Jul27

Beware the Hazards Lurking in Your Car

Posted by Suzanne Keane on Jul 27, 2020

In the event of an accident flying objects can really hurt you. Suzanne Keane shares some tips on how to stay safe You may not be able to control what goes on outside of your car but you should always ensure your safety when inside a car! The wrong seating position, flying objects and even your pet can become a hazard if the worst was to happen…. 1. Seatbelts There is absolutely no excuse for not wearing a seat belt. It’s also important to make sure the seatbelt is comfortable so if it’s adjustable adjust it! 2. Airbags Airbags are designed to explode and inflate in the event of a collision and work in conjunction with your seatbelt. However, it’s important to keep a safe distance between you and the airbag – usually 25cm and should be measured from the centre of the steering wheel. If you don’t have this clear space between you and the airbag you should adjust your seating position to suit by moving your seat back as far as possible while still comfortably reaching the pedals. If you still don’t have 25cm clear space you should tilt your seat back. If you then have trouble seeing the road clearly adjust the height of the seat up (if your seat is adjustable) or invest in a non-slip cushion! (If your steering wheel is adjustable make sure to tilt it away from your face and towards your chest) 3. Flying objects When possible put everything into the boot – any heavy or sharp object can cause an injury in a collision. If this isn’t possible make sure they are well strapped down. 4. Pets Your dog may love trips in the car but leaving them run loose is not only a distraction while driving – it endangers your pet and you. Ideally, for a small dog or cat you should have a cage that fits easily into the boot (or into the back seat and strapped in with a seatbelt. If you’ve got a large dog and a hatchback or estate the best place for your pet is in the boot – you can buy a mesh or metal bar divider to stop them from jumping around. Otherwise, a harness that straps to the rear seat belts will keep your pet safe on a journey. Suzanne Keane 14th July...

Total Recall – What are Vehicle Recalls and Why do they happen?

Jul24

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Total Recall – What are Vehicle Recalls and Why do they happen?

Posted by Geraldine Herbert on Jul 24, 2020

Total Recall – What are Vehicle Recalls and Why do they happen?

Problems with vehicles are not confined to one car maker. In any one year over 15 million cars can be recalled in Europe alone. Geraldine Herbert explains why recalls occur and what to do if your car is recalled. While car manufacturers continue to recall millions of vehicles every year, for the most part, recalls go unreported because they’re minor and relatively inexpensive to resolve. Some make an impact due to the sheer number of cars involved, others because of the specific details. Who will forget Nissan’s recent recall initiated when the steering wheel came away in the hands of a Finnish Qashqai driver? 13,362,759 vehicle units have been recalled globally by different manufacturers between January 1st and July 13, 2020. This year so far, Toyota has the highest number of recalls at about 3.95 million followed by Ford at 2.9 million. Volvo comes third with 2.8 million recalls while Fiat Chrysler Automobiles lies in the fourth slot with 1.74 million recalls. Honda Motors is fifth with about 1.4 million recalls. Occasionally a vehicle recall becomes a serious issue for car makers, as it did in 2009 for Toyota when 1.3 million Toyota’s worldwide were recalled because of seat- belt and exhaust problems. A further 700,000 cars were recalled over fears of a fire risk in the window electrics. By the end of that year, Toyota had recalled 3.8 million more cars due to the risk that the driver’s side floor mat could jam the accelerator. In 2010, Toyota was forced to stop...

Jul09

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The 7 Worst Car Passengers

Posted by Geraldine Herbert on Jul 9, 2020

The 7 Worst Car Passengers

Forget the endless stopping and starting, the traffic jams and the right-hand-turn-only lane when you’re desperate to go left what causes drivers the most stress is their passengers writes Geraldine Herbert. 1) The Backseat Driver These are the real experts when it comes to driving and they dispense unwanted but well-intentioned advice at every twist and turn in the road. There is simply no driving experience they have not had regardless of conditions and terrain and...

Five Tips for Dealing with Hay Fever when Driving

Jul06

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Five Tips for Dealing with Hay Fever when Driving

Posted by Geraldine Herbert on Jul 6, 2020

Five Tips for Dealing with Hay Fever when Driving

For almost one in five people in Ireland summer time is hay fever season so here are some tips for dealing with Hay Fever when driving writes Geraldine Herbert Driving with a runny nose, headache and constant sneezing is not only annoying but it could be dangerously distracting as it can take your attention off the road. Plus, hay fever season can mean less sleep at night so sufferers are often already more tired...