Mid-Winter Car Safety

Although this winter we have enjoyed above average temperatures in Tasmania, there have been a number of wild, wet and windy days with a few extreme cold temps thrown in. Weather has certain effects on our vehicles, so to keep your car on track for the rest of winter and heading into spring, be sure to complete these simple safety checks.

·       Tyres - Wet roads due to rain or snow can be slippery. If car tyres are worn their ability to grip the road in such conditions is limited. Check the tread on your car’s tyres to ensure it has enough depth in the rubber. Besides being a requirement for registration, this is a major safety concern. Replace worn tyres, and make sure you check the air pressure and adjust according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Don’t forget about the spare!

·       Lights - Fully functioning lights on your vehicle is of high importance in the darker days and rainy nights we can experience in winter. Test all of your car’s lights on a regular basis and replace globes as necessary.

·       Windscreen and wipers - If you’ve noticed they are leaving lines on your windscreen when in use, now is the time to insert new blades. While you are at it, check the wiper fluid and refill. The inside of your windscreen can also become hazy and covered in a dirty film, so clean this too to achieve maximum visibility for safe winter driving.

·       Battery - Extreme cold temperatures put extra strain on your car battery as it has to work harder to get started and continue running. If you notice your engine is having difficulty starting in the morning, check the age of your battery and replace if necessary. You can also have your battery checked at a service centre.

Regular servicing can help keep your car safe and running smoothly. If you haven’t had a full

service done for a while, book one in today and keep you and your family safe on the roads for

the rest of winter.

Teaching Kids to Drive – What they don’t learn at a Driving School

Indicating before changing lanes, checking blind spots and nailing a three-point turn are all requirements to obtain a driver’s licence. While it’s great to outsource the practical lessons to teach your kids how to drive (because, let’s face it, teenagers are not known for taking instructions well from their parents) there are some lessons that just aren’t taught by a trainer but are essential for driving in the real world.

As part of their driving training, be sure to teach your kids the following:

• How to change a tyre (or at least have the roadside assistance number on speed dial!). Changing a tyre in a remote area may be quicker than waiting for roadside assistance to show up.
• Keep a toolbox of essentials in the boot of the car, not only for car difficulties, but also for general safety. A torch, old rag, first aid kit, old blanket, jumper leads and some disposable gloves are a great start.
• Keep a spare mobile phone charger in their car in case of emergencies.
• How to check tyre pressure and refill air.
• How to refill petrol and the grade of petrol that is suited to their car.
• Help them to think about what they would do if they broke down in heavy traffic or in an isolated area. Imagining such a scenario in advance and having a rough idea of what to do will help keep them calm if they find themselves in this situation.
• Reinforce the importance of not using their mobile phone in the car without a hands-free kit.
• General maintenance of their car such as:
• Checking fluid levels
• Changing wiper blades
• Keeping the car manual in the glove box or boot for easy reference if needed
• Ensuring they have the car regularly serviced
• Check the condition of the spare tyre in the boot

Giving your kids a great start to their driving career with these tips will also help you rest easy knowing that they’re safe and well prepared.

Our favourite apps for motoring!

We all love apps on our phones. Whether it’s just to play a mindless game or keep track of appointments, apps have transformed the way in which we organise, play and create. Check out our favourites for your vehicle here:

Fuel Buddy

Free

Track fuel, mileage, services and expenses for multiple vehicles and drivers on this one app. Perfect for the sales team on the road this app captures lots of information for you to monitor. We hear that an automatic driving detection component will soon be implemented by the developers which will be great. No more logging trips each time you get in the car! Available on Android and iPhone.

AAMI Safe Driver and ING Direct Safe Driving Apps

Both Free

 

These apps were developed to give drivers key metric information on their driving. A risk score is calculated depending on harsh acceleration, deceleration or exceeded speed limits.

AAMI Safe Driver App is available free to everyone, regardless of whether you are a customer or not. Their point system rewards safer drivers with bonuses on insurance once certain points are reached.

ING Direct requires the ING On-board diagnostic (OBD) device to be installed in order to use the app. Both apps available on Android and iPhone.

XLR8

Free/In App Purchases

Ok, this one is fun! This will make your old Toyota sound like a Chevy, playing the sounds of prestige cars like Chevrolet Camaro, Ford GT40 or Ferrari 458 Italia through your car’s speakers. Fantasise that you’re driving the car of your dreams as it plays engine sounds of acceleration, braking and revving in accordance with your driving. Kinda daggy, but kinda cool too ;)  Can be used via Bluetooth or plugged in via an aux plug. Android, iPhone and iPad.

Appy Driving! (ha! See what we did there?)

Safety update: Stranded and Alone - How to keep safe and get help fast

Imagine this scenario: One night you’re driving home from netball training and the kids are fighting in the back seat of the car. There are two ways you can drive home: the long way in a well populated area, or the short way which is along an isolated road without lighting.

Exhausted, cold and hungry you decide to go the short way – something you never usually do at night – in an effort to get everyone home quickly. As you are halfway along the dark, remote road you hear a thud, a clunk and realise that one of the tyres on the car has gone flat. Great! Just what you needed!

Here are some tips to help you keep calm, safe and get help as quickly as possible:

• Although this may be obvious, avoid travelling on isolated roads at night if possible. Breaking down in a well-populated area is not nearly as bad. If you are low on petrol or have had car trouble in the past, always choose a well-populated route.

• Ensure your mobile phone is always charged and have a back-up charger in the car for emergencies.

• If you do find yourself stranded, try and keep calm so your children don’t start to get anxious. They can easily pick up on signs of panic and you don’t need them to be freaking out in addition to having to solve car troubles!

• If you know someone who is nearby, call them first to come and pick you up. You can always deal with the car later by calling roadside assistance or attending to it the next day.

• Stay in the car and use a blanket to keep yourself and the kids warm till help arrives.

• If a passing motorist offers help, it’s best not to get out of the car to talk to them, just to be safe. Instead, tell them that you are fine and have help coming right away. Keep your mobile phone in your hand and call the police if you feel unsafe.

Although it’s not pleasant to think about the possibility of being in this situation, a little thought and planning can be the difference between a smooth ride home and a stressful emergency.