Leaders in Breakdown

Leaders in Breakdown...behind you 24/7 Grea reasons o join GEM Mooring Assis: Naionwide cover 24/7, 365 days a year Access o over 5,000 recovery vehicles 41-minue average callou Compeiive premiums Personal cover FREE Acciden Managemen Service Designed by Agile Creaive www.agile-creaive.co.uk To join GEM, go o mooringassis.com or call 0345 3700 940 (24 hours) The Bes Buy in Breakdown

The vas majoriy of journeys we make will be free from inciden or hrea. Occasionally, we may have cause for concern. The excellen advice in his bookle should help make car ravel safer and less sressful for everyone. Phoographs of Konnie Huq couresy John Eccles I am delighed o recommend he bookle o all drivers and congraulae GEM Mooring Assis on a worhwhile iniiaive. Konnie Huq We wan you o feel safe and secure on all he journeys you make. The fears and vulnerabiliies faced by people driving on heir own in he UK are relaively low, compared wih some pars of he world. Bu here is ofen more pressure on us o drive longer and laer, so i makes sense o plan he roues you ake and he locaions where you park, so ha any risks o your safey are minimised. Taking a few minues o read and use he commonsense advice in his leafle will hopefully ensure you are never in a siuaion ha is uncomforable or dangerous. And if you ever find yourself hreaened, make sure you call he police immediaely. Chief Consable Suzee Davenpor Naional Lead on Roads Policing

The 3-C s of personal safey Consider -- ake responsibiliy for your personal safey and consider he acions you need o ake o ensure you remain safe a all imes if you are faced wih any siuaion of confronaion remain calm and avoid any acions ha could be considered as aggressive or confronaional. Crossed arms, hands on hips, wagging finger, raised arms, loud speech could all be inerpreed as aggressive behaviour Confiden always be aler and confiden when you are ou be aware of your surroundings and of any siuaion ha could involve danger remember, headphones or using a mobile phone ec. may make you less aware of your surroundings or any danger ha may arise. This is paricularly imporan when crossing roads as a pedesrian before any journey give some hough o he roue you will be aking and wheher any par of your journey could presen a danger. Make adjusmens if necessary even if his makes he rip a longer one ry o le someone know where you are going, when you are likely o reurn and how long you will be ou. Inform hem if hese arrangemens change Cauious remain cauious of any offer o help you. Rely on your naural insinc o remain calm and aler o dangers remember o keep your mobile charged before any journey

Personal Safey on he road Think ahead where possible ravel by day on main, well used roads. Plan your roue in advance and check ha you have an up-o-dae road map or Saellie Navigaion Sysem in he car so you won need o ask for direcions if you have o ravel afer dark, ell someone your desinaion, your roue and wha ime you expec o arrive. If your plans change, le hem know ake your mobile phone - and make sure ha he baeries are charged before you se off. Carry change in any case - your phone may be ou of range a a crucial ime ensure your car is serviced regularly. Check perol, oil, coolan-level and yres, especially before a long journey join a naional breakdown organisaion. See he back of his leafle for deails of how o join GEM Mooring Assis Breakdown Cover While driving harassmen or acual aacks are rare, bu hey do happen. Forehough can give you more confidence and minimise he risk keep he doors locked and he windows closed as much as possible, especially in buil up areas and sop-go raffic or when ravelling alone keep aler so you know where you are remember, iredness kills. Take a break on long journeys never pick up hich hikers Personal possessions in your car keep your doors locked NEVER leave valuables, such as handbags or mobile phones on he passenger sea - hey could be snached a raffic lighs don leave valuables in a parked car Parking NEVER leave your car unlocked, even on a garage forecour when you go o pay for perol. If possible use an immobiliser choose a safe place o park. Park in a well li area where here are people abou, especially if you don inend o reurn o your car unil afer dark if you park in a muli-sorey car park choose a space close o he exi and ramp and away from pillars. Reverse ino posiion o give you a quick ge away. Park close o he aendan if here is one make sure you know exacly where you parked so you will no have difficuly finding your car

if you are a woman by yourself, ry no o adverise he fac. Pu spare shoes, bags ec. ino he boo before leaving he car consider wha you would do if your bag was solen - keep your keys, money and mobile phone separaely ask a friend or colleague o walk you o your car if you feel unsafe abou your surroundings when you reurn o your car, have your keys ready and check he back sea (use a orch a nigh) before you ge in. Lock he doors and drive away wihou delay

Dangerous siuaions if you can see or become involved in an inciden avoid geing involved in an argumen wih he oher paries if you are confroned wih road rage do no ge ou of he car; keep your windows up and your car locked if your car sars o play up, sop in a busy, well-li area, preferably near a phone box, if you don have a mobile phone. Ge help immediaely by calling your mooring organisaion or garage. (If you are no already a member, you can find informaion on joining GEM Mooring Assis Breakdown Cover a he back of his leafle.) If you feel vulnerable and in need of special aenion, inform he recovery helpline operaor NEVER give lifs o srangers. If you see an acciden or anoher driver in difficuly do no sop. Telephone he Police as soon as possible and repor wha you have seen if a car pulls up alongside or behind you and he occupans ry o arac your aenion i may be a genuine warning. However, keep your doors locked and drive o a busy place such as a service area or garage forecour before sopping. Even hen keep your doors locked unil you are confiden here is no danger if someone in a car is deliberaely rying o inimidae you, or if you hink a car is following you, keep driving unil you reach a busy, public place, such as a Police, Fire or Ambulance saion, pub or garage forecour if a car ravels alongside you a he same speed, slow down and allow hem o pass. If he driver persiss, drive o a busy, public place and use a public or mobile phone o call he Police if a car pulls in fron of you and forces you o sop, leave he engine running. If he driver, or passenger hen ges ou and approaches you, urn on your hazard lighs, reverse as far as you can and sound your horn coninuously, no maer wha ime i is if he occupan of a car beside you a raffic lighs or a juncion ries o arac your aenion simply ignore hem. Don make eye conac

Emergency Checklis Useful iems o have wih you in he car: i is worhwhile o have your driving licence wih you whenever you drive. However, i is unwise o leave your licence in he car keep a noe of your insurer s deails and policy number o hand. DO NOT keep your vehicle regisraion documen or insurance cerificae in he vehicle mobile phone wih fully charged baery (I is illegal o use a handheld phone whils driving and we recommend ha you do no make or receive any calls, even handsfree, whils driving, as his may disrac your aenion) breakdown recovery deails and elephone number up o dae road alas or Saellie Navigaion Sysem sunglasses/spare specacles if appropriae cloh/chamois covered screen cleaner noe book and pencil orch plus spare baery shriek alarm o disorienae an assailan Keep an emergency ki in he boo conaining he following iems: reflecive/fluorescen jacke or abard waerproof coa/umbrella. Fla walking shoes spare fuses/bulbs warning riangle puncure aerosol firs aid ki On long winer journeys, consider aking: screen de-icer. Ice scraper ravel rug warm coa, wellingon boos and gloves spade a ma or sacking for exra yre grip in deep snow drinking waer and snack bar

Car mainenance Proper vehicle mainenance and preparaion for your journey are essenial elemens for safey. Have your vehicle serviced regularly and ask your garage o check any iems you suspec may be fauly. Familiarise yourself wih your vehicle. Make sure you fully undersand all he warning lighs and ha you know where he spare wheel and jacking poins are locaed. The following weekly check lis may also help you o avoid suffering he problem of a breakdown: Tyres check he yre pressure (including he spare) as shown in your vehicle handbook look for signs of wear. Beware of any bulges or cus in he side walls. Ask your local yre specialis for a free safey check Oil check he oil level ensuring firs ha he car is parked on a level surface and ha he engine has been swiched off for a leas en minues Coolan sysem ensure ha he coolan sysem is opped up o he necessary level wih he correc coolan he coolan sysem on many cars is sealed. However, here will be a small ank o allow he sysem o be opped up if necessary. Refer o he vehicle handbook or your garage for deails NEVER aemp o check he coolan level whils he engine is ho Windscreen, windows and mirrors clean he windscreen and windows inside and ou, and wash he exerior mirrors. Ensure ha he washer bole (fluid) is opped up wih waer and an approved addiive look for signs of wear on windscreen wiper blades and replace hem when necessary Lighs check ha all lighs and indicaors are clean and working properly. Carry spare bulbs and fuses in he car. Familiarise yourself wih he locaion of he fuse box Fuel never allow he vehicle o ge low on fuel. Fill up as soon as he gauge drops below he half way mark Baery many breakdowns are he resul of failed baeries. A car baery should be serviceable for around wo o hree years. If you have difficuly saring your car, ge he baery checked as soon as possible. Some baeries need o be opped up occasionally wih baery fluid - your vehicle handbook will give he deails

Wha o do if you break down If your vehicle breaks down, hink abou safey, firs: Consider your own safey ge your vehicle off he road if possible ensure your passengers are safe and ha animals are kep under conrol Warn oher road users warn oher raffic by using your hazard warning lighs if your vehicle is causing an obsrucion pu a warning riangle on he road a leas 45 meres (147 fee) behind your brokendown vehicle on he same side of he road, or use oher permied warning devices if you have hem. Always ake grea care when placing hem, bu never use hem on moorways as his may pu you in danger from oncoming raffic keep your sidelighs on if i is dark or visibiliy is poor do no sand (or le anybody else sand) beween your vehicle and oncoming raffic a nigh or in poor visibiliy do no sand where you will preven oher road users seeing your lighs wear a reflecive/fluorescen jacke or abard Calling for help do no use mobile phones if here is a danger from perol spillage or fumes conac he emergency services by dialling 999 or 112 (he inernaional emergency code), or if you are a member call GEM Mooring Assis Breakdown Cover or oher breakdown organisaion give clear insrucions of your general locaion: road number, direcion of ravel and specific local land marks will aid your rescue also ell hem your vehicle ype and colour, regisraion number and how many persons are in he vehicle an indicaion of he cause of he breakdown will also help when help arrives, ask for proof of ideniy

Moorway breakdowns Leave he moorway a he neares exi or pull ino a service area. When his is no possible: Safey firs use your indicaors or hazard warning lighs and pull on o he hard shoulder. Sop as far o he lef as possible, wih your wheels urned o he lef ry o sop near an emergency elephone (every mile on he hard shoulder) wih he fron passenger door as close o he phone as possible you mus leave he vehicle by he lef-hand passenger doors wear a reflecive/fluorescen jacke or abard do no cross he carriageway o reach a closer phone i is safer o wai on he verge. (Remember, 10% of moorway accidens are collisions wih vehicles parked on he hard shoulder.) Do no leave he keys in he car. If possible, lock all he doors excep he fron passenger door, which you should leave fully open so you can ge back in quickly if needs be keep passengers away from he carriageway and children under conrol. Make sure children are safe do no leave hem in he car by hemselves if you are an elderly or disabled person, or have small children wih you, you may decide i is more sensible o say in he vehicle. If so, park i as close o he verge as possible you mus leave animals in he vehicle, wih windows only far enough down o le in air. Only le hem ou of he vehicle in an emergency, bu keep hem under proper conrol on he verge do no aemp even simple repairs and do no leave he car bonne open

Ge help walk o he neares emergency elephone, following he arrows on he marker poss every 100 meres a he back of he hard shoulder. Calls are free and connec direcly o he Highways Agency - hey will know where you are. Sand behind he phone and wach ou for passing raffic, or anyone approaching you give full deails, also inform hem if you feel vulnerable. Tell hem he number of your breakdown organisaion, your car regisraion and he number shown on he neares marker pos reurn and wai near your vehicle, preferably behind he barrier on he moorway embankmen when help arrives, ask for ID and check ha he breakdown person knows your name NEVER ge ino a car wih a sranger or ry o hich a lif if someone offers help, say inside your car wih he doors locked (keep windows parially open) and ask hem o phone your breakdown organisaion for you if a car sops while you are waiing for help and you feel uneasy, say in he passenger sea of your car and lock he door. Phone he Police and give hem he car s regisraion number when rejoining he moorway, always increase speed on he hard shoulder and wach for a safe gap in he raffic

Travelling wih children Since May 2006, i is compulsory o use safey bels and child resrain sysems in all vehicles in Europe (Direcive 2003/20/ EC). I is also mandaory o use child car seas wihin he EU for children up o he heighs of 1.35m or 1.5m depending upon he member sae. Before ravelling abroad check he regulaions ha apply in he counries o be visied. You can find more informaion on our websie a www.mooringassis.com/europe Ensure children are secured in he correc sea/seabel for heir age. I is he driver s responsibiliy in law o ensure ha all children under he age of 14 comply wih he seabel laws. The ables opposie and overleaf summarise he main legal requiremens for wearing seabels. Always buy a new child sea unless you are very sure of he hisory of one obained second-hand. A child should NEVER be pu ino any resrain previously subjeced o he sress of a collision, or violen sop. Ensure ha he child sea is fied properly every ime. I is no good if you don. Check ha any meal fasenings have no become overheaed in srong sun. Mums o be Pregnancy is no excuse for no wearing a seabel, bu ensure ha he lap bel goes across boh hip bones under he bump - no over i - wih he diagonal bel across he ches as normal. Airbags Airbags are a proven safey feaure when used in conjuncion wih a seabel. They have saved many lives and minimised injuries for counless ohers. However, here are cerain guidelines ha should be followed: refer o he vehicle handbook regarding he airbag sysems fied o your car NEVER fi a rear-facing car sea wih an acive airbag in fron of i If in any doub, sea young children in he rear sea, properly resrained. Children may become bored on long journeys. Take ime o plan your roue o include pleny of comfor breaks and provide hem wih some form of safe in-car enerainmen ha will no disrac your driving.

Car Sea groups explained Child s weigh and approximae age Group 0+ Infan Carriers Birh o 13 kg (approx. birh o 12/15 monhs) A rearward facing sea for babies ha can be used wih or wihou bases in he car. Mos are suiable o use wih pushchairs oo. If he car is equipped wih acive fron sea airbags, i is prohibied o place a child in a rearward facing sea in he fron of he car. Group 0+ & 1 Exended Rearward Facing Car Seas Birh o 18 kg (approx. birh o 4 years) A rearward facing sea o le young children ravel in he recommended safer posiion for longer. Some have a roaing funcion o change o forward facing posiion. If he car is equipped wih acive fron sea airbags, i is prohibied o place a child in a rearward facing sea in he fron of he car. Group 1 Forward Facing Toddler Seas 9 o 18 kg (approx. 9 monhs o 4 years) A forward facing sea combining safey and comfor, for pre-school children. Mos have recline posiions. Group 2-3 Highback Booser Seas 15 o 36 kg (approx. 4 years o 12 years) A forward facing sea ha correcly posiions he vehicle sea bel around he child and provides side proecion. Images couresy Briax UK. Furher child car sea safey informaion is available a www.briax.co.uk

Seabels - your responsibiliy as a driver Wha he law says The law says ha all children up o 135cm all (around 4'5"), or he age of 12, whichever comes firs, in he fron or rear seas in cars, vans and oher goods vehicles mus ravel in he correc child resrain for heir weigh wih very few excepions. Visiors o he UK from abroad mus also use he correc child resrain for heir children - here are no excepions for hem. Family and friends expecing visiors should make sure ha heir visiors undersand he rules. They may need o help hem make arrangemens so ha children use he correc child resrain a all imes. Car renal companies can supply child resrains for heir cusomers if booked in advance. Fron Sea Rear Sea Who is responsible? Driver Seabel mus be worn if fied - Driver Child under 3 years of age Correc child resrain mus be used Correc child resrain mus be used. If one is no available in a axi, child may ravel unresrained Driver Child from 3rd birhday up o 135cms in heigh (or 12h birhday whichever hey reach firs) Correc child resrain mus be used Correc child resrain mus be used where sea bels fied. Mus use adul bel in a rear sea if correc child resrain no available: in a axi OR for a shor disance in an unexpeced necessiy OR if 2 occupied child resrains preven fiing a hird A child 3 years and over may ravel unresrained in he rear sea of a vehicle if sea bels are no fied in he rear. Driver Child aged 12 or 13, or over 135cms in heigh Seabel mus be worn if available Seabel mus be worn if available Driver Passengers aged 14 and over Seabel mus be worn if available Seabel mus be worn if available Passenger Moorhomes/Campervans are reaed in he same way as cars, vans and goods vehicles for sea bel wearing purposes. Reproduced wih permission of Deparmen for Transpor. Furher informaion from www.hink.df.gov.uk

Acciden winess checklis Dae:... Time:... Locaion:... Road Number/Type:... Weaher Condiions:... Oher driver s deails Name:... Address:... Telephone No:... Insurance Company:... Insurance Cerificae No:... Expiry Dae:... Vehicle Regisraion Number:... Police Officer s Number:... Winess Name:... Address:... Name:... Address:... Brief descripion of inciden:............