Avoid a Car Crash with these Pointers

Richard Craig
November 13, 2010

Richard Craig
http://www.accidentadvicehelpline.co.uk

Whether a driver is under- or overconfident, skilled or not, if they fail to control their vehicle properly then they pose a great danger to themselves and others

While it would undoubtedly be expensive, there is no doubt that introducing a stricter test for all new drivers would help, along with raising the minimum age for testing. Current criticism of the driving test is based on the perceived notion that instructors teach new drivers basic pointers on how to pass their test, without necessarily imparting enough information on real-world driving per se.

There are various schemes that aim to alert young drivers to the dangers of improper road use, such as Deadly Mates, set up by a couple whose son was killed by a drunken friend.

Most car crashes can be blamed on the driver, but some can be pinned on the car as well.

Every private vehicle (ie not a bus or a taxi) must pass an MOT on its third birthday and each year after that. The line can be blurred if for some reason the car was never registered, even if it's many years old (as part of a private collection, perhaps) or if it is imported from another country outside the UK.

The MOT certifies that, at the precise point of testing, the vehicle is considered to be roadworthy to at least the minimum standard. The test certificate lasts for a year but this is no implicit guarantee that the car will be roadworthy for that period of time. It is still up to the car's keeper to ensure that it is legal for that period of time.

The MOT checks items such as the operation of the lights, the brakes, seatbelts and horn and the condition of the tyres, the suspension and the bodywork, among other things. It is not certify the safety of some of the car's other major components.

...which is why you should also ensure that your car is maintained properly. Not only will it save you money in the long run, as major, costly problems are less likely to develop. A service will usually include items that can contribute to road safety - like a change of brake fluid or brake materials.

The more expensive the tyre, the better they will be, in terms of performance and longevity. Cheap tyres, as I have iterated before, are a false economy. They are manufactured from cheap rubber and feature basic tread patterns which, combined, lead to less grip and greater degradation. Cheap tyres increase your chances of skidding and having an accident.

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How can we reduce the number of car crash deaths in the UK?
Richard Craig explains a few pointers

http://www.accidentadvicehelpline.co.uk/road_traffic_accident_claims/car_accident_claims/