Safety Tips & Advice
To help motorists RoadDriver has written and compiled dozens of practical Tips and Advice on driving topics; we hope you will find these informative and useful. We have included a printable version should you wish to read later or pass on to friends and family.
Eco-Safe Driving Tips and Advice
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What is Eco-Driving - Eco-driving is a driving style that is both ecological and economical - it is a combination of Safe driving, Defensive driving and Anticipatory driving.
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Eco-Driving versus New Vehicle Green Technology - Extract from "Easy on the Gas" a report on Eco Driving by the RAC Foundation.
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Does Eco-Driving improve road safety? - Eco-Driving improves road safety as well as the quality of the local and global environment and saves fuel and costs.
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10 Practical steps you can take before you drive - If you care about reducing fuel costs and helping the environment, carrying out these basic maintenance and vehicle checks will make a considerable contribution to lowering your carbon footprint.
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Choices that will save money and help the environment - One of the first steps in improving efficiency is tracking fuel consumption. Get in the habit of saving all your fuel receipts, recording distance travelled and fuel economy (MPG).
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Weather conditions and Eco-Driving - Completely clear snow and ice off your vehicle before driving, a layer of ice and snow can weigh a surprising amount. Snow or Ice on your vehicles roof and windows represent a hazard to you and other road users which can result in a fine and penalty points on your licence.
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Tips for Eco-driving - To become an eco-driver you need to make a series of positive and practical actions in order to develop a smooth anticipatory driving style.
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The physics behind Eco-Driving - Eco-driving is a series of driving steps and anticipatory judgements that are aimed at keeping your vehicle moving with the least resistance possible. The aim is to achieve maximum forward motion for the least amount of spent energy in the form of fuel.
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Fleet Co2 Emission Reductions - Delivering CO2 reductions by ensuring vehicles are driven properly is a key factor if you wish to achieve and exceed your company
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Safety Advice for Motorcyclists and their Pillion Passengers
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Safety Advice for Motorcyclists and their Pillion Passengers - This personal story and advice article was written especially for RoadDriver by a courageous and beautiful young woman - Georgia Bennett.
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Five point Safety Guide for Motorcyclists - If your thinking about buying a bike or already an experienced motorcyclist, this article written for RoadDriver by motorcyclehut.co.uk. is an essential read.
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Legal Penalties for Dangerous or Careless Driving
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Driving Penalties and Road Safety - Driving penalties for driving carelessly or whilst drunk can be very severe as outlined in this infographic illustrated for RoadDriver by specialist solicitors at Contactlaw.co.uk.
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General Tips and Advice
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How to apply and remove safety stickers - RoadDriver Safety Stickers are made from Digisol 3 year 150 micron scuff resistant textured monomeric film vinyl
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The Law and Mobile Phones - The government calculates that of the 10million drivers using UK roads daily; one percent are using mobile phones, in other words 100.000 drivers are breaking the law and putting their life and other road users at risk.
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Driving with Pets - In common with children, some animals can get nervous, upset and disoriented both before and during a car journey. Here are some tips to help make travelling with animals more secure and comfortable.
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How to prevent car theft - Typically, your car is your second greatest investment after your home. And if you are like a lot of car enthusiasts, its a source of pride and joy. One danger that thousands of people per year deal with is theft.
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How to avoid buying a stolen car - 350,000 cars are stolen in the UK every year, not all stolen cars are stripped for parts. Many are resold to unknowing and unsuspecting buyers.
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Tips for Driving Abroad - The Institute for Advanced Motorists offers the following general guidelines to make your trip safer and more enjoyable when driving in a country that you are not familiar with.
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What is Defensive Driving? - Defensive driving is a form of training or practice for motor vehicle drivers to drive in such a way that they consciously reduce the dangers associated with driving.
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Pedestrian crossings - For safety and to help pedestrians move about the streets easily, different kinds of crossings can be installed usually near junctions or busy crossing points and in locations with a specific history of pedestrian accidents.
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Stay safe at Railway Crossings - Level Crossings are safe if used correctly. There are over 7,600 Level Crossings both on public and private land that cut across the UK railway network. The type of crossing provided depends on a number of factors - whether the right of way is private or public, volume and nature of traffic and the geographical features of the location. All have one common feature... they are safe if used correctly.
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Road markings and tarmac signage explained - Experts believe drivers often ignore what is painted on the tarmac below their wheels due to eye-level information overload. However, some drivers often seem unaware of the significance of road markings.
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Understanding Road Signs - The earliest road signs gave information on distance and direction and were in place in Roman times and the Middle Ages.
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How to navigate Roundabouts - Research has shown that many people do not understand roundabouts. Many drivers do not know how to position their car correctly when approaching or travelling around the roundabout.
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What to do when Emergency Vehicles Approach - Emergency drivers are especially trained to drive in emergency situations.
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Speeding
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How to keep within the Speed Limit - Think Smart - Act Smart - Drive Smart
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Speeding Report by European Road Safety Observatory - Speed is at the core of the road safety problem. In fact, speed is involved in all accidents: no speed, no accidents. In around 30% of the fatal accidents speed is an essential contributory factor.
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Why do Drivers Speed? - Recent research for the AA Foundation found that Speeding is endemic. It is not something just done by a small minority of irresponsible drivers.
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Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
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Road Rage - The global term Road Rage was invented by the US media to describe violent behaviour mainly directed towards another driver or their vehicle.
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What is Aggressive Driving? - A recent RoadDriver survey has shown that over 67% of those questioned and who drive on UK roads have personally met or witnessed some form of Dangerous or Aggressive Driving.
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The Origins and Causes of Aggression on the Road - It is hard to find an origin of aggression on the road, although there is strong evidence that it has existed for at least a millennium. Pope Boniface VIII in 1300 laid down which side pilgrims going to Rome should pass on - sword arm to sword arm (keep left). Presumably he did this because there were arguments.
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Profile of an Aggressive driver - There is no one profile that fits aggressive drivers; they come from all walks of life from the boardroom to the shop-floor.
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We all know what an aggressive driver looks like! - Your Ten minutes late for work and driving just a bit over the speed limit when the traffic lights ahead turns amber. You know that you are not quite close enough to make it, but you feel you cannot afford to wait.
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What Can I do to prevent myself becoming an Aggressive Driver? - Be in the right frame of mind before you get behind the wheel. Plan well in advance and allow plenty of time for your journey, expect the unexpected, understand that you cannot control the traffic only your reaction to it.
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How to avoid Aggressive or Dangerous Drivers - Driving aggressively can be triggered by a variety of stimuli. Some drivers maybe provoked by the actions of other drivers, some are set off by road conditions particularly congestion. By far, most acts of aggression are caused by the drivers own frame of mind.
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Are you an Aggressive Driver? - Take our Driver Stress Test to Measure Your Hostility on the Road
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Teenagers and Young Drivers
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How to help your teenager to become a Safe Driver - The most important step that any parent can take to help protect their teenager is to Take Responsibility and to be Pro-active well before your teenager starts to learn to drive.
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Teaching your teenage son or daughter to drive - A drivers licence is one of the biggest status symbols a teenager can acquire. Gaining a drivers licence is not only a social asset but it makes a young person feel independent and grown up.
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Before you give them the keys - Young Driver contracts or written Safety pledges are very common in the United States. They are growing in popularity in Britain mainly because of the high death and casualty rates among young people.
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Advice for New Teenage Drivers - As a teenager your dexterity and quick reactions allow you to become very proficient at using the controls of a car, probably much better than older drivers.
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Safety driving tips for Teenage Drivers - Do not drink and drive, and do not get in a car with anyone who has been drinking. Use a taxi or telephone your parents or friends to give you a lift home.
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How convictions can effect your insurance costs
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The Impact of Convictions on Insurance Prices - Dangerous driving and speeding not only puts motorists at risk, but is also costing drivers £3.3 million every year in the UK alone.
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Tips and Advice for Cyclists and Motorists
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Share the Road with Cyclists - This article is written by Gavin Keir an experienced cyclist who cycles over 2000 miles a year, mostly commuting but with a couple of long tours on country roads.
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Bad Weather Driving
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Prepare your car for Winter Driving - Over the past decade winters in the United Kingdom have brought a variety of weather conditions from warm sunny days to freezing fog, snow, gales and floods. It has left most drivers in a pickle with what they should wear, never mind whether winter tyres are appropriate.
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Driving in Stormy Wet Weather - Over the years Britain has seen its fair share of wet stormy weather. With experts predicting more extreme weather due to climate change, drivers are likely to experience harsh driving conditions on a more frequent basis.
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Safety Tips for Driving In Fog - Fog is one of the most dangerous driving conditions that can confront a driver. Technically fog is a dense wet mist that has descended rather like a cloud close to ground level.
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Safety Tips for Driving in Snow or on Ice - With global climate change, we are likely to experience severe weather conditions more often.
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What to do if your car Aquaplanes - A vehicle can only aquaplane if the two main causes are present; namely, Speed and Water.
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Women Driving Alone
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Safety advice for Female drivers - Over the last two decades the social and economic demographics of the UK population has undergone a dramatic change with more and more women owning their own or driving company cars.
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Personal Safety in the event of a breakdown - If possible try to manoeuvre the car to a safe well lit busy area like a shopping centre or supermarket car park.
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Personal Safety Motorway Breakdowns - The hard shoulder on Motorways can be dangerous places and are strictly for emergency use only. Research has shown that one in ten accidents on a motorway involve a vehicle on the hard shoulder.
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Personal safety in the event of a puncture - Common signs of a Puncture whilst Driving Wheel shudder: This is where you feel a shuddering effect through the steering wheel or a wobbling feeling from the car.
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What to do if you feel you are being followed - Janets Story
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Women Drivers General Advice
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Can breakdowns be prevented? - For most women the thought of breaking down alone especially at night or in a strange place is their greatest concern; therefore, Roaddriver strongly advises women to completely familiarise themselves with their vehicle.
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Basic Car Maintenance - We strongly advise you to refer to your cars Handbook or Manual for the correct maintenance procedures.
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Women Drivers Car Safety Kit - We advise you to have a basic car safety kit to include:
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Driving Safety Tips for Pregnant Women - Pregnant women choose to drive for many different reasons. These include convenience and security to comfort and the freedom. This is especially the case for women who already have children, getting kids to school in their own car is difficult enough without the thought of being laden down by shopping while trying to use public transport.
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Suitable Footwear Advice for Women Drivers - Wearing sensible footwear while driving is important for comfort and safety
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Road Accidents
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What happens in an accident if you hit a tree at 55 miles per hour without wearing a seat belt? - Warning! This article is very graphic and was written by American Paramedics concerned about the futile waste of life due to car accidents.
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What to do if you are involved in a Road Traffic accident? - By following a few simple steps after an accident, you can help prevent further accidents or added injuries to you, your passengers and other road users.
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Drink and Drug Driving
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The Legal consequences of Drink and Drug Driving - On average 100,000 drivers are convicted every year for drink or drug driving. 3,500 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads each year in drink or drug related crashes and nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers over the legal alcohol limit.
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Driving while under the influence of drugs - Research has shown that almost a quarter (22%) of those killed in road traffic accidents in the UK have illegal drugs in their bloodstream. This research has suggested an increasing number of road traffic accidents where the presence of drugs in a drivers body may have contributed to the cause of the crash.
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Penalties for Driving under the influence of Drink or Drugs - Alcohol and Drugs tends to make you feel over confident and more likely to take risks when driving. The implications of a drink or drug drive conviction can be far-reaching.
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Comprehensive advice and information for driving, learning to drive, or returning to driving with a disability
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Comprehensive advice and information for driving, learning to drive, or returning to driving with a disability - Having a medical condition or disability does not necessarily mean you cannot or will not be allowed to drive. Whether you are a new or an experienced driver, you must let the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) know about any medical condition or disability that may affect your driving.
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Driver and Passenger Car Safety
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Car Seatbelts and Newtons Law article written for RoadDriver by Mary a professional A&E Nurse - When a person has a motor vehicle accident and presents to the ER, several questions emerge:
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What Your Anti-Lock Brakes Do - ABS can improve vehicle stability, steer ability and stopping capability. Four-wheel ABS prevents wheel lock-up, allowing drivers to maintain stability as well as steering control during an emergency braking situation.
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Car Seat Restraint and Seatbelt Law - Over 2000 lives are saved every year through the wearing of seatbelts.
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Drivers Airbags - Most new cars have a front airbag for the driver as standard equipment. Airbags are sometimes referred to as Supplementary Restraint Systems (SRS) as they are designed to enhance the protection offered by seatbelts.
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Driving and Travelling with children
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Before you Travel with Children - Driving with children or babies can be challenging. The following advice will help reduce your stress level making your car journeys safer and more enjoyable.
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On the road with children - Recent research has shown that passengers are the number one distraction to drivers, especially fractious or crying children.
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Older Drivers
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Older Drivers - General Safety Advice for Older Drivers. - Are older drivers bad drivers?
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Three Steps of Driving - For most people, driving represents freedom, control and independence. Driving enables us to get to the places we want to go to at our own convenience and at a pace that suits.
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Eyesight Legal Requirement Safety Advice for Older Drivers - Eyesight is the one area most neglected by drivers of all ages.
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Why is good eyesight so important? - Good eyesight is a pre-requisite for safe driving.
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What happens to our eyes as we get older? - As we age our retina becomes less sensitive to light. More light makes it easier to see and drive and older drivers require significantly more light than younger drivers.
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Eye conditions: Visual Driving Tips - Do not ignore changes in vision. Have your eyes checked regularly by an optician to be certain that you have the visual skills necessary to be a safe driver.
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Driving with a hearing impairment - Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. Nearly 9 million adults in the UK suffer from some form of hearing difficulty from total deafness to slightly hard of hearing
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Keeping your independence by being Responsible - Older people must recognise that as we age, none of us are as agile as we once were. We must learn to accept help and advice and be prepared to adjust our driving habits to reduce the effect ageing can have on our ability to stay safe while driving.
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Vehicle Breakdowns
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How to change a punctured tyre - Wheel shudder: This is where you feel a shuddering effect through the steering wheel or a wobbling feeling from the car.
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Can breakdowns be prevented? - Not altogether, but you can reduce the chances of breakdowns by following a few simple car maintenance procedures.
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Motorway Breakdowns. - The hard shoulder on Motorways can be dangerous places and are strictly for emergency use only. Research has shown that one in ten accidents on motorways involve a vehicle on the hard shoulder.
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What to do in the event of a Breakdown - If possible try to manoeuvre the car to a safe well lit busy area like a shopping centre or supermarket car park.
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How to control your car during a Puncture or Tyre Blowout - A puncture while driving can be a frightening experience particularly at speed. A catastrophic tyre failure (blowout) can be extremely dangerous, how you deal with this emergency and knowing the proper response can sometimes mean the difference between life-and-death.
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Car Maintenance
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Car Maintenance - Before attempting any car maintenance we strongly advise you to refer to your cars Handbook or Manual
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Car Safety Kit - We advise you to have a basic car safety kit to include:
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Damaged or Worn Tyres can Kill - Most drivers take their cars tyres for granted. They assume that these chunks of rubber will do the job they were designed to do, no matter how old, or how many times they mount a pavement or scrape the kerb.
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