“I’m a shocking driver,” says England cricketer Freddie Flintoff. “I’ve had lots of minor scrapes in the past but the worst was when I filled up my Volkswagen Touareg with petrol instead of diesel. I broke down in rush hour.” Flat battery Flat tyre or tyre blowout Keys locked in vehicle or keys lost Electrical […]

“I drive a Toyota Prius. It cost about £17,000, and is so good on petrol that I can’t remember which side of the car the fuel cap is on!” says comedian Bill Bailey. Keep speed down: between 25mph and 55mph uses the least petrol. Drive smoothly: jerky braking and harsh acceleration eats up fuel. Ditch […]

What is breakdown cover? It’s a bit like insurance because you’re paying for something you might never use – you might never break down. Unlikely! And when you do break down, miles from people, a garage and tools, you’ll be pleased you can call out an emergency mechanic. How much does it cost? Cover costs […]

One third of UK drivers can’t read a map. In fact, a survey found that most drivers would fail their Cub Scout map-reading badge! So why try doing it while driving? If you don’t want to get stuck on the A13 for seven hours, make sure you know where you’re going before you set off. […]

Every drug will have different effect on your driving skills. This quick guide tells you exactly why drug driving is never a good idea.  Give yourself a fighting chance, if you crash and need urgent medical help, if you have illegal drugs in your system, they could kill you.  Many young people die because they […]

Even the Formula 1 drivers skid – it happens to the best drivers, and at some time, it’ll happen to you. Water, ice, road surfaces or wet leaves can send you skidding out of control. So what should you do? Tip number one: stay cool and don’t panic. You’ve got more time to react than […]

Imagine a nasty little notice – a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) – has dropped through your letterbox. It claims your car has driven through a red light. Or bust Basildon’s 30mph speed limit. “But I’ve never been to Basildon… honest, bruv!” Maybe it wasn’t you who jumped the red but as the registered keeper […]

It’s not just other drivers you need to look out for on the road – you need to take care of your own safety, too. Follow these steps to ensure your personal safety when you’re driving: Always wear a seatbelt Plan your route so you get safely from A to B without needing to stop […]

If you see a collision, the police may ask you to be a witness; they’ll want your name and contact details. Drivers involved in the incident may ask you, too. They may need a witness to make an insurance claim. Make notes of the incident as soon as you can, so you don’t forget the […]

In an ideal world, you’d never get a flat tyre… Fat chance! The average car gets a puncture every 38,000 miles. Hopefully your time will come when your motor’s parked just outside your front door or in the garage. Nice and convenient. But if your tyre goes flat when you’re driving along the A12 in […]