DECEMBER 2018 | 33
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
DARKER EVENINGS SPELL
DANGER FOR ROAD SAFETY
With the end of British Summer
Time (BST) bringing in darker evenings,
Brake, the road safety charity, is calling on
the Government to commit to moving to
Single/Double Summer Time (SDST) to help
save lives on the road.
SDST would move our clocks forward an
additional hour all year round and so would
create lighter evenings, allowing many road
users, especially cyclists and pedestrians,
to take advantage of the benefits of natural
light to remain safe and be seen during
evening rush hours. Lighter winter evenings
could also have life-saving implications -
the number of pedestrians killed jumped
from 46 in October 2017 to 63 in November
2017, the first month after the clocks went
back, a consistent trend over recent years.
Studies have found that moving the
clocks to an hour ahead of Greenwich
Mean Time (GMT+1) in winter, and two
hours ahead (GMT+2) in summer, would
prevent 80 deaths and hundreds of serious
injuries on UK roads every year . There are
also significant environmental benefits to
be gained from implementing SDST as it
has been estimated that the switch would
reduce CO2 pollution by up to 447,000
tonnes each year.
Renault enhances its LCV
range with a hat trick of new
‘Premier Edition’ models
Renault is celebrating its partner-
ship with Sky Sports Premier League cov-
erage, in style with the launch of striking
‘Premier Edition’ versions of its Kangoo,
Trafic and Master.
The top-of-the-range, special edition
LCVs combine distinctive, sporty looks with
a high level of equipment and technology
and are certain to score with van users
who wish to stand out from the crowd
whilst protecting themselves and their
vehicle.
Based on the generous specification of
the Business+ level of trim, or the Sport
Nav for the award-winning Trafic, the
new Premier Edition versions are set off
with exclusive black alloy wheels and a
choice of black or white decals, plus such
standard features as auto headlights and
wipers, front fog lights and cruise control.
For convenience and safety, all the Premier
Edition Renault vans include the R-Link
Infotainment system with TOMTOM® navi-
gation, a rear-view camera and, a dash cam
with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance
System) that detects when the vehicle in
front is moving off and also warns of an
impending front end collision or if the van
is moving out of its lane.
The standard fitment of the dash cam
with ADAS plays a significant role in
AVOID THE MISERY
OF A WINTER
BREAKDOWN WITH
SOME SIMPLE CAR
MAINTENANCE
ROAD SAFETY organisation GEM Motoring Assist
is offering basic tips for drivers to ensure trouble-
free journeys this winter. Giving some attention
now to batteries, tyres, antifreeze, wipers, lights and
other vehicle essentials is the best way of ensuring
reliability in the months to come, says GEM.
Here are GEM’s five simple
steps for reducing the
chance of a breakdown or
malfunction this winter:
heightening safety, its advanced features
working to protect the Premier Edition,
its passengers and other road users. The
desirable specification has also resulted in
improved residual values with key industry
data providers.
The Kangoo Premier Edition additional-
ly benefits from a leather steering wheel,
cruise control, metallic paint, and 15-inch
‘ARIA’ black alloy wheels. Customers can
choose from a choice of efficient 1.5-litre
dCi engines, which, depending on version,
are complemented with a five- or six-speed
manual gearbox, or the option of a six-
speed EDC automatic transmission.
As with all Renault LCVs, all Premier
Edition variants come with the reassurance
of a three-year/100,000-mile warranty and
lifetime roadside assistance package.
www.renault.co.uk
1. Get the battery and charging system
checked to ensure best performance. A
number of winter calls to GEM’s breakdown
control centre relate to flat batteries. Cold
weather puts a lot of strain on tired batter-
ies, so consider changing it now to avoid
the inconvenience of a breakdown.
If your battery seems to be turning over
more slowly than usual, get it checked
straight away. Similarly, if the red battery
warning symbol illuminates on the dash-
board, do get the battery checked.
2. Ensure your car’s cooling system has
the correct levels of anti-freeze, which is
vital to prevent the water in your engine’s
cooling system from freezing. GEM recom-
mends you consult your local dealer or a
qualified mechanic to ensure this is done
correctly.
3. Make sure all the lights on your car,
inside and out, are working properly. Clean
them regularly to ensure they are free of dirt,
so that you can see, and others can see you.
4. Check tyres for tread depth and pres-
sure weekly through the winter. Good tyres
will ensure the safety systems on your car
are as effective as possible. GEM recom-
mends a minimum tread depth of 3mm
(the legal minimum is 1.6mm), as this will
disperse much more water from the road
and will minimise your risk of skidding and
losing control.
5. Check your windscreen wipers, front
and rear. Make sure they are working prop-
erly, and top up your screen wash regularly
using cold weather washer fluid. Do not use
the windscreen wipers to clear ice, as this
will very quickly lead to damage.
www.motoringassist.com