Now’s the time of year when the number of potholes on our roads starts to increase. Winter weather with its extreme temperature variations along with heavy rain and sometimes snow results in more damage to road surfaces. And more holes mean the greater chance that you’ll drive through one and suffer pothole damage to your car in one way or another.
So I thought it would be the perfect time of year to look at pothole damage and what we as drivers can do to spot and limit the effects of it.
It’s been another challenging year and although motoring isn’t everything, it’s still a crucial part of everyday life. To see how many motoring matters have registered with you this year, take our cunning Christmas quiz.
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If you don’t have a first aid kit in your car, today’s the day to get one.
We hope it would only ever need to be used for a minor graze here and there. But, if something serious happens, it’s important to have one close by and know how to use everything in it.
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Christmas and January deals can be hard to resist. It’s on offer, so we need to get it… right?
Not quite.
This year, you could take advantage of the right deals and give your vehicle some TLC. Depending on what you buy, you could save money now and in the long run!
Here are some things that’ll help keep vehicles healthy and drivers happy.
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Increasing numbers of young drivers are deciding that learning to change gear in a car is a waste of time. The past 12 months has seen an 11 per cent year-on-year jump in the number of drivers qualifying with an automatic-only licence.
In 2012, there were just 550,000 drivers holding automatic-only licences. In 2021, that figure had doubled to 1.1 million.
According to a recent survey by safety charity IAM RoadSmart, around six in 10 youngsters between 17 and 24 plan to apply for an automatic-only licence.
Others think the popularity of automatic-only licences could go further, faster. Approved driving instructor Karen Bransgrove revealed: “The market for people learning to drive just an automatic has increased 10-fold over the past few years. I now have an automatic and wouldn’t teach driving a manual.”
Nobody expects (or wants) their vehicle to break down. It’s stressful, it takes up time, it can cost you money if your vehicle needs repairs. Not a great list…
Unfortunately, it happens quite often. Here at Green Flag, we helped with over 500,000 jobs in 2021 alone.
Even though no driver wants to be in that situation, there’s a good chance you’ll have to call on a breakdown cover provider at some point in your life. So, if you don’t have cover already, now may be the time.
That’s why we’ve put all the important info you need about breakdown cover in one place.
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Nobody wants to deal with a breakdown. In fact, that may be the only thing every driver has in common.
It can be a significant inconvenience, cost you money, and it could even pose a danger to yourself, passengers, and others around you.
But, it’s not all doom and gloom. We have good news. There are some simple pre-drive checks you can do that will (hopefully) lower your chances of breaking down.
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British drivers can now buy a car that is so big it won’t fit into our parking spaces. And younger owners will even need an HGV licence to drive it. The all-electric GMC Hummer EV might be exceptional but it’s an example of how cars are continually growing.
Some reports are even suggesting that drivers could inadvertently break the law because they might have the wrong licence to drive such heavy cars. We investigate.
Heating is (begrudgingly) being turned on across the UK as the temperature drops, but our cars are sitting outside, feeling the frost on the cold mornings.
Getting our vehicles going during difficult winter conditions can be time-consuming and frustrating. We often don’t know we need something until the moment we need it, and by then it’s too late. It’s enough to put a chill down anyone’s spine.
To make winter motoring easier, we’ve put together our essential winter kit, complete with helpful items you and your vehicle may need. But what’s included?
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The government’s recent autumn statement revealed new taxes on electric cars. We investigate whether electric vehicle (EV) owners will be out of pocket and what the changes really mean for drivers.