Motorists could face huge fines or prison if learner drivers use their cars.
Recent laws are clamping down on learner drivers and the people who allow them to use their cars. Numerous of parents allow their son or daughter to use their car under a learner permit. Although now the car owner will also be responsible for ensuring learners drive under their rights.
The new laws approved by the Cabinet say that motorists that allow their cars to be used by an unaccompanied learner driver could be issued fines up to €2,000 or up to 6 months in prison.
The law is expected to lower the number of crashes caused by learner drivers and less learner drivers will take to the roads without a full licensed passenger.
Some motorists believe the law is unfair as they may not always be aware. They may be misled to believe that a leaner driver is being accompanied. Although the law will force motorists to be more informed about other people using their car.
According to RTE, the Road Traffic Amendment follows an examination of the law in this area by the Attorney General Seamus Woulfe.
The amendment will form part of the new Road Traffic Bill. This is set to move to committee stage in the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.
Gardaí will also have the power to seize vehicles driven by unaccompanied drivers.
The law was pushed after a high profile Irish campaign. The campaign was by a number of victims from road crashes who protested that further restrictions need to be put in place for learner drivers.
While it is unclear exactly how many people will be affected by the incoming rules. The latest Garda and Road Safety Authority figures show more than 10,600 fixed penalty points notices were issued to unaccompanied drivers in 2017.
The law being issued is also due to the latest Road Safety Authority figures. Which show that of the 12 fatal road crashes involving learner drivers last year, 10 were unaccompanied learner drivers.
Driving safe on the road is becoming more difficult as the number of vehicles driving late at night increase.
With more people driving to work in the early morning and back home late at night, driving safe is more important than ever as there are more cars on the road than ever.
The average working person now spends approximately seven hours and 50 minutes traveling every week. This is according to the CSO’s National Travel Survey, which travel patterns across Ireland. So be sure you are driving safe in the dark.
Driving in the dark is already more difficult than during daytime but when there are an increasing number of people also driving, safety precautions must be taken into place.
Here are some top tips on staying safe when driving late at night or during early mornings.
1. Make it bright again
Use your headlights when possible, if there is no danger to shining your light at another car then light up the road ahead. Be cautious when using headlights for possible cars ahead but using your head lights in the dark can majorly improve your view of the road. It not only shows a clearly picture of the road but can make you feel more awake and alert while driving.
2. Take a break
Driver fatigue is a serious issue on the roads. The RSA highly advise people to ‘stop, sip, sleep’ for those who feel sleepy while driving. This is where you pull over your car somewhere safe, sip a caffeine drink and sleep for 15 minutes. Driver fatigue is a contributory factor to 1 in 5 driver deaths in Ireland every year. According to a survey done by the Road Safety Authority, over 1 in 10 motorists have actually fallen asleep at the wheel.
3 Check your journey
There are often weather warnings and accidents on the road so prepare your journey. Even if your just going to work listen or check weather and news updates to ensure you will get to your destination safely. The Road Authority advise listening to sources such as the Department of Transport, local radio stations, Met Eireann, AA Roadwatch and the Garda updates.
4 How is your night vision?
When it comes to driving safe, have a regular eye test. It is extremely important if you are driving at night. Some people struggle more then others at seeing in the dark and an eye test will recognize this. This way your eye care can protect you on the roads.
5 Making your car safe
Having your car fully serviced is very important when tackling the roads at night. Regular checks are also key to ensuring road safety. Your car cannot run without the right amount of oil so make sure you check your oil level by simply pulling out the dipstick and seeing where the oil level is. You should take your car in for an oil change on a regular basis. A tire pressure gauge is an affordable and easy to use tool that can prevent a flat tire or worse. Tires that are improperly inflated can cause blowouts that lead to accidents. We depend on our brakes even more during dark roads so don’t wait until they start making noise to have them checked. See more on how to have your car winter ready HERE.
New Ireland Motors wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! We hope drivers are extra safe on the roads and avoid any crash repairs over the festive season.
Roads become more dangerous during the winter period due to rain and snow. The icy ground causes huge amount of accidents on back roads and main roads. Leading to high volume of crash repairs. Please prepare yourself and be cautious during turns and on roundabouts.
Even Santa’s sleigh has gotten a full service here at New Ireland Motors to prepare for any storm coming his way.
Dublin has one of the highest number of car collisions due to it’s high population but there are a high number of ‘Black Spot’ areas in other counties. A Black Spot is an area the Garda have listed as a speed enforcement zone.
These roads are highlighted as there have been a high number of road accidents here. When roads are wet or icy, the chances of a collision are greater. There is one section of road with a particularly high casualty rate. It is a stretch of single carriageway between Arklow and Rathnew. It has claimed 33 lives over 25 years, making it one of the worst black spots in the country. We advise all customers to take precautions if using this road.
We advise drivers to watch out for pedestrians and cyclist as they can not always be seen between the window wipers.
If you or a friend have done damage to your car due to a collision, call New Ireland Motors. We offer competitive prices on all accident repair, panel beating, spray painting and mechanical services.
Check out more about our Quality Assured Crash & Accident Repair here.
Having your car servicing done before the winter is vital if you want to avoid high cost damages.
New Ireland Motors provide quality car servicing but here are some of the reasons why it is important to prepare your car for winter.
1. Avoid engine trouble.
Oil tends to thicken as it gets colder, and if it’s too thick it won’t do the best job of keeping your engine lubricated. This causes numerous car break downs during the Christmas period. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, get an oil service. Each car requires the right amount of thickness for this time of year so be sure to use a professional service company.
2. Can you see out your windows?
Windshield wipers should be changed once a year to work effectively. Make sure you have new wipers to tackle the rain and frost on your windows. Also check to see that your heater and defroster are working properly so you can keep the windshield nice and clear.
3. Have your belts and hoses checked.
When your having a full service done make sure the belts and hoses are checked. Even if you have a modern car, the cold can cause damage here.
4. Pump up your tires
As it gets colder out, the air pressure tends to drop in tires. Don’t wait until you are on a slippery road to discover this and pump up your tires regularly. Well inflated tires provide the best possible traction for driving on icy roads.
5. Don’t let your car freeze over
Stock up on anti-freeze mixture. Always mix 50% anti-freeze with 50% water inside your radiator. This will prevent the mixture from freezing even at ridiculously cold temperatures.
New Ireland Motors want to prepare all drivers this winter. If your car is due to be serviced please call us on 01 8166666.
Purchasing a second hand car can be a daunting prospect for many people.
Bad cars are often known as “Lemons” because of the sour taste they leave in the mouth of the new owner. There are plenty of simple motor trade tips and tricks you can use to steer clear of a lemon. Ideally, we recommend that you should bring an expert with you when looking at a second hand car but if that is not possible, here are some top tips to consider on your journey.
Golden Rule:
Never buy in the dark or in the rain: Ever!
Price
Check classified ad sites such as Done Deal or Carzone to ensure that a car is comparable to similar cars. Expect to pay a 10-15% premium at a main dealer because of warranty etc. If a car is priced significantly below market rate, it is probably to good to be true. Stories of people being duped into buying stolen cars abound, don’t be a statistic.
Have your homework done
Google it: Whatever type of car you are buying, find out what common problems that particular model may give. Establish the timing belt service schedule (if applicable) and ask the owner if these issues have been addressed. If the car is due atiming belt replacement, price this job at your local garage and factor it into the cost.
Learn how to read a vehicle log book and check number of previous owners, whether the vehicle has been imported, chassis number, tax band etc. Factor these issues into the price.
Find out at least two points where the chassis number (VIN number) appear on the car and ensure they correspond with the logbook when you view the car.
Check to see if the car has changed hands in the past 3 months. This could be an indication of problems with a vehicle that a recent new owner doesn’t want to address.
Buying Privately:
Only buy at the sellers house. (Ask to see ID and proof of address)
Only buy from the person named on the vehicle logbook (unless they are a registered dealer – If so, ask for the dealers garage code)
Always do a vehicle history check to ensure the car does not have outstanding finance, is not stolen and hasn’t been in an accident.
Check the Exterior
Look for any evidence of repainting or inconsistency in the paintwork. Check for any visible signs of damage such as dents, scrapes and panels or doors not matching up evenly. Check for “Orange peel”. Ensure that all gaps between panels are consistent. An online search will indicate if the car has been subject to an insurance claim. If the car was involved in an accident, the seller or dealer should be upfront about this. Check that all carpets in the car are dry and there is no water ingress.
Check the Wheels and Tyres
Tyres can be expensive to replace. If a car has worn tyres, price replacements before you make an offer on a car or ask the owner to replace them. If the car comes with alloy wheels, ensure that there is a key for any lock nuts the car has fitted. Check that the car has a spare wheel (some cars have run flat tyres and no spare) a jack and a wheel brace.
Keys
Make sure the keys provided for the car works and starts the engine. Ideally a car should come with a spare key. Expect to pay up to €300 for a duplicate key in modern cars. The price rises exponentially if all keys are lost.
Service History
The ONLY way to prove a cars lineage and history is a comprehensive service history. This should be stamped in the service record folder that accompanies a car. Some modern marques keep this record digitally with a main dealer.
Find out when the car has been serviced and with who. Also check when the timing belt was replaced. A car should have a valid NCT certificate to prove that it is in roadworthy condition. However The NCT is a deeply flawed system and a valid NCT is not a good indicator of the quality of a used car. Having said that, If a buyer is prepared to put an NCT on a car, always take them up on this offer.
Ideally, ensure that you are starting the car from stone cold. This will be when gremlins are most likely to reveal themselves. Listen for any unsavory knocks, ticks or bangs from the engine. Watch out for excessive smoke signalling engine wear. Take the car for a drive until you reach operating temperature, ensure the car is not overheating. Check that oil and water is not contaminated.
Ensure that all controls are working correctly, and that the car feels good to drive. This will give you a chance to ensure there are no strange noises or rattling coming from the car and that you can accelerate, change gears and brake comfortably. You should preferably take it out on an open road with a higher speed limit to give you a chance to experience it at full driving capacity.
We recommend that you always buy from a reputable dealer. The AA offer an unparalleled vehicle check service. For total piece of mind, we would recommend using this service.
Top Tip:
Always bring someone with you to view a car. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.
TALK TO US TODAY at New Ireland Motors about our quality range of used cars on 01 8166666 or call in for a chat, we are located in the Baldoyle Industrial Estate in Dublin 13
