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Guide to driving in winter

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Driving can be dangerous during the colder months of the year, with snow, sleet and ice. Not to mention the darker mornings and early evenings.  

That’s why Sainsbury’s Bank Money Matters blog has put together a useful guide, packed full of tips for staying safe on the roads during winter. The handy guide offers information and tips on how to prepare for winter driving, and what to do if poor conditions cause you problems while on the road.

 

Stay safe on all roads this winter by taking driving lessons with a qualified instructor with your local driving school and don’t add to the statistics in the Paisley, Renfrewshire and Glasgow areas or further afield.

 

You can download it by clicking the link below:

https://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/~/media/files/resources/guide-to-driving-in-winter.pdf?la=en

Driving test pass in Paisley

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Congratulations go to Robin Marshall on passing his driving test first time today, the pressure was on to join both his brother and sister on passing their tests first time with me and he done it with flying colours and almost a clean sheet after taking lessons with Paisley driving instructor Ricky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well done Robin, safe driving, it was an absolute pleasure on lessons with you, good luck on the job front and hope to see you on the road soon. 🚗

Paisley driving test pass for Jennifer

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Congratulations to Jennifer ORourke on passing her driving test first time with a fantastic drive in Paisley after taking driving tuition with Learn Me driving school instructor Ricky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope to see you on the road soon, when you get your car and will miss our lessons, you never failed to make me laugh, so pleased for you.
Have a good night out to celebrate and safe driving for life. 🚗

4 essential winter driving tips for new drivers

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4 essential winter driving tips for new drivers

If you’re a new driver, the British winter brings a whole range of hazards that you may be experiencing for the first time after your test.

In the run up to Christmas, when roads are busier, the nights get dark, and icy conditions are more common, you’re statistically more likely to get into an accident than at any other time of the year. In fact, research has shown that the 5 December is the most dangerous day for motorists (Co-Op Insurance), as more accidents occur than on any other day.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the essential winter driving tips that you need to know as a new driver. Read on to find out more.

Consider switching to winter tyres

Winter tyres are designed to offer more traction and grip when the weather takes a turn for the worst. You should seriously consider winter tyres if you live in the country, or any other area where road conditions can get particularly treacherous.

Though driving on winter tyres is the best way to deal with icy conditions, they can be costly to buy and install, which puts many new drivers off. You can save money by purchasing the tyres and fitting them yourself, which is a life skill worth learning — take a look at Lookers’ guide to changing a tyre to learn how. Alternatively, there are lower cost snow chains and snow socks you can fit to provide an additional level of grip too.

Adjust your driving style

As you are a recently qualified driver, you’re probably already cautious when on the road, but winter driving requires a whole new level of care and attention. Firstly, braking distance on icy roads increases tenfold compared to braking in regular conditions, according to the RAC, so it’s essential that you leave a much larger gap between you and the next car. You’ll need to be even more vigilant for potential hazards too, so keep your eyes peeled.

Take care to operate your car smoothly to reduce your chances of skidding on the ice. If you do, be sure to steer gently into the direction your car is moving and don’t let go of the wheel or apply the car’s brakes heavily.

Prepare for driving on country roads

If you live in the country or need to head out of your town or city, you’ll find that rural roads receive a lot less maintenance attention than those in urban areas, so following the advice in the point above is very important. However, you also need to prepare for the worst in case you do have an accident, as help or roadside assistance will take longer to reach you. Always check the weather forecast before you head out and, if the outlook is grim, reconsider whether this journey is really necessary.

You also need to make sure you have the right kit for country driving in winter. Items like extra de-icer, ice scrapers, a first aid kit, and a fully-charged mobile phone are essential if you find yourself in an emergency, so pack them all into your boot before you head out. Motoring specialists Halfords have a full gear checklist that is worth looking over to see if you’ve missed anything.

Carry out regular safety checks

Though you will have covered carrying out regular safety checks while learning to drive, it’s very important that you carry them out through the winter when the risks of suffering an accident are greater. Plus, if you do experience a mechanical breakdown, the weather can often make the wait time for assistance longer than usual, so it’s wise to be proactive instead.

The AA recommends that you follow the FLOWER principle, which stands for: fuel, lights, oil, water, electrics, and rubber. You should aim to carry out these checks every couple of weeks in regular weather, but you may want to increase this to weekly during the winter.

Take these four top tips on board this winter and you will be much better placed to avoid any accidents or breakdowns. And, if the worst should happen, you will be well prepared to deal with the situation.

Looking for driving lessons in Paisley, Renfrewshire and Glasgow areas? Call, txt, email or request a call back from website at Learn Me Driving School

Considering taking your car to Uni

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Things to consider if you’re taking your car to Uni

 As a new driver heading off to Glasgow, Paisley or a further afield University, bringing your car along may be an appealing option, reinforcing your new-found freedom. But, before you pack up your car with your worldly belongings, take time to ponder if having a car in tow will actually be a benefit, or a hindrance.

Location

Whether a car will be useful at Uni or not largely depends on where you’re going. City or town Unis often boast excellent public transport links, so having a car may not be that important. However, if you’re studying at a rural location, a car may prove a godsend. Also consider whether you’re living on or off campus. If you live away from the University, you may need a car to get to lectures on time. If you’re planning on travelling home frequently, a car increases your ability to get around.

Parking and safety

Consider where you’ll park your car at Uni as that could affect the cost of your car insurance as a student so be sure to consider all options. Permits may be available for students, but find out how much these cost and how easy it is to get one. If your only option is to park on the road, how safe will your car be? Look at crime statistics for the area you’re studying at and weigh up the risks. Some student areas are hotspots for crime, and if your car is one of the top ten stolen cars in the UK, there’s a higher chance that your beloved vehicle could be stolen and not be recovered.

Cost

Weigh up the costs, including parking and permit fees, compared with using public transport.

As well as topping it up with fuel, you’ll need to keep the car taxed, insured and up-to-date with its MOT. And remember that you’ll need to let your insurer know you’re changing address if you take your car with you to Uni so that the policy remains valid.

You could always consider keep costs down by asking friends to chip in, by offering them lifts to lectures, the supermarket or trips out? The world is your oyster and being a student is an exciting time. We hope the above helps you weigh up some of the pros and cons to consider when considering taking your car to Uni.

Are you are looking for temporary car insurance? Check out Tempcover, it has a specific guide dedicated to Temporary Student Car Insurance.

So after taking you driving lessons and passing your test, consider all these things before taking your car along.

10 Important Car Maintenance Tips

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10 Important Car Maintenance Tips

car-engine

10 Important Car Maintenance Tips
Keeping your car in good condition does more than just prevent some issues, it also helps save you money and can keep your car running for years. While this isn’t always easy, and it does sometimes cost a little bit of money to do, practicing good car maintenance will help ensure that you’re never stuck on the side of the road waiting for help because your car has broken down. It also helps prevent those horrible repair bills that wipe out your savings or leave you in a large amount of debt.

Following the maintenance schedule set out in your owner’s manual and using the recommended formulation and type of oil and other fluids will help keep your vehicle running smoothly and extend its lifespan. If you want to keep your car running well, here are ten of the most important car maintenance tips you’ll want to follow.

#1 – Check your oil regularly and change it at the recommended intervals. This is perhaps the single most important thing you can do to keep your engine running well. Also make certain you change the filter as needed or recommended. Check your owner’s manual for the correct oil weight to use.

#2 – Change your coolant at least once every year, and flush the entire system when you do so. This will help keep the engine from overheating and prevent debris from sticking to the interior of the system. Use a mixture that is half distilled water, half coolant for the best results.

#3 – Change your transmission fluid and your differential oils at the recommended intervals. These liquids may not need to be changed as frequently as your oil, but they still require service at specific times or after driving a certain distance.

#4 – Keep your car clean by washing off the underside of your vehicle and all around the wheels. Doing so will help knock off anything that has gotten stuck to the axle, back of the tires, and on other parts of the undercarriage. This is an especially good idea if you’ve been driving on many roads that were salted to prevent them from icing since the salt can cause issues if it’s left on your car too long.

#5 – Make sure you lubricate every required part of the engine and the rest of your vehicle regularly. Without proper grease to keep them moving, parts can seize up or rub against each other until they’re too worn to function.

#6 – Put down a coat of wax on your car, two times a year to keep it looking amazing. The wax will provide an extra layer of sealant over your car’s paint, preventing chipping and keeping it looking shiny and new.

#7 – Also remember to lubricate things such as the u-joints that make up the driveline. These components can be a little harder to get to since you might have to remove the driveline in order to get into the zerk grease fitting.

#8 – Watch where you park. By parking in the shade and putting up a sun screen in your windshield, you will help keep the interior of your car looking great. You may also want to put down a layer of UV protection over the vinyl and plastic on the interior to help keep it from developing cracks. Don’t forget to keep your car clean, too—nothing leaves your car looking worse that garbage all over it!

#9 – Take the time to clean and repack the bearings on the wheels using the correct grease according to the timeframe giving in your owner’s manual. It’s much easier and cheaper to do this than it is to replace the parts.

#10 – Be sure to flush your brake system and replace the brake fluid annually. The fluid actually attracts moisture, and that can lead to corrosion forming within the brake system. Prevent this by regularly maintaining the system.

By Katie Kress @ http://citygirldc.com