In the best case scenario when breaking down, you would have everything that you need to hand, however, this isn’t always the case. Ease the stress of a potential breakdown by packing these useful items in the boot of your car. Hopefully, you won’t need to use them, but if you did, it would make the situation easier to manage!
You can also plan ahead by checking your tyres and engine fluid levels every three weeks and ahead of long journeys.
Breaking down whilst driving can be a stressful experience, but you need to prioritise the safety of yourself, your passengers and other road users. You can do this by trying to pull over and park somewhere that will cause as little of an obstruction as possible. Once parked, switch on your hazard warning lights so as to warn other traffic that you are in difficulty.
If it is safe, set up a warning triangle 50 yards behind your vehicle and put on a reflective jacket. If you can, and it is safe to do so, you may carry out repairs to your vehicle, but remain aware of traffic at all times.
Ensure that all passengers are in a safe place away from the road, at least a few metres from the vehicle, and use your mobile to call for help if required. If you are on a busy road or you were forced to park in a dangerous position, such as on the brow of a hill or around a bend, you should call the police who will be able to set up traffic alerts to help divert traffic and prevent potential accidents.
If your vehicle breaks down when you are travelling on the motorway, you must get off as soon as possible. If it is an emergency, you can use the hard shoulder, if not, you should pull in to the next service station you come to.
It is illegal to use the hard shoulder for anything other than an emergency, but if this is your only option you should pull on to it safely and stop as far to the left as possible, positioning your wheels so that they all face left.
You should then put on your handbrake, hazard lights and side lights and safely exit the vehicle using the left hand doors. All passengers should exit the vehicle safely and wait on the bank, behind the barrier, away from the road. You should put on your reflective jacket, if you have one, but never attempt to repair your vehicle or set up a warning triangle on a motorway.
Phone for assistance using your mobile phone and also inform the police of your breakdown.
Common causes of breakdowns include the following:
To safeguard against breaking down, Dexel Tyre & Auto Centre would recommend having a car service at least every 12 months, or 12,000 miles, whichever comes soonest. Take a look at all of the car servicing options available at Dexel Tyre & Auto Centre here.
For further advice on what to do in case of breaking down or to have any components of your vehicle checked, simply contact your local Dexel Tyre & Autocentre branch.
The potential dangers of driving in summer are often underestimated or overlooked, but with varying weather conditions and potentially more traffic on the road as people set off on summer getaways, it is important that you are prepared for all the trials and tribulations of summer driving.
To keep you safe on the road this summer, Dexel Tyre & Auto Centre have compiled a list of helpful driving essentials to carry with you when travelling and keep you prepared for whatever lies ahead.
During hot temperatures, tyre rubber is much more susceptible to wear as the heat and friction from the surface of the road can aggravate it. It is therefore important that you check your tyre pressures and visually inspect them for any damage before heading on a summer road trip. Damaged or incorrectly inflated tyres are more likely to suffer punctures or blow-outs on a hot road.
As well as checking your tyres, you should think about carrying a spare tyre or tyre repair kit with you as a precaution.
Getting stuck in heavy traffic in hot weather means you run the risk of overheating your engine. To safeguard against this, you should check and top up your engine coolant before any long journeys, but as precaution always carry a spare bottle of water in your car.
If your car does overheat whilst you are driving, you should stop as soon as safely possible and allow the engine to cool down. When the bonnet and coolant container are cool enough to touch, top up with the water slowly. You should then drive to the nearest garage and have your engine looked at by a specialist and your coolant filled up with the correct fluid.
It is a good idea to always carry an in-car phone charger or even a spare mobile phone with you whilst driving. This will help you to contact family or your breakdown service if you run in to difficulty whilst driving.
You should ensure that you have a pair of sunglasses easily to hand whilst driving in summer. The sun’s glare can be distracting and could potentially dazzle you, impairing your vision whilst driving.
Even if it is warm when you set off on your journey, summer weather in the UK is notoriously unpredictable so you should carry something warm and waterproof with you in case of emergency.
Be prepared for summer driving by making sure that you carry the right equipment and checking your vehicle before you set off on a long journey. For further information on driving this summer or if you would like a specialist to take a look at the condition of your tyres before you undertake any long journeys, simply contact your local Dexel Tyre & Auto Centre.
The condition of your tyres has a huge impact on your vehicle’s performance on the road. Tyres control your braking distances, gripping capabilities and keep you safe in wet conditions so it is important that you look after them properly and know when it is time to replace them.
Over time, tyres will need replacing due to everyday wear and tear. Think you may need to replace your tyres? These are the signs to look out for:
Tyres are designed to grip th
e surface of the road, resist aquaplaning and ensure that you brake safely. As your tread depth reduces, however, so will your tyres' capabilities.
Once your tyre tread depth is lower than 3mm your tyres’ capabilities will be significantly reduced and any lower than 1.6mm is illegal. So you must have you tyres replaced when the tread falls between these depths.
You can roughly check your tyre tread depth at home using a twenty pence piece, as shown in our guide. Tyres also have tread wear indicator to show when your tyres need replacing, like on this Michelin tyre.
Large cracks in the sidewall of your tyre can be dangerous. If you notice any, you should replace your tyres as soon as possible. There could be damage to the internal structure of the tyre, which may mean it is close to a blow-out.
In addition, little cracks all over the tyre may mean that the rubber is breaking down and could be susceptible to falling apart. This could also be highly dangerous if ignored so you must have this looked over by a specialist or replace your tyres as soon as possible.
Lumps, bulges and bumps on the surface of the tyre are all signs that the structural integrity of the tyre has been compromised.
This weakening of the internal structure of the tyre means the tyre may no longer able to support the load of your vehicle, and if put under continued load could lead to a dangerous blow-out.
This type of tyre damage, unfortunately, cannot be repaired.
Most punctures can be repaired as long as the puncture is within the central ¾ of the tyres tread, and no additional structural damaged has been caused.
Even if a tyre specialist says your punctured tyre is repairable, it is worth considering your tyre's condition. If it is fairly worn, it might be more economical to simply replace it a little early.
For further advice on tyre safety or if you would like to have your tyres checked over by a specialist, contact your local Dexel Tyre and Auto Centre branch.
Alternatively, you can purchase new tyres easily online. Simply search for your tyre size and select the tyres of your choice. You can then either purchase online, or reserve and collect, and arrange a fitting at your local branch at a time to suit you.