The festive period is fast approaching and this Christmas many of you will be embarking on those long journeys across the country to visit close friends and family. We all know what it’s like…the long drive can be tiring with that of the early start, the screaming kids and the continuous weaving between those slow Sunday drivers. Sometimes all you want to do is sit back, relax and let the car do all the hard work. A few years ago this wouldn’t have been given a second thought but now BMW have come up with an all new exciting invention that can potentially put all your worries to one side. The BMW 5 series has a new built in technology that takes control of the wheel so that you don’t have to.
I know what you’re thinking…how on earth is that ever going to be feasible?
BMW have installed 12 sensors around the edge of the car that scan the surrounding road. All the information that these sensors collect is then sent straight to a high tech computer system in the boot of the car which processes it and sends it forward to an advanced GPS system…pretty snazzy! Once you hit the motorway all you would need to do is double click the volume button on the steering wheel and then you’re free to put your feet up!
Even the famous Jeremy Clarkson has tried and tested this exciting new piece of technology. He took a back seat while the BMW 330 took him around the Top Gear track without him even needing to lift a finger!
Don’t get too excited, this new piece of technology is still under review and as a result the car is still a long way from reaching the showrooms. But fear not…the technology has also been a successful guinea pig for future exciting driving gadgets- congestion assist and emergency stop assist. The congestion assist gadget means that your car will be able to drive itself at any speed up to 25 mph! We’ve all been there…half an hour has gone by, you’ve got cramp in your foot and you’ve still not made it through the traffic lights that are within reaching distance. Well now you can sit back, relax and nurse that cramp as the congestion assist gadget does all the hard work for you in that dreaded traffic jam. The emergency stop assist is another clever gadget that is currently under review. It is able to monitor the driver’s health and detect any serious illnesses. If detected, the car then has the ability to safely pull off the road and contact the emergency services on behalf of the driver.
Technology, especially in-car technology has come a long way in the past few decades, from the radio and cassette player to satnavs and portable DVD players. It is therefore hardly surprising to find that this futuristic technology is now in the pipe line. The concern is that this technology will simply promote lazy driving and hamper long term driving abilities. Will motorists that put their trust in this new technology automatically expose themselves to increased danger on the road, or will it help prevent human error when driving and decrease the amount of road accidents? Only time will tell, but it’s safe to say that we are entering a new era of driving and driving safety thanks to new technology like this.
Whether you’re driving or simply enjoying the view make sure that you are insured and covered! Visit eCar- an online insurance solution that allows you to manage your car insurance at a time most suited to you! Alternatively, join Jeremy Clarkson and the boys down at Top Gear Live UK the weekend of the 11th Nov and visit stall s3 to get more great deals on your car insurance. You may even be in with the chance of winning one year’s free car insurance and an iPad2!
Visit eInsurance Group for your insurance needs.
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Showing posts with label Car Insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Car Insurance. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Thursday, 20 October 2011
How to avoid a £10,000 fine and 12 points on your licence. The eInsurance guide to tyre safety.
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.
Follow us on Twitter
Friend us on Facebook
Tune in on YouTube
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.
Follow us on Twitter
Friend us on Facebook
Tune in on YouTube
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