Motoring

Expert tips: how to drive safely in winter weather

Driving tips for winter weather

As winter sets in, drivers face a host of hazards from the harsh weather. From dark mornings to icy roads, and smearing windscreens to sudden heavy snowfall, the winter brings added challenges that are just waiting to catch out drivers.

To help ensure everyone gets to their destination safely, Green Flag turned to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) which promotes better driving, and asked Peter Rodger, its head of driving advice, to share his top 10 tips for driving safely in winter weather. Continue reading →

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How to clean and care for your car in winter weather

Clean and care for your car this winter

Give your car a good clean and work off the Christmas excess while you’re at it. (Picture © Autoglym)

Many drivers rarely give their car a second glance, but our motors do need a bit of TLC. So here are half a dozen ways you can clean and care for your car in the harsh winter weather Continue reading →

James Foxall 1 Comment

Perfect Christmas gifts for car fans

Perfect Christmas gifts for car fans

Track days where you drive your own car can be a brilliant present (Picture © Guild of Motoring Writers)

The perfect Christmas gifts for car fans can vary from something they’ll use on their car to something about their car or something to do with their car. It may even be their first car, if they’re very young. Or it could be an item of retro clothing that helps them turn back the years. Here are five ideas for the perfect Christmas gifts for the car enthusiast in your life.  Continue reading →

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How to get your car ready for cold weather

How to get your car ready for cold weather

You don’t need four-wheel drive to stay safe in snow – but it helps. And there are other ways to get your car ready for cold weather. (Picture © Ford)

With temperatures set to plunge this week, new research reveals how unprepared many drivers are for the onset of freezing weather. With the Met Office predicting snow in some parts of the country, along with the thermometer dropping to -5 degrees Celsius in rural areas, Green Flag shows how to get your car ready for cold weather.  Continue reading →

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Great British Drives: Yorkshire Dales

Great British Drive Yorkshire

Amazing views are guaranteed in the Yorkshire Dales. (Picture courtesy of Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority)

Where? Settle to Richmond

When to drive it? Winter

Essential stop? Buttertubs Pass

Perfect stay: The Punchbowl Inn, Low Row, North Yorks

To see another side of our green and pleasant land, try a Great British Drive in the Yorkshire Dales in the winter months. The mornings can be crisp and the winds chill but you’ll catch sight of some of nature’s most inspired efforts and arguably, some of man’s too.  Continue reading →

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Great British Drives: Somerset

Plenty of views to be had whether it's inland or at the coast. This is Porlock. (Picture © ENPA)

Plenty of views to be had whether it’s inland or at the coast. This is Porlock. (Picture © ENPA)

Where? Somerset

When to drive it? Summer/Autumn

Essential stop? Tropiquaria

Perfect Stay: The Langbury, Blue Anchor Bay, Minehead

Being an island makes Britain unique among its European siblings in many ways. One of them is that it’s possible to drive from coast to coast with ease in multiple parts of the country. For a combination of things to do and beauty head to the south west and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. However, few drives in Somerset have the all-round family appeal of one that actually starts in Dorset, at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis.  Continue reading →

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Expert advice: how to cope with a motorway breakdown

Slow moving motorway traffic. But what happens if you break down in it? Read on to find out (Picture © Volvo)

Slow moving motorway traffic. But what happens if you break down in it? Read on to find out (Picture © Volvo)

Motorways might be safe roads to drive on, but they can be a nightmare to break down on. What should you do if your car conks out in the fast lane? Where’s the safest place to stand? Who do you contact and what will they do? This answers all those questions and more.

For specific advice on what to do if you break down on a Smart motorway, read this article.
Continue reading →

Mike Shaw 4 Comments

Great British Drives: Suffolk

Step back in time at Lavenham Guildhall (Picture © Lavenham Photographic)

Step back in time at Lavenham Guildhall (Picture © Lavenham Photographic)

Where: Suffolk

When to drive it: Autumn

Essential stop: Fishing for crabs at Southwold

Perfect stay: The Crown, Southwold

As our Indian Summer continues and the sun heads off the more typical grey autumnal days, Suffolk is the perfect destination for families who want to unwind and grab some precious, undivided time together.  Continue reading →

James Mills

Great British Drives: Inverness, Scotland

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness (Picture © Shutterstock)

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness (Picture © Shutterstock)

Where: Inverness
When to drive it: Summer or autumn
Essential stop: The Cairngorms and Loch Ness
Perfect stay: The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore

Sat in the northern reaches of Scotland, Inverness may look like it’s a long way from anywhere but it’s actually the gateway to some of the most scenic spots Scotland has to offer.  Continue reading →

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Great British Drives: The Elan Valley, Wales

The Elan Valley, Wales

(Picture © Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water)

Where Elan valley: Breathtaking beauty, wildlife and the dambusters

When to drive it Summer and winter

Essential stop Elan Valley Visitor centre

Perfect stay Brynafon Country House Hotel

The Elan Valley is a driver’s delight while still offering plenty for all the family in one compact package. Set in the rugged Cambrian Mountains, Elan is one of the most stunning, unspoilt and diverse landscapes in the British Isles. A site of Special Scientific Interest because of its flora and fauna, it also has a ribbon of tarmac that will enable the keen driver to put their car through its paces.

Continue reading →

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Expert advice: What to do if your car breaks down at the roadside

What to do if your car has broken down

(Picture © Foxy Lady Drivers Club)

Few drivers leave the house expecting their trip to be interrupted by a conked out car. A breakdown normally comes out of the blue and in the middle of a journey, often leaving people stranded at the roadside – a potentially hazardous environment.

So ahead of the summer holiday rush to the road (this year more Brits are expected to opt for a staycation, thanks to the good weather) it’s important that drivers know what to do in the event of a car breaking down and how to take care of themselves and any passengers. Here are my tips for ensuring everyone stays safe until professional assistance arrives.

Continue reading →

Mike Shaw 2 Comments

Don’t be shortchanged: hire car advice to avoid disaster

Green Flag hire car tips

Make sure your hire car is big enough for your holiday luggage (Picture © Europcar)

Every year millions of Britons hire cars abroad to give them the freedom of the open road. Yet for many the hire car experience ends up causing stress and expense long after their tans have faded. The Post Office Car Rental Report discovered that 56 per cent of people who hire cars don’t cover themselves for tyre or glass damage and 76 per cent don’t take out cover against high excess charges. Failing to take both these simple measures can leave holiday makers out of pocket. Follow our car hire tips to ensure that your holiday isn’t memorable for all the wrong reasons.  Continue reading →

James Foxall 2 Comments

Are we there yet? Best in-car entertainment for kids

Children in car best accessories for kids

Keep the kids entertained with in-car games (Picture © Peugeot)

As any parent knows, road trips with the family during the school holidays rarely lend themselves to a restful time. Research is required if weary families are to find ways to keep kids in cars occupied for hours at a time when they’d rather be running around burning off energy.

Fortunately, we’ve done the leg work for you. Here is a selection of the best in-car games and accessories that will help keep journeys as peaceful and harmonious as possible.  Continue reading →

James Mills 1 Comment

Expert advice: top five summer breakdowns

Low oil pressure is a common cause of breakdowns (Picture © Mobil 1)

Low oil pressure is a common cause of breakdowns (Picture © Mobil 1)

The nature of breakdowns changes between winter and summer. In the winter we’re called out to faults that tend to be relatively easy to find and fix. In the summer, faults are more serious because the heat tends to place more stress on critical components.

Here are five of the typical faults we see in hot weather. Continue reading →

Mike Shaw 2 Comments

Tips to steer clear of summer towing trouble

Nearly half of towing related crashes happen in summer (Picture © TyreSafe)

Nearly half of towing related crashes happen in summer (Picture © TyreSafe)

Thousands of the drivers who tow caravans and trailers will end up being stranded by the roadside this summer. According to figures from the Highways England, there were nearly 5000 towing-related incidents in 2013 with almost half happening between July and September.

The primary causes of accidents and breakdowns include overloading the caravan or trailer, a mismatch with the towing vehicle, burst tyres and poor towing technique. Highways England spokesman Andy Withington said: “We encourage anyone towing during the holiday season to prepare before they set out and take a few simple steps once they are on the road to avoid becoming involved in an incident.”

Highways England’s advice is to:  Continue reading →

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Great British Drives: The Sussex coast

View out to sea from Beachy Head (Picture © VisitEastbourne.com)

View out to sea from Beachy Head (Picture © VisitEastbourne.com)

Where: Sussex, where the South Downs roll into the sea
When to drive it: Any season
Essential stop: Brighton Pier and Chichester
Perfect stay: Crab & Lobster, Pagham Harbour

If your idea of a great drive requires a good view, then the perfect drive in Sussex has to begin at one of the most majestic coastline vistas of all: Beachy Head.  Continue reading →

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Expert advice: simple mistakes driving abroad

Basic errors can mean an abandoned holiday. (Picture © TyreSafe)

Basic errors can mean an abandoned holiday. (Picture © TyreSafe)

It’s frequently the simplest things that catch people out. Sam Jackson explains how many of the drivers Green Flag helps to get on the road again could have avoided the problem or minimised the impact if they hadn’t made the simplest of errors. Here are some of the most common mistakes drivers make when travelling abroad.  Continue reading →

Mike Shaw Leave a comment