As the winter season approaches and the signs of colder weather are becoming more apparent, it’s not surprising that many websites are giving tokens of advice regarding safety on the road for drivers. Many of these handy tips are there to ensure you don’t run the risk of being involved in an accident on the road. But one car safety tip that is frequently mentioned, is not only there for your protection, but could also save you a fine of up to £10,000 and 12 points on your driving licence – tyre safety.
As October has officially been named Tyre Safety Month, it seems fitting that we’re writing a blog that raises the dangers of having unsafe tyres and the penalty you could pay if you don’t do anything about it.
The main issue amongst most drivers is the fact that the majority are unaware about the laws on tyre safety. A comparison website has recently discovered that 57% of drivers were unaware that the correct tyre depth is 1.6mm, whilst 58% did not know the answer to what the correct pressure of their tyres should be.
Surprisingly, it was also discovered that the age group least likely to know how to put air into their tyres are those aged 18-24, who are the group that not too long ago would have been shown how to do this in their driving lessons. This bears evidence to the fact that not enough is being done to ensure road safety.
So what are the rules on tyre safety? The two main focuses are on tyre depth and tyre pressure. It’s suggested that you should check the pressure of your tyres once per week. However, it’s very unlikely that most people will have the time to do this, so we suggest at least once per month and to make it a priority before embarking on a long distance journey.
Tyre depth is especially important, as this can rack up a hefty fine if it’s not checked frequently. The law states that there should be a minimum of 1.6mm throughout the 3 central quarters of the tyre. If police discover that your vehicle is above this depth, they can slap you with a fine of £2500 and 3 points on your licence for each illegal tyre. Additionally, if you’re involved in a crash and it is found that your tyre depth is below the legal limit, you run the risk of voiding your car insurance policy all together!
Other tips on tyre safety include checking the overall appearance of your tyres. Any visual signs of wear and tear should make you consider replacing the tyre, as this is the cheaper alternative to getting caught with illegal tyres.
This may not be the most interesting topic and checking your tyres regularly is not on top of everyone’s list of priorities, but it’s seen as one of most basic aspects of road safety. It’s a worrying fact that most people are unaware of the rules on tyre safety whilst court convictions for driving on defective tyres are at a four-year high, not to mention the high level of risks you run when driving with illegal tyres.
Help is at hand for those still unsure about how to correctly check their tyres are legal on the road. Throughout Tyre Safety Month, tyresafe.org is sharing the best tips and advice available, with a focus on driving in the winter.
So as the winter months begin to set in, now is the perfect time to get into the habit of checking your tyres. It’s common knowledge that road hazards are much higher during this time and the risk of being involved in a car accident increases. Tyre safety is essential, whatever the weather. To ensure that you are completely covered on the road, this is one aspect of road safety you can’t afford to overlook.
If you’re a driver looking for a great value quote on your car insurance, visit eCar - an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.
Make sure you’re kept safe this winter. Avoid fines and increased risks on the road by making sure your tyres are properly maintained and visit eCar to make sure you get the right cover whilst saving you money on your car insurance at the same time.
Visit eInsurance Group for your insurance needs.
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Thursday 20 October 2011
Thursday 6 October 2011
The eInsurance Group guide to owning a car at university.
It’s that time of year again - a new group of students begin their journey into higher education, with most moving out from home and into their university digs.
For many it’s time to think about purchasing a car in order to get around their new city and also make it easier to drive back home to give the parents some clothes to wash! But with the cost of being a student becoming more and more expensive, it has never been more important to ensure that students can buy a car that will please both their university lives and their wallets.
Here are some handy tips from eInsurance Group:
Get the right Insurance.
It can be difficult for students to find the right type of car insurance policy without it costing most of their student loan! Therefore, it’s very important to shop around and find the right policy for you. When purchasing your car, it’s always a good idea to think about the insurance cost. For example, cars with a smaller size engine and fitted security features will usually get the driver a much cheaper policy.
Students should also consider Pay As You Go options where they can pay monthly instead of being stuck with one large annual payment.
Click here to get a quick and easy quote online with eCar - As well as our Standard Annual Policy, we offer a Short Term Policy from 1 to 28 days, to a flexible Pay as you Go (PAYG) monthly policy.
Student Car-Share Schemes.
This is a great way to save money as well as being environmentally friendly. Student car-share websites such as www.studentcarshare.com can help students find others who are willing to car share in various universities across the country.
Alternatively, you can simply ask those who are on your course if they might be interested in car sharing. Most students generally live in the same areas so it’s worth asking, plus it’s a great way to potentially make new friends on your course.
Choose the right car ...
Choosing a car as a student is not just about what colour you’d like or how fast it can go. The type of car you get can affect what you pay on your insurance, road tax, petrol and all other additional costs you need to make.
Cars such as Ford Fiestas, Vauxhall Corsas and Renault Clios are all popular choices for students as they’re cheap to run and cheap to repair should something go wrong.
Also remember to check the car’s service history. There is no point in buying an old banger for it’s cheap price tag, only to have a massive car-service charge for it further down the line.
...& Haggle!
Once you’ve found the right car, it’s always a good idea to negotiate with the salesperson to ensure you’re getting it as cheap as possible. Most car dealerships set the price high enough to leave some room for haggling, so it’s worth asking how much they are willing to reduce the price to.
Drive safe.
A student who has a car will likely be asked by their peers for lifts to the supermarket, to lectures or from nights out in exchange for petrol money. It’s the latter request that you need to be careful with.
Decide before you go out if you are going to be the designated driver or not. If you’ve made the decision to drive everyone home that night – stick to the soft drinks!
Driving under the influence is a serious crime that can be a major risk both to yourself and all those around you. Police have a zero tolerance policy for this, so it’s not worth taking the risk.
The rule is simple – Don’t drink and drive.
If you’re a young driver looking for a cheap quote, visit eCar - an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.
Visit eInsurance Group for your insurance needs.
Follow us on Twitter
Friend us on Facebook
Tune in on YouTube
For many it’s time to think about purchasing a car in order to get around their new city and also make it easier to drive back home to give the parents some clothes to wash! But with the cost of being a student becoming more and more expensive, it has never been more important to ensure that students can buy a car that will please both their university lives and their wallets.
Here are some handy tips from eInsurance Group:
Get the right Insurance.
It can be difficult for students to find the right type of car insurance policy without it costing most of their student loan! Therefore, it’s very important to shop around and find the right policy for you. When purchasing your car, it’s always a good idea to think about the insurance cost. For example, cars with a smaller size engine and fitted security features will usually get the driver a much cheaper policy.
Students should also consider Pay As You Go options where they can pay monthly instead of being stuck with one large annual payment.
Click here to get a quick and easy quote online with eCar - As well as our Standard Annual Policy, we offer a Short Term Policy from 1 to 28 days, to a flexible Pay as you Go (PAYG) monthly policy.
Student Car-Share Schemes.
This is a great way to save money as well as being environmentally friendly. Student car-share websites such as www.studentcarshare.com can help students find others who are willing to car share in various universities across the country.
Alternatively, you can simply ask those who are on your course if they might be interested in car sharing. Most students generally live in the same areas so it’s worth asking, plus it’s a great way to potentially make new friends on your course.
Choose the right car ...
Choosing a car as a student is not just about what colour you’d like or how fast it can go. The type of car you get can affect what you pay on your insurance, road tax, petrol and all other additional costs you need to make.
Cars such as Ford Fiestas, Vauxhall Corsas and Renault Clios are all popular choices for students as they’re cheap to run and cheap to repair should something go wrong.
Also remember to check the car’s service history. There is no point in buying an old banger for it’s cheap price tag, only to have a massive car-service charge for it further down the line.
...& Haggle!
Once you’ve found the right car, it’s always a good idea to negotiate with the salesperson to ensure you’re getting it as cheap as possible. Most car dealerships set the price high enough to leave some room for haggling, so it’s worth asking how much they are willing to reduce the price to.
Drive safe.
A student who has a car will likely be asked by their peers for lifts to the supermarket, to lectures or from nights out in exchange for petrol money. It’s the latter request that you need to be careful with.
Decide before you go out if you are going to be the designated driver or not. If you’ve made the decision to drive everyone home that night – stick to the soft drinks!
Driving under the influence is a serious crime that can be a major risk both to yourself and all those around you. Police have a zero tolerance policy for this, so it’s not worth taking the risk.
The rule is simple – Don’t drink and drive.
If you’re a young driver looking for a cheap quote, visit eCar - an online insurance solution that will let you manage your car insurance whenever is suitable for you. As well as annual car insurance, we provide short term car insurance from 1 to 28 days and monthly car insurance in the form of a flexible Pay As You Go car insurance policy.
Visit eInsurance Group for your insurance needs.
Follow us on Twitter
Friend us on Facebook
Tune in on YouTube
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