Tips and Blogs

While we are all in lockdown and our cars are only being used for essential journey, Richard Gladman, head of driving and riding standards at IAM RoadSmart, has some simple checks that can ensure your vehicle remains in good condition.

The current situation regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) is fast-moving, and this week’s IAM RoadSmart tips have been written by Simon Bolingbroke from Chelmsford Advanced Motorists group offering advice on what the coronavirus pandemic means for cars and motorists.

Today the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that due to the Coronavirus lockdown vehicle owners will be granted a 6-month exemption from MOT testing, allowing them to continue to travel on essential journeys while minimising the need for social contact with garage and testing centre employees.

Even though the roads are going to be far quieter over the coming weeks as we all follow the government’s self-isolation advice to beat Coronavirus (Covid-19), it’s still important to make sure we practice safe, courteous driving when faced with an approaching emergency vehicle.

It’s time to finally wave goodbye to a rough winter and say hello to the spring and summer months ahead. This week’s tips have been written by Richard Gladman, head of driving and riding standards at IAM RoadSmart, to give advice on getting your car and bike ready for the warmer weather.

For most of my life I always drove a car and didn’t dare think of riding a motorcycle. I’d spoken to a lot of riders and motorcycle groups during my career as a road safety officer with Staffordshire and Derbyshire County Councils, but motorcycle casualties were always a concern to me.

It seemed a good idea at the time; a road trip to Disneyland Paris, and why not offer to take the 12-year-old nephew with me? A boys’ road trip, what could be more fun!

I was visiting a classic car show recently and chanced across The Motor Repair Manual, a book for the home mechanic dating from the 1930s. The term DIY wasn’t invented back then, but the sub title A Practical Handbook for Owner Drivers And Amateur Mechanics makes the intended readership clear.

Back in 2017 I attended a Ladies Skills Day at Thruxton for the first time. Whilst very nervous to start, I learnt loads. 2018 was even better as I was looking forward to it, knew what to expect and was excited by the anticipation of meeting Maria Costello. The day exceeded all expectations.

A few weeks ago it seemed that spring had arrived. I bought a shiny new helmet, and with temperatures in the high teens I had a most enjoyable weekend ride up to a bright, balmy Dunstable Downs and rejoiced at the arrival of the new biking season (for fair-weather riders like me).