Category: Blog

Driving at night is hell.

It’s dark, we’re tired, high beams are glaring in our eyes. Why would anyone want to hit the road late at night?

Well sometimes it’s just unavoidable.

But night time driving is more than a simple annoyance. It’s dangerous too.

Fatalities occur at a rate three times greater on the road at night, than in the day

Depth perception, peripheral vision and your ability to distinguish colour are all diminished.

So what can you do to make sure you’re safe?

Let’s find out…

Don’t look at the lights! – Inside the car, dark at night, your eyes are used to the dim glow of your dashboard and the road in front of you. And when a car comes towards you it’s easy to become distracted by their headlights.

When you’re driving, try to avoid directly looking into oncoming lights by slightly turning your head away until they’ve passed.

Get plenty of sleep – Driving tired is dangerous in the day, so at night, that danger doubles. If you’re planning on taking a long journey get plenty of sleep prior to it. Drink lots of coffee too.

It’s the time of day your body is preparing to shut down and sleep. That’s why making sure you’re alert is vitally important.

Plan your route – Getting lost in the dead of night is never good. Make sure you know exactly which route to take.

Research where you’re going before you set out and plan a backup route in case there’s traffic.

Let family and friends know where you’re going and which route you’re taking too. That way if there’s an accident and you don’t arrive at the destination within the designated time they can locate you quickly.

Create a roadside emergency kit – Any number of things can happen on the road. You could breakdown with no form of communication, get jammed in a traffic jam, slide out on a frozen street.

Preparation is always a good idea.

The emergency kit will provide the tools you need to remain safe.

In your emergency kit keep:

• A torch
• A blanket
• Plasters
• Tweezers
• Tools
• Gloves
• Food

Dim your dash lights – Your dashboard is an important part of your car. It tells you how much gas you have, how fast you’re going and if there are any issues in the vehicle. But at night it can be more of a hindrance than a help if not set up correctly.

Dim the dash so it doesn’t glare into your eyes. The brighter it is the more it’ll compromise your forward vision. And if you’re struggling to figure out how to dim the dash, take it into your local garage.

Check the weather – Before you embark on your night time trip check the weather. Driving at night is difficult at the best of times and snow, sleet and heavy rain will make it a whole lot harder.

If there’s a severe weather warning we suggest you re-organise. The risk isn’t worth it.

Light up – Light can be both a danger to you and a saviour. As we’ve already mentioned high beams, headlights and the dash board lights can all make night time driving dangerous. Your headlights however, can save you.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure they’re in working order. If one is weaker than the other, replace it. It’ll become a distraction to others on the road. Oh, and don’t forget your brake lights. They’re just as important.

Make sure your lights aren’t covered with dirt and debris too. They need to be in tip top shape if they’re going to be beneficial.

Only hit the road at night if you’re well prepared. It might seem a little over the top now, but taking an emergency kit, cleaning your headlights and dipping your dash lights could save your life.

The UK new car sales industry is currently booming, boasting an all time high in 10 years, thanks to a positive surge in economic reconstruction and a high demand for the all new 64-plate.

In September 2014, sales reached a whopping 425, 861, which is a 5.6% increase compared to last years final figures. That calculates to an extra 22,725 new vehicles on the road this September, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

If you think those numbers are impressive, the number of registrations for the year-to-date have reached 1,958,196, which is a staggering 9.1% increase in comparison to January – September 2013.

These ever-growing figures represent a 31st year of consecutive monthly increase. Which is hardly surprising, September is often the most popular and busiest month in terms of consumers shopping for a new car.

The chief executive of SMMT, Mike Hawkes, stated “September’s strong performance underlined the continuing robustness of the UK new car market, particularly in the context of last September’s bumper volumes.

“Demand for the new 64-plate has been boosted by intensifying confidence in the UK economy, with consumers attracted by a wide range of exciting, increasingly fuel-efficient, new cars.”

On the other hand, he also sent out a warning message in terms of the market going off the boil. “In the months since March – which saw an 18% jump in registrations – the growth has shown signs of levelling off as the market starts to find its natural running rate,” Mr Hawes said.

Which car models have sold most this year-to-date?

At the top of the list is the ever popular Ford Fiesta, topping the list so far having shifted 106,930 units so far, that’s almost a quarter of total car sales for the year!

Not forgetting the Ford Focus, which isn’t quite as popular amongst consumers as the Fiesta, but with a highly-respectable 67, 105 new registered cars on the road, I’m sure Bill Ford and his team will be over the moon.

Vauxhall have also seen an impressive amount of both the Corsa and Astra models, selling over 100,000 new cars combined. Volkswagen aren’t too far behind the British giants, having sold just over 95,000 units, which only accounts for the Golf and Polo models.

Which type of fuel is most popular?

(figures as of September 2014) Petrol and Diesel models are clearly the most popular, taking up the majority of the market share, and this has been consistently shown over the years.

211,801 of the cars sold so far this year run on petrol, 204,105 use diesel and the remaining 9,955 are AFV (Alternative Fuel Vehicles).

Although the statistics show that there are more Petrol based vehicles on the roads, Diesel has seen a 5.9% increase since last years figures, which is 2% better than that of Petrol. Petrol vehicles accounted for over half of the market share last year, but has dropped to just below at 49.7%.

Although many of us aren’t surprised by the low figure that alternative fuel vehicles holds, this part of the market has actually seen a drastic increase over the past 12 months. AFV’s have seen a 55.9% increase in new car sales, which is a positive sign for the likes of electric cars and hybrid vehicles.

What does the new 64-plate mean for potential buyers?

The release of these brand new registration plates is a chance for those who want to keep up with the latest car trends or who are currently active in the new car market, to purchase the latest models or grab themselves a bargain with an older model.

Many of the reputable car deals at this time will drop the prices of their outdated vehicles (in this instance, anything lower than and including the 63 plate) so as mentioned, for those who are more concerned about the price of the car rather than the model or specification, it’s a great time to be proactive as a consumer.

Since the introduction of the T-Plate in 1999, the registration plate format was amended from having just one new release each year (in August), to two. Currently, numberplates upgrade on the first of March and also September. So, what are the benefits of purchasing a 64-plate?

Well, as well as being able to show off the latest motor and registration to everyone, a more recent numberplate can benefit you if you decide to sell the car early after purchase (hopefully you won’t be in that situation).

Plus, if you’re one for customising your registration plate, the new 64-plate opens up a window of witty-lettering. Here are a few examples we’ve put together for your entertainment, and possible influence?

If you’d like to know more, you can refer to the Autotrader Complete Registration Guide for the finer details.

What effect has the plate change had?

With consumer demand rising year on year, March and September typically account for around a third of a year’s total car sales.

Take a look at the visuals below to gain further insight into the powerful effect of the reg-plate change, taken directly from the SMMT website.

The above chart simply clarify’s that March and September have been the most popular months in terms of the new car sales market, over the past 9 years.

The statistics below show the percentage change in new car sales year-on-year, and as you can see the results are quite varied.

The first quarter of the year tends to see the highest increase in new cars on the road, due to the release of the new reg-plates in March.

For even more statistics, visit the official SMMT website.

Nearly every driver has suffered a fit of road rage at one point.

Someone cutting you up, a cyclist in the middle of the road, people indicating the wrong way – it can all be a little frustrating. Okay, very frustrating. But that frustration can quickly make way to anger. And that’s when things become dangerous.

The UK is the road rage capital of the world. What’s more worrying is that one study by Max Power found that three in five people were fine about their road rage and said that the people they were shouting at ‘deserved it’.

So the roads aren’t always a friendly place to be. But they’re going to be even worse if you’re getting behind the wheel in the wrong mindset.

When angry with other road users you’re opening yourself up to a whole host of distractions. And we all know how dangerous distractions can be on the road.

So to help you keep you cool and stay safe we’ve put together a few helpful tips.

Get plenty of sleep – Its 8am. The roads are packed, you’re tired, you’re on the way to work and you didn’t get enough sleep last night. And to top it all off someone cuts you up.

Who can blame you if you become a little angry?

Driving tired is never a good idea. Yes you’re grumpy, but you also have slower reaction times, it affects your ability to make decisions and you’ll be far less attentive.

Research has found that almost 20% of all major road accidents are down to sleep (or lack of). Which means a sleep-related accident is much more likely to cause a fatality.

So when you’re gesturing at that cyclist remember, they probably weren’t in the wrong. It might have been you and your lack of sleep to blame.

It’s not all about you – When a driver cuts you up or almost crashes into you it can feel like it was a deliberate move to make you angry. They’re just being idiots, right?

Well… that might not be the case. People make mistakes every day on the road, and most of the time they aren’t serious. So give a thought to that driver or cyclist. They might just be having a bad day!

Plan ahead – Running late is often the most common cause of road rage. A driver who has somewhere to be doesn’t give any thought to other people using the road. They need to get to their destination and quick.

If you get in there way, you’ll know about it.

Don’t be that guy.

Plan your route and how long it takes to get there. Then add 10-20 minutes on top of it for traffic, stopping for gas or grabbing a bite to eat.

Take a break – Long journeys on the road can be hell. You’re cramped up behind the wheel for hours. The last thing you want is some idiot driver waving about all over the road in front of you.

Whenever you’re taking long trips in your car, plan a few pit stops. These breaks are the perfect time to stretch your legs, grab a bite to eat, visit the bathroom and to relax. We’ve already told you how dangerous fatigue can be so these stops are vital.

Eat plenty – When hungry, we become grumpy. Add a traffic jam to that formula and you get red faced, fuming anger.

Not great for the road.

Always have some snacks kept away in the glove compartment for those moments you’re stuck in a jam and starving. And make sure you eat enough before heading on a long trip!

Play some music – Imagine this: a pedestrian walks out in to the road without looking. They force you to do an emergency stop. Your coffee ends up everywhere. The pedestrian turns to you, mouths a word of apology and heads out on their merry way.

Your hand goes to the door handle. You’re going to give this guy a torrent of abuse. He could have been killed!

Stop.

Yes, they’re at fault, not you. But is it worth getting out and shouting until your voice hurts? Is it worth spending the rest of your journey gripping the steering wheel like you’re trying to rip it out?

No. It isn’t.

Try putting some of your favourite music on to take your mind off the anger. Studies have shown that music affects our mood in a positive way so it could end up being the perfect way to relax on your journey to work.

Don’t put yourself and others around you at risk and let road rage get the better of you. Try these tips next time you hit the road!

While the amount of accidents on the road is decreasing year by year they’re still a very real risk for anyone travelling on the road. Travelling by car remains one of the most dangerous modes of transport around and it’s likely that many drivers will find themselves in an accident at some point.

But because it isn’t a regular occurrence not many know the procedure they should take when they find that they’re in a crash.

That’s why we’ve put together this quick course on what you should do in the event of an accident.

First things first – If you’ve had a collision with another driver the first thing you should do is ensure that no one is hurt. This is of paramount importance because if an injury is left unattended to it could quickly worsen. If someone has been injured ring the emergency services immediately.

It’s important that you remain calm too. You’re probably a little shook up from the incident but you’re going to need your wits about you. Take deep breaths and a few seconds out to compose yourself.

Stop – If you’ve damaged property or another vehicle then it’s a legal requirement that you stop. You should also note where the accident has taken place. If it’s a hazard to other drivers then you need ask someone to direct traffic until the emergency services arrive.

The other driver – If you have collided with another vehicle you’re going to have to communicate with whoever was in that vehicle. If they attempt to flee the scene you need to ring the police. Don’t let the other driver bully you into taking the blame either – make sure that you never admit liability regardless of whose fault it is; that’s something for the police to decide on. Try and note anything out of the ordinary about the driver too. Do they seem intoxicated? Were they holding a mobile? Was there anything unusual about their driving before the crash?

Don’t confront them about anything you note; just inform the police on their arrival.

Swap details – It’s essential that you swap details with the person you’ve been in an accident with as it’s going to help you further down the line. Take their car registration number, their name, their address, and their phone number.

If there’s been an accident that hasn’t involved another driver then you should inform the police as soon as it’s safe to do so.

What you shouldn’t do – Whilst there’s a long list of stuff that needs to be done, it’s important to note the things that you shouldn’t do in an accident too.

• Lose your cool – It’s all too easy to become angry when your beloved motor has taken a hit, especially so when you know it wasn’t your fault. But losing your cool isn’t going to help anyone. Stay calm and tell the authorities everything you know of the incident.
• Race away from the scene – This is a common issue. If you’re in an accident, don’t think you can get away with it by driving off. You could have left someone injured at the scene. Plus, the chances of someone catching your number plate as you speed away is likely.
• Force blame on the other driver – Don’t try and blame the other driver outright. That isn’t your job. The police will gather the information to decide who’s at fault.

An action plan – As we said, most drivers will, at some point, find themselves in an accident, so why not be prepared? Keep pen and paper in your glove compartment to take down their details. Keep a camera to take pictures of the accident. Place a card in the car that details your medical allergies in case your collision is serious and keep a list of contacts with that slip of paper.

If you’ve been in a collision and your car isn’t worth the hassle, we can take it off your hands. At Sell Your Problem Car ® we make ridding yourself of that rubbish heap simple. Just enter your reg number and leave the rest to us!

Car insurance can be a real nightmare; with a number of traps to fall into and a lot of widely believed myths; it can make finding the right one a real challenge. So to help we’ve put together a list of insurance myths to watch out for.

Going 3^rd party is cheaper – 3^rd party insurance offers less protection so it’d work out cheaper, right? Not necessarily. Research has shown that many young drivers might find it costs less to fully insure their car on a comprehensive basis.

Once you reach 25 premiums are dramatically reduced – This isn’t necessarily true. Age is a factor, but it’s one of many other factors that’ll decide your final cost. So don’t bank on passing 25 working out better for you.

You’re guaranteed a courtesy car – Most insurers’ provide a courtesy car if yours is in for repairs, but they’re only subject for availability. Plus, it’s only offered if your car is taken to an insurer’s approved mechanic. If it’s been nicked, you might not receive one.

A driving conviction means no insurance – If you’ve been convicted of drink driving or another conviction you can still get insurance. There are some companies out there who specialise in high-risk insurance; expect to pay higher premiums though.

Insuring a vehicle with more than one insurer – You car should only ever be under one insurer. You could temporarily insurer you car with someone else but this is only available if the permanent insurer will not cover the driver.

Loyalty is rewarding – Many insurers say that the longer you’re with them, the more rewards you’ll receive. But you may find considerable savings if you were to switch providers. Make sure you’re regularly checking into other insurers and their prices.

The cheaper, the better – Yes, price is important – but it shouldn’t be the complete deciding factor. It’s important that you’re receiving the right level of cover. When you realise all the extras you might need, what was once the cheapest, could end up being the most expensive.

From predicting the weather to contact friends, smart phones make life a lot easier. But communication and weather apps aren’t the only things your smart phone can provide; they make driving easier too.

With all the little annoyances that come with driving, you’ll be glad to have these apps tucked away in your pocket.

Google Maps – Pre-packed onto pretty much every phone out there, this is the benchmark for all other map applications. There too many useful features stuffed into it to mention here, but we’ll touch on the most useful for you.

The first and most common use for the app is its directions function. It turns your phone into a sat-nav offering accurate, turn by turn navigation helping you find your way home or to the beach with ease. And when coupled with the Google Earth app you can make use of street view too. This shows images of the location you’re headed, so if you haven’t been there before, you know exactly what you’re looking for.

When in the app if you swipe from the left hand side you can hit the ‘traffic’ button. The app then alters the colours of roads to show how busy they are. So you’ll be able to find the quickest and least congested route home.

We can’t express how useful this app is; not just in driving, but in every other scenario when you need a little help finding your way.

You can download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps&hl=en_GB

WhatGas Petrol Prices – Isn’t it annoying when you shell out for an expensive fuel stop, drive 5 minutes down the road and spot a petrol station that’s selling it cheaper?

It’s enough to make you pull your hair out.

If you know what we’re talking about then download WhatGas to your phone. Designed to help you keep in check of petrol prices it’s the perfect app for anyone who spends a long time behind the wheel. Open it up and it’ll show a map with the nearest petrol stations and the cheapest prices for Unleaded, Diesel and Petrol.

It’s a community too; allowing you to share your cheap petrol discoveries with other drivers. There’s a pro version with a few more features and a free version. We’ve linked the free version below.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatgas.android

Find My Car – Imagine: you arrive at the airport to jet off on your holidays. You decided to drive rather than pay out for a taxi. When you arrive, the car park is a sea of vehicles. You catch sight of a spot, rip the steering wheel round and dive into the space. Sorted. But when you come back, how are you going to find your car in the endless horizon of gleaming roofs?

There’s an app for that!

Find My Car makes hunting down your parked car easy. It’ll take note of the GPS position, and can then use Google Navigation to guide you back to it. It does this and a whole lot more; well worth it if you’re forgetful.

Download the app here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elibera.android.findmycar&hl=en

Spotify – Music makes spending long hours on the road a lot more fun, but that CD you’ve had in your car for a year has become a little tiresome.

So download Spotfiy; with it (providing you’ve paid for premium) you’ll have literally millions and millions of songs at your fingertips. You can even create a playlist of your favourite driving tunes!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spotify.mobile.android.ui&hl=en_GB

Oh, and one last point. Make sure you use your phone sensibly; no driving and using it at the same time. Purchase a hands free kit!

Take a look at how many cars get written off with our interactive graphic!

A ‘write-off’ is an accident many of us can’t afford. Our cars are important to us; we use them every day to get to work, pick the kids up from school, do the weekly shop, and so many more jobs that, without the use of 4 wheels, would prove difficult.

But how do insurers decide that a car isn’t worth fixing?

If the car is damaged the insurance company will send out an assessor to examine the damage inflicted. They then determine the cost of repair that’s required to the vehicle against the actual value of the car. If it costs more to repair the car to a roadworthy standard than its actual value, the insurer will decide to write the car off.

It’s a common occurrence; one we should expect considering the amount of cars on the road in the UK – a staggering 34,000,000.

To put that into perspective, check out how many vehicles ‘go under’ in the UK each minute below. It might just surprise you…

 

If your car has been ‘written off’, damaged, or is a non-runner then get in touch with us. Here at Sell Your Problem Car ® we make selling your vehicle easy. All you need to do is give us the reg number and we’ll give you a free quote – it’s that simple.