, lower toxic nitrogen oxide emissions and lower maintenance costs.

Conclusion

It is important to remember that there is not a definitive answer to which option is both the most cost effective and environmentally friendly.  You must consider the size, performance and your intended use for the vehicle.

Taking your driving lessons with a dedicated driving school in Blackpool or your local area, gives you the best chance of passing your driving test. Your driving instructor will teach you all of the driving skills you need to become a competent driver and will help you hone your driving skills.

During your driving lessons you will have one to one tuition and will never share your driving time with another student; the car will be fully maintained and have a full tank of petrol so you will never have to stop for petrol or any other factors and can concentrate on driving.

Your driving instructor will have a log book in which they will write down all of your progress and things that you might not be confident on; this helps them to taylor make the lessons to you, taking into account your current level and what you need to practice on.

The best way to be ready for your driving test is to take lessons with an accredited driving school in Blackpool or local area; this will give you the best chance of passing first time and getting out onto the open road.