What is the UK’s leading breakdown provider?

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

Start Rescue breakdown provider

Nationwide roadside rescue and recovery provider Start Rescue has been named the UK’s leading breakdown company.

In the annual Which? Recommended Provider customer survey, Start Rescue came out top for the fourth consecutive year, with the highest percentage of customers feeling they get value for money.

The research found that Start Rescue’s full home, roadside and national annual cover was more than £94 cheaper than the most expensive equivalent competitor, with its most affordable policy starting at just £19.75 per year. 

In taking the top spot in the Which? Recommended Provider Breakdown Services Survey, Start Rescue was placed ahead of some of the biggest names in breakdown, including the AA, RAC and Green Flag.

“Recognition by the largest independent consumer body in the UK for the fourth year in a row is a huge achievement for our team,” said Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue. 

“I’m so proud of the fantastic feedback we continue to receive from our customers, which we believe is the mark of the quality and value for money offered by our range of breakdown cover.”

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Don’t become a ‘breakdown statistic’ this summer, drivers warned

Car journey breakdown - RAC

New figures from RAC Breakdown show only a fifth of UK drivers regularly check their vehicles are ready for long journeys, while a quarter admit to never doing so – dramatically increasing the risk of breaking down and incurring costly garage bills.

The findings, released on the inaugural National Check Your Car Day, come within days of schools breaking up for summer, and the RAC believes many holidays could be ruined by breakdowns.

With pump prices at record highs, the cost of every summer trip by road will be dearer than ever, so it’s vital drivers don’t make matters worse for themselves with an avoidable breakdown.

The RAC expects to attend in the region of 350,000 breakdowns between today and the end of August, with most of these being for problems related to tyres and batteries.

While some of these can’t be avoided, many of them can be, so long as  preventative breakdown tips are followed.

Here’s the RAC’s helpful new FORCES acronym to remind drivers about checks, which should always be accrued out when your car is parked on level ground, switched off, and with a cold engine.

F is for FUEL: Ensure you have enough fuel for your journey. Cars use more fuel in heavy traffic and start/stop conditions typical of summer traffic jams. Don’t risk running out.

O is for OIL: To avoid overheating, engine damage and a potential breakdown, remember to check your oil level and top up when necessary.

R is for RUBBER: It sounds obvious, but your tyres are your car’s only connection with the road so it’s vital to look after them. Check them for signs of wear and damage and replace if necessary. If the tyres aren’t wearing evenly, then tyre pressures may be mismatched or there could be a fault with the steering. Then, check that all four tyres have at least 3mm of tread and are inflated to the correct pressures for whatever load your carrying (check your vehicle handbook for these) – this is vital to maintaining good grip, especially during summer downpours. Also take a look at your wiper blades to ensure they’re clearing the screen effectively and that the rubber has not perished.

C is for COOLANT: This does a vital job in ensuring the engine runs at the right temperature. If it’s not between the ‘min’ and ‘max’ levels, this could be the sign of a problem so contact a good garage without delay.

E is for ELECTRICS: If you have trouble starting your car, it might be time for a new battery so again, contact a garage or the RAC without delay. Your wipers will help keep your windscreen clear of bugs, and you’ll need your lights on during any heavy downpours. The electrics also control your indicators and windows, so check there are no problems.

S is for SCREENWASH: Top-up your windscreen washer fluid by using a good quality screenwash – this will keep your field of view clear of bugs.

“Our message to drivers is really clear – don’t let your well-earned break be ruined by a breakdown, and don’t make this year’s expensive summer even more costly by having to take your car to a garage,” said RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis.

Top tips from RAC patrols on avoiding a breakdown

  • Manchester-based patrol Ben Aldous said: “Put simply, a well-maintained car is much less likely to break down than one that hasn’t been looked after. So, if you have a big drive coming up and suspect something on your car’s not quite right then get it into a good garage as soon as you can this week.”
  • Kevin Andrews, who is works in the Bath area, advised: “Keep your locking wheel nut somewhere you can easily find it as this makes it quicker for us to do a tyre change if needed. Make sure that everything fixed to the outside of your car – bikes, roof boxes – are properly secured. If you’re travelling with a dog, again ensure it’s secure inside and has some food and water. And download and use the free MyRAC mobile app as it makes it much easier for us to find you.”
  • Stuart Lurc, who is based in Salisbury, added: “Check your tyres every time, especially the inside front edges. You can fully lock the steering one way or the other so you can see the condition of your front tyres easily. And whatever you do, don’t start a journey with a known problem!”

Drivers ‘dazzled’ by modern car headlights

Gareth Herincx

4 days ago
Auto News

Dazzling headlights

Nearly one-in-four drivers think most car headlights are too bright, suggests a new RAC study.

And the problem of glare from headlights appears to be getting worse with 63% of drivers who get dazzled saying it’s happening more often than a year or two ago.

Contrary to what might be expected, it’s younger rather than older drivers who are more likely to complain about the apparent brightness of headlights and the effect this has on their driving.

Three-in-10 (30%) of those aged 17-34 think most are too bright, compared to just 19% of those aged 65 and over.

Meanwhile, of those younger drivers who believe some, if not most, car headlights they see are too bright, 70% think the accident risk is increased – while for drivers aged 65-plus the proportion is 62%.

The brightness of some car headlights even appears to be putting motorists off driving at night with 16% of those who complain about the intensity of headlights say they avoid driving at night altogether.

The RAC’s research suggests that the increasing prevalence of vehicles that sit higher on the road, specifically SUVs, might also be exacerbating the problem for those in conventional cars that sit much lower, like hatchbacks, saloons and estates.

“There are a number of factors that contribute to whether a headlight dazzles another driver or not, the most important being the angle of the headlights as you look at them,” said RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis.

“If they’re not angled properly – or the driver in the oncoming car has forgotten to dip their headlights – there’s every chance you’re going to get blinded.

“Modern LED headlight technology may also have a part to play as the human eye reacts to the so-called ‘blue light’ from LEDs differently to the ‘yellow light’ of conventional halogen headlights.”

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Top safety tips to help drivers negotiate rural roads

Gareth Herincx

1 day ago
Auto Blog

Country road

Three-in-10 motorists are so worried about narrow country lanes they deliberately avoid them, according to new research from one of the UK’s biggest car insurers, Ageas, and the RAC.

What’s more, many drivers are prepared to take a detour of 16 miles or 25 minutes to avoid them.

As millions of Brits jump into their cars and head off on staycations in the countryside this summer, the figures highlight just how unnerved many drivers – especially those who live in towns and cities – are by Britain’s rural roads, which account for more than half of all those in the country.

More than half of drivers (58%) say they find using narrow country roads stressful, a figure that rises to 76% for drivers who live in urban areas.

The two biggest causes of stress, according to the research, are the difficulty of squeezing past other vehicles in tight spaces (62%) and the fear of colliding with another vehicle head on (61%).

The RAC has these three simple tips to help drivers negotiate rural roads safely and more stress-free this summer…

Check your route carefully – if using a sat-nav, scrutinise the suggested route before setting out and see whether it’s actually easier and more comfortable to stick to main roads as far as possible instead. And be aware of sat-navs recommending diversions down narrow lanes for the sake of making up just a few minutes – it’s time that’s easily lost if you meet oncoming traffic. Don’t be afraid to take the long way round – perhaps an extra 16 miles or 25 minutes is well worth it

Get in some practice – if you’re not used to negotiating narrow roads, then have some practice driving on some close to home before the pressure of a family holiday

Take your time – while many country roads might have speed limits of 60mph, that doesn’t mean it’s the right speed to drive at – in fact, in many cases it’s incredibly unsafe to do so. Read the road carefully and consider what forward visibility you have. If it’s narrow and winding, reduce your speed accordingly

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