62% of Motorists are Afraid to Look Under the Bonnet
Added: (Fri Nov 26 2010)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
With the first snowfalls of the Winter already causing problems for drivers, Top Cashback, the UK's leading free to use cashback website, has put together a few top tips for surviving winter motoring, including peace of mind cover for less than 70p a month.
Tyres – Check pressures; running them at the right pressure will improve grip. Check tread depth (should be a minimum of 3mm) essential for best possible grip in any snow and consider tyre type; a set of winter tyres with a thicker tread pattern and rubber compound better suited to cold conditions will make a big difference.
Oil, Water and screen wash, not forgetting the anti-freeze in the radiator, learn how to check all the levels and carry reserves with you to top up. An oil change prior to the worst of winter is always recommended.
Plan - Allow extra time and consider your route carefully. In bad weather it's well worth avoiding your favourite short-cut using the backroads as it probably won't have been gritted. There may be more traffic on main roads but there's more chance of getting to your destination.
Check Battery Condition – batteries lose their charge much quicker in cold weather and more so if poorly maintained. Modern batteries on newer cars requires little maintenance but with older cars and older batteries you'll need to ensure they're kept in good condition.
Anti-freeze – a 50-50 mix of water and anti-freeze is required in the cooling system throughout the Winter and could save hundred of pounds worth of damage to the engine block. If the fan belt squeals it could be a warning that the water pump is frozen and you will have to wait for the engine to thaw out unless you can get the car to a warm garage.
Smooth - drive as smoothly as possible, accelerate gradually and brake gently, take extra care turning into and out of junctions and corner as smoothly as possible, treat the controls, pedals and steering wheel with a little more respect than normal.
Headlights, side lights, brake lights, fog lights and even number plate lights should be checked and spares bulbs carried just in case, they're more likely to fail in winter than at any other time, just when you need them most.
Back off - Keep your distance when driving in traffic, allow more space to brake and be prepared for the car in front should it start to skid. Also give cyclists and motorcyclists more room.
Always carry the essentials in the car – a decent torch with new batteries, a fully charged mobile, an emergency warning triangle, a high visibility jacket, de-icer and a decent ice scraper, a first aid kit, a tow rope and a set of jump leads (even if they're just to help other motorists).
Clean the windscreen inside and out regularly throughout the winter, the slightest greasy mark on the inside can make the difference between a safe trip or calling the emergency services. Clean all the ice and snow from the windscreen before you set off and make sure the wiper blades are in good condition. Using the air-conditioning may not be good for fuel consumption but it will help with demisting. It's also a good idea to keep a pair of sunglasses handy for those early morning and late afternoon commutes when the sun is low in the sky.
Kitted out - Take outdoor clothing (including boots) in case you have to get out to summon help and if really bad weather is forecast, consider carrying food, a flask of hot drink and a rug or even a sleeping bag in case you find yourself trapped.
Figures from some of the major breakdown organisations in the UK show that December and January are their busiest months of the year, with Monday mornings, between 9.00 and 10.00 being the peak time for calls for help.
The most common reasons for calling for help are punctures and flat batteries, problems that are easily sorted with a little knowledge and a basic understanding of what goes on under the bonnet. However one survey among RAC patrols discovered that 62% of motorists were 'afraid' to look under the bonnet, highlighting an alarming lack of knowledge of even the rudimentary workings of their faithful car. In the same survey, 44% of patrols even reported being called out to fill up the windscreen washer bottle.
Anyone venturing out without breakdown cover can expect to pay at least £200 if they need to be recovered from the hard shoulder of the motorway and in 2007 £120m was paid by the 2 million drivers who broke down without any cover.
Basic breakdown cover from The AA or The RAC costs £28 and anyone buying through Top Cashback can earn either £20 (RAC) or £21 (The AA) cashback, resulting in annual cover for as little as £8.00 per year, a 75% saving. At less than 70p per month, surely there's no excuse for not being covered.
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Date: 26 November 2010
Issued by Duncan Robb
For further information call 0207 1939 029 or email duncan@topcashback.co.uk
Notes for Editors:
TopCashBack is the UK’s most generous and biggest free to use cashback website. Retailers pay a referral commission for any purchase made on their website via topcashback.co.uk but rather than keep this commission, Top CashBack passes 100% straight back to the customer as ‘cashback’. TopCashBack is funded by sponsored adverts across the site. The basic aim is to help each and every UK resident to save as much money as possible on their online shopping. Established in 2005 TopCashBack has an ethos of ‘fair play’ and has gone from strength-to-strength with a member base now approaching 700,000.