Interesting info-graphic on Road Safety in Ireland courtesy of www.injury-solicitors.
Road Safety in Ireland
Archive for Motorparts
Road Safety in Ireland
Category: Safety, Uncategorised /
What to do when you’re hit from behind
When you set out on a journey, you don’t expect to breakdown or be involved in an accident, but it can, and does happen to drivers on a daily basis. And whether you’re on the motorway, in a city, town or on a rural road, it can be highly dangerous as well as inconvenient. So to avoid panic and putting yourself in unnecessary danger, here are the right steps to follow if an accident or breakdown situation does arise.
WHEN YOU’RE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT
DO stay calm, put your hazard lights on, and find a safe area to stop if possible.
DO set out cones or a reflective triangle to make the accident area more visible to other vehicles. (Make sure you have the right contents in your car for all eventualities). This is particularly important if the crash happens at night or at anytime visibility is low.
DO ask everyone if they’re injured or feeling unwell.
DO call 999 to alert the Gardaí and, if necessary, ambulance and fire services.
DO take the names and contact details of any witnesses, including passengers in every vehicle involved in the crash.
DO ask to see the other drivers’ licences, and take down their licence number, number plate and address. All parties should exchange policy numbers and the names of the insurance companies should be written down.
DO (if possible) take photos or make notes on the accident scene, i.e. the direction the cars are in, skid marks and any debris from the accident.
DO contact your insurance company and give them all the information you gathered at the accident, such as the drivers’ insurance details, the damages sustained, and the types of vehicle involved in the accident.
DON’T ever leave the engine running, otherwise it can become a safety hazard and you risk starting a fire. Once your vehicle has stopped, turn off the ignition immediately.
DON’T administer first aid without the consent of the injured person if they are able to give it. If possible, don’t move or attempt to treat severe injuries until medical services arrive.
DON’T under any circumstances leave the accident until the Gardaí have arrived.
DON’T at any time make an admission of fault.
Finally, in any situation – accident or breakdown try not to panic. Shock and anger are natural emotions, especially in the event of an accident, but if you do your best to remain calm and in control of the situation, it will be a lot easier to get through.
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This content is published with the consent of Liberty Insurance.
Visit the Liberty Insurance Facebook and Twitter pages for more #DriveSafer tips or get a car insurance quote today.
Time to Replace Your Wiper Blades?
Visibility is key to safe driving, especially here in Ireland. A well maintained set of wiper blades are essential not only when facing the wet weather conditions, but also with regards to the continued cleanliness of your windscreen.
It is important to not wait too long to replace worn blades. A torn wiper blade can allow the wiper arm to rub against the glass, which can potentially ruin the windshield.
How Often Should You Replace Wiper Blades?
The wear depends of the temperature and use but it is generally recommended to replace your wiper blades twice a year:
- Autumn: the heat after summer accelerates the wear. Replace those wiper blades before winter comes.
- Spring: the bad weather will decrease the efficiency of your wiper blades. Replace ahead of the summer.
Damaged Blades: Warning Sings
If you notice one of the following, it’s time to replace your wiper blades:
- Your wiper blades leave tracks / haze on the windscreen.
- Wiper blades slide / scrape badly.
- Wiper blades are noisy / squeaky.
- Wiper blades skip across the windshield caused by a curve in the rubber
Wiper Blades: Maintenance
- It’s advisable to give the rubber blades a wipe down every month. This will remove any debris, grime or loose bits of rubber. Use Alcohol wipes are recommended for this.
- You can increase the lifespan of the blades by keeping your windshield clean. Wash your windshields with alcohol to get all of the oil residue from the road off your windscreen. Also, fix any chipped segments on the windscreen – these cut wiper blades.
- During the winter months, defrost the windscreen before switching on the wiper blades.
Find Your Wiper Blades Quickly
With our tools and your registration number, we can find the specific wiper for your car.
Just head to motorparts.ie. Be sure to check the product notes and images provided to ensure they match your current wiper blades.
Category: Buyers-Guide, Knowledge Base, Safety, Uncategorised / Tags: Replace, Windscreen, Winter, Wiper Blades
OE & Matching Quality Parts
If you have ever bought car parts online, you’ve probably encountered the Acronym’s OE (Original Equipment) and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
While you can probably hazard a guess as to what these imply, it’s worth noting their importance and what they signify in terms of the car parts market.
The ‘Block Exemption Regulation’ made it necessary to provide ‘matching quality’ parts acceptable as replacements when a vehicle is still under warranty but being serviced at an independent garage.
This has undoubtedly been a good thing for the consumer. In essence, it meant that the competition for the provision of parts increased, and allowed people to choose a better priced alternative to the Original Equipment part without invalidating their warranty. This has equated to big savings and more consumer choice.
However, it’s not necessarily as simple as just choosing a cheap alternative especially where Engine Management Components are concerned. The electronic content on new vehicles continues to rise at a rapid rate. In the 1980’s, 15% of a vehicle’s value was electronics. Today that number is 40% and growing.
Because of the influx of parts by a large group of manufacturers some caution must be exercised when selecting the part for your vehicle. Sensors, Air Flow Parts and Fuel Injection components rely on electrical connections – an incorrect match will inevitably prevent these parts from functioning properly.
At motorparts.ie, we stock a range of OE and Matching Quality Engine Management Components. CONTACT US for more information.
Pack Smarter, Drive Safer
Golf Clubs…? – Check. Wedding Present…? – Check. Tyre Change Equipment…? – Not so sure?
Irish people will happily drive the length of the country without the slightest clue whether there’s a spare tyre in the car, with over 33% of people not having tyre changing tools!
As part of their #DriveSafer campaign Liberty Insurance commissioned research by Millward Brown to find out driving behaviors and attitudes in Ireland with particular focus on car contents (click on the image below for more information).
Visit their Facebook and Twitter pages for more#DriveSafer tips or get a car insurance quote today.
