Summer 2008

Get back into the old routine

How often do you make the most basic safety checks on your car’s tyres, battery, indicators, lights, water or oil levels?

If your answer to that question is “every day”, then you’re in a tiny minority of motorists – just four per cent – who carry out these safety checks daily.

But there’s no need to feel so guilty either. If you haven’t done any of these safety checks recently then summer is the time to do some catching up!

Car breakdown service Autonational Rescue is urging motorists to get into a car maintenance routine if they want to avoid a breakdown this summer.

Many more motorists – 43% - make an effort to check their cars themselves at least monthly and, according to an Autonational Rescue survey, 11% do safety checks every three months.

Six per cent however admit to never checking anything on their cars, leaving such things to garage servicing or just to chance!

Said Autonational’s marketing manager Ronan Hart: “When it comes to professional car maintenance, the majority of motorists visit their local garage or main dealer to get their cars serviced.

“But relying on your garage or dealership all of the time doesn’t mean that you are fully protected against breakdowns. Tyres in particular should be checked regularly for damage or any signs of excessive wear and tear.”

Make sure that these are the sort of jobs on your basic fair weather car maintenance hit list next weekend:

• Check tyre tread and pressures (and adjust pressures when you’re carrying extra passengers and/or luggage)
  
• Check oil levels, especially before any long journeys
  
• Check your lights, brake lights, indicators (you can reverse up to a wall or garage door to check your own lights)
  
• Check the battery’s condition unless it’s a maintenance free one (most breakdowns are battery-related!)
  
• Check coolant levels and windscreen water levels

Autonational Rescue is the car breakdown service with the no claims bonus, for more information visit www.autonational.co.uk or call 08459 100 345.

Ends

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Issued by: CPR Works Ltd
Contact: Roger Eversley/Jenny Carr
Tel: 01902 680068
E-mail: info@cpr.co.uk
Web: www.cpr.co.uk