Motorway services stations: time for change?

Motorway solutions stations. Several of us would consider them a necessary evil, what with their high pump costs, soulless meals ‘courts’ and banks of cash-guzzling arcade games.

But the government desires perceptions to adjust. The Department for Transport is appointing a panel of specialists – architects, motoring organisations and representatives of service station owners – to devise approaches to make service stations far more appealing.

Amongst the measures getting deemed are enhanced structural design and style, improved green space and outdoor play locations, and more independent retailers and food outlets.

Higher provision of charging points for electric automobiles will also be produced.

Practical advantages

This is not just a cosmetic physical exercise. As we all know – and as gantry indicators on motorways often remind us – tiredness kills. So if service stations can be created much more alluring, maybe a lot more of us will stop for a rest.

The DoT suggests that practically 20% of accidents on key roads are sleep connected. And incidents involving tired drivers are more most likely to result in death or significant injury than any other road accidents.

But perhaps it’s not just the dispiriting experience of visiting a typical service station that’s deterring us from taking that a lot-necessary break.

Whilst they have to by law provide free parking of at least 2 hours, the cost of staying longer than the legal minimum can be prohibitive.

The charges vary according to the service station operator and the location, but are usually about £12 for a car and £20 for a lorry or caravan. That’s fairly a costly nap.

We’re told the charges are clearly displayed, although I’ve by no means noticed a single sign in any of the a lot of service stations I have visited up and down the nation.

Risky business

David Davies, MP for Monmouth and a former lorry driver, thinks the costs could encourage drivers to take dangers and wants the government to modify its policy and force stations to provide cost-free parking for longer.

Or, as he puts it: “It is undesirable sufficient that motorists pay over the odds to buy a coffee or snack at a service station with out the be concerned of paying vast charges for taking forty winks. This is profiteering plain and straightforward. There is no justification whatsoever for generating a charge.”

Davies has the backing of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and study, is similarly outspoken. He says: “Service locations are meant to be about safety and taking a break on a lengthy boring journey. All too frequently these days they are much more about promoting items at inflated rates to a captive audience.

“The 2-hour parking rule leaves a lot of drivers confused and worried that they may possibly inadvertently go more than the time limit if they cease for a break, which is not a good recipe for safer motoring.”

Candid cameras

Service station operators monitor automobiles coming in and out with automatic plate recognition cameras positioned at entrances and exits. Motorists who remain longer than 2 hours and do not spend the right fee are typically sent a parking charge notice for as considerably as £100.

If you believe the charge is unfair, you can appeal. Specifics of the appeal procedure need to accompany the notice, or you can look on the firm’s website. You may possibly, for instance, have broken down or been held up by negative weather.

If the operator is a member of the Authorized Operator Scheme run by the British Parking Association (BPA), you will also have access to the independent Parking on Private Land Appeals (Popla).

Penalty choice

A parking charge notice issued by a private company does not have the exact same legal clout as a penalty charge notice or a fixed penalty notice issued by the nearby council or the police.

Some motorists therefore ignore charge notices, but it’s risky simply because the company could take you to court to recover the funds.

Motorway services stations: time for change?

Motorway services stations: time for modify?

Motorway solutions stations. A lot of of us would consider them a needed evil, what with their higher pump rates, soulless meals ‘courts’ and banks of income-guzzling arcade games.

But the government desires perceptions to adjust. The Division for Transport is appointing a panel of professionals – architects, motoring organisations and representatives of service station owners – to devise methods to make service stations a lot more appealing.

Among the measures becoming regarded as are improved structural style, enhanced green space and outdoor play areas, and a lot more independent retailers and meals outlets.

Greater provision of charging points for electric automobiles will also be produced.

Sensible rewards

This is not just a cosmetic physical exercise. As we all know – and as gantry indicators on motorways routinely remind us – tiredness kills. So if service stations can be created far more alluring, probably far more of us will stop for a rest.

The DoT suggests that virtually 20% of accidents on major roads are sleep connected. And incidents involving tired drivers are a lot more likely to lead to death or significant injury than any other road accidents.

But perhaps it’s not just the dispiriting expertise of going to a common service station that is deterring us from taking that considerably-needed break.

Although they have to by law offer cost-free parking of at least 2 hours, the cost of staying longer than the legal minimum can be prohibitive.

The charges differ according to the service station operator and the location, but are generally about £12 for a auto and £20 for a lorry or caravan. That’s fairly a pricey nap.

We’re told the charges are clearly displayed, even though I’ve never ever noticed a single sign in any of the many service stations I have visited up and down the nation.

Risky organization

David Davies, MP for Monmouth and a former lorry driver, thinks the fees could encourage drivers to take risks and wants the government to modify its policy and force stations to offer totally free parking for longer.

Or, as he puts it: “It is bad adequate that motorists spend more than the odds to purchase a coffee or snack at a service station without the be concerned of paying vast charges for taking forty winks. This is profiteering plain and basic. There is no justification whatsoever for generating a charge.”

Davies has the backing of the Institute of Sophisticated Motorists (IAM). Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and investigation, is similarly outspoken. He says: “Service areas are meant to be about security and taking a break on a long boring journey. All too often these days they are a lot more about selling factors at inflated costs to a captive audience.

“The 2-hour parking rule leaves several drivers confused and worried that they could inadvertently go over the time limit if they quit for a break, which is not a good recipe for safer motoring.”

Candid cameras

Service station operators monitor cars coming in and out with automatic plate recognition cameras positioned at entrances and exits. Motorists who keep longer than 2 hours and don’t spend the appropriate charge are normally sent a parking charge notice for as a lot as £100.

If you think the charge is unfair, you can appeal. Details of the appeal process need to accompany the notice, or you can look on the firm’s internet site. You might, for instance, have broken down or been held up by poor climate.

If the operator is a member of the Approved Operator Scheme run by the British Parking Association (BPA), you will also have access to the independent Parking on Private Land Appeals (Popla).

Penalty selection

A parking charge notice issued by a private company does not have the very same legal clout as a penalty charge notice or a fixed penalty notice issued by the regional council or the police.

Some motorists as a result ignore charge notices, but it’s risky due to the fact the company could take you to court to recover the income.

Motorway services stations: time for modify?

Motorway solutions stations: time for modify?

Motorway services stations. A lot of of us would consider them a necessary evil, what with their high pump prices, soulless food ‘courts’ and banks of money-guzzling arcade games.

But the government wants perceptions to adjust. The Division for Transport is appointing a panel of experts – architects, motoring organisations and representatives of service station owners – to devise ways to make service stations far more eye-catching.

Amongst the measures getting considered are improved structural style, increased green space and outside play locations, and far more independent retailers and meals outlets.

Higher provision of charging points for electric cars will also be created.

Practical benefits

This is not just a cosmetic exercising. As we all know – and as gantry signs on motorways frequently remind us – tiredness kills. So if service stations can be created far more alluring, maybe much more of us will stop for a rest.

The DoT suggests that practically 20% of accidents on significant roads are sleep connected. And incidents involving tired drivers are much more probably to lead to death or serious injury than any other road accidents.

But maybe it’s not just the dispiriting encounter of visiting a standard service station that’s deterring us from taking that much-necessary break.

Although they need to by law supply totally free parking of at least 2 hours, the cost of staying longer than the legal minimum can be prohibitive.

The charges vary according to the service station operator and the location, but are typically about £12 for a automobile and £20 for a lorry or caravan. That’s really a expensive nap.

We’re told the charges are clearly displayed, even though I’ve by no means noticed a single sign in any of the several service stations I have visited up and down the nation.

Risky business

David Davies, MP for Monmouth and a former lorry driver, thinks the fees could encourage drivers to take dangers and wants the government to change its policy and force stations to offer free parking for longer.

Or, as he puts it: “It is poor enough that motorists pay over the odds to acquire a coffee or snack at a service station without the be concerned of paying vast charges for taking forty winks. This is profiteering plain and basic. There is no justification whatsoever for creating a charge.”

Davies has the backing of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and analysis, is similarly outspoken. He says: “Service places are meant to be about security and taking a break on a lengthy boring journey. All also often these days they are much more about promoting factors at inflated rates to a captive audience.

“The 2-hour parking rule leaves numerous drivers confused and worried that they could inadvertently go over the time limit if they quit for a break, which is not a excellent recipe for safer motoring.”

Candid cameras

Service station operators monitor vehicles coming in and out with automatic plate recognition cameras positioned at entrances and exits. Motorists who remain longer than 2 hours and do not pay the appropriate fee are typically sent a parking charge notice for as a lot as £100.

If you think the charge is unfair, you can appeal. Information of the appeal process ought to accompany the notice, or you can appear on the firm’s site. You may, for example, have broken down or been held up by poor weather.

If the operator is a member of the Authorized Operator Scheme run by the British Parking Association (BPA), you will also have access to the independent Parking on Private Land Appeals (Popla).

Penalty decision

A parking charge notice issued by a private firm does not have the same legal clout as a penalty charge notice or a fixed penalty notice issued by the local council or the police.

Some motorists for that reason ignore charge notices, but it’s risky since the organization could take you to court to recover the income.

Motorway solutions stations: time for modify?

Motorway services stations: time for change?

Motorway solutions stations. Several of us would contemplate them a needed evil, what with their high pump costs, soulless food ‘courts’ and banks of funds-guzzling arcade games.

But the government desires perceptions to change. The Department for Transport is appointing a panel of professionals – architects, motoring organisations and representatives of service station owners – to devise ways to make service stations more attractive.

Among the measures being regarded are improved structural design and style, improved green space and outdoor play locations, and more independent retailers and food outlets.

Greater provision of charging points for electric cars will also be created.

Practical benefits

This is not just a cosmetic physical exercise. As we all know – and as gantry indicators on motorways routinely remind us – tiredness kills. So if service stations can be made far more alluring, probably a lot more of us will cease for a rest.

The DoT suggests that virtually 20% of accidents on key roads are sleep connected. And incidents involving tired drivers are far more probably to lead to death or significant injury than any other road accidents.

But perhaps it is not just the dispiriting encounter of going to a typical service station that’s deterring us from taking that significantly-needed break.

Whilst they need to by law offer you free parking of at least 2 hours, the price of staying longer than the legal minimum can be prohibitive.

The charges differ according to the service station operator and the place, but are generally about £12 for a automobile and £20 for a lorry or caravan. That is very a expensive nap.

We’re told the charges are clearly displayed, even though I’ve never ever noticed a single sign in any of the a lot of service stations I have visited up and down the country.

Risky enterprise

David Davies, MP for Monmouth and a former lorry driver, thinks the costs could encourage drivers to take dangers and desires the government to modify its policy and force stations to offer you cost-free parking for longer.

Or, as he puts it: “It is poor sufficient that motorists spend over the odds to get a coffee or snack at a service station without having the worry of paying vast charges for taking forty winks. This is profiteering plain and straightforward. There is no justification whatsoever for generating a charge.”

Davies has the backing of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and investigation, is similarly outspoken. He says: “Service places are meant to be about security and taking a break on a extended boring journey. All as well typically these days they are a lot more about selling issues at inflated costs to a captive audience.

“The 2-hour parking rule leaves several drivers confused and worried that they could inadvertently go over the time limit if they cease for a break, which is not a great recipe for safer motoring.”

Candid cameras

Service station operators monitor automobiles coming in and out with automatic plate recognition cameras positioned at entrances and exits. Motorists who stay longer than 2 hours and do not spend the right fee are normally sent a parking charge notice for as much as £100.

If you consider the charge is unfair, you can appeal. Particulars of the appeal procedure must accompany the notice, or you can appear on the firm’s web site. You may possibly, for instance, have broken down or been held up by bad weather.

If the operator is a member of the Authorized Operator Scheme run by the British Parking Association (BPA), you will also have access to the independent Parking on Private Land Appeals (Popla).

Penalty selection

A parking charge notice issued by a private company does not have the identical legal clout as a penalty charge notice or a fixed penalty notice issued by the local council or the police.

Some motorists therefore ignore charge notices, but it’s risky because the business could take you to court to recover the money.

Motorway services stations: time for change?

Motorway solutions stations: time for adjust?

Motorway solutions stations. Numerous of us would consider them a needed evil, what with their higher pump costs, soulless food ‘courts’ and banks of funds-guzzling arcade games.

But the government wants perceptions to modify. The Division for Transport is appointing a panel of professionals – architects, motoring organisations and representatives of service station owners – to devise techniques to make service stations more desirable.

Amongst the measures getting regarded as are enhanced structural design and style, increased green space and outside play locations, and more independent retailers and meals outlets.

Greater provision of charging points for electric automobiles will also be created.

Practical benefits

This is not just a cosmetic exercising. As we all know – and as gantry signs on motorways often remind us – tiredness kills. So if service stations can be made much more alluring, probably a lot more of us will quit for a rest.

The DoT suggests that practically 20% of accidents on main roads are sleep related. And incidents involving tired drivers are much more probably to trigger death or serious injury than any other road accidents.

But maybe it is not just the dispiriting encounter of going to a standard service station that’s deterring us from taking that considerably-necessary break.

While they need to by law supply cost-free parking of at least 2 hours, the cost of staying longer than the legal minimum can be prohibitive.

The charges differ according to the service station operator and the place, but are generally about £12 for a auto and £20 for a lorry or caravan. That is fairly a costly nap.

We’re told the charges are clearly displayed, though I’ve by no means noticed a single sign in any of the a lot of service stations I have visited up and down the country.

Risky business

David Davies, MP for Monmouth and a former lorry driver, thinks the charges could encourage drivers to take dangers and wants the government to change its policy and force stations to offer you free of charge parking for longer.

Or, as he puts it: “It is negative sufficient that motorists pay more than the odds to acquire a coffee or snack at a service station with no the be concerned of paying vast charges for taking forty winks. This is profiteering plain and easy. There is no justification whatsoever for generating a charge.”

Davies has the backing of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and analysis, is similarly outspoken. He says: “Service places are meant to be about safety and taking a break on a long boring journey. All as well frequently these days they are a lot more about promoting factors at inflated costs to a captive audience.

“The 2-hour parking rule leaves a lot of drivers confused and worried that they may possibly inadvertently go over the time limit if they cease for a break, which is not a great recipe for safer motoring.”

Candid cameras

Service station operators monitor vehicles coming in and out with automatic plate recognition cameras positioned at entrances and exits. Motorists who stay longer than 2 hours and don’t pay the correct fee are typically sent a parking charge notice for as a lot as £100.

If you feel the charge is unfair, you can appeal. Information of the appeal procedure must accompany the notice, or you can appear on the firm’s site. You may, for instance, have broken down or been held up by poor climate.

If the operator is a member of the Authorized Operator Scheme run by the British Parking Association (BPA), you will also have access to the independent Parking on Private Land Appeals (Popla).

Penalty selection

A parking charge notice issued by a private company does not have the same legal clout as a penalty charge notice or a fixed penalty notice issued by the nearby council or the police.

Some motorists as a result ignore charge notices, but it is risky due to the fact the firm could take you to court to recover the funds.

Motorway solutions stations: time for adjust?

Why are our motorway service stations so awful?

From overpriced food to strict limits on parking occasions, there are numerous motives motorway solutions get on our nerves.

Are Britain’s service stations a supply of national shame?

That seems to be the conclusion drawn by a new survey of motorists.

A study carried out by the RAC has discovered that virtually 9 in 10 motorway customers consider our service stations provide poor value for money even though a majority describe going to solutions as “not a pleasurable experience”.

‘As tiny time and cash as possible’;

This follows the RAC’s recent findings that drivers are calling for curbs on the costs charged by motorway solutions for petrol and diesel.

The organisation’s new investigation discovered that the typical expenditure at services was between £5 and £10 per person, with 71% of respondents saying they tried to invest as tiny time and income there as feasible.

RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams says: “Millions of motorists rely on motorway service locations for a properly-earned rest.

“It is important for their security and that of other road customers that they take typical breaks so they are not tired when behind the wheel.

Strict parking limits

“But motorists really feel they are being seriously let down by what they see as overpriced merchandise and a lack of great service to match these premium rates.”

Williams adds: “For a family of 4 to consume a rapid, relatively fundamental meal together, the bill can simply pass the £40 mark, and even then, motorists inform us that the meals on supply in some cases just does not meet the mark.”

The RAC found that respondents were especially unhappy with the truth that a lot of service stations imposed strict time limits on parking.

Much more than 8 in 10 stated solutions ought to allow free of charge lengthy-stay or overnight parking so that drivers could rest adequately.

Unhappy clients

A quantity of Confused.com readers were also critical of Britain’s service stations following our recent report on higher motorway fuel rates.

One particular commenter, Michael, says: “Personally I think the entire standard of service stations in the UK is appalling.

“I travel every day from Manchester to the West Midlands and they are all dirty, overpriced and past their sell-by date.”

An additional commenter, Mark, adds: “Everything about motorway solutions is created for the extraction of the maximum quantity of cash from the customers, not for their convenience and safety.

A greater way

“If they have been concerned about the safety of the driver, they would not have a parking time limit of 2 hours.

“On the Continent, they anticipate you to cease and sleep if you start off to feel tired. Right here, they expect you to quit, devote your income and then bugger off.”

Williams at the RAC says that a excellent example has been set by the independent firm Westmorland Household, which has run the Tebay solutions on the M6 in Cumbria for a number of decades.

He adds: “They have taken a extremely different method, sourcing excellent top quality ingredients from the nearby region, producing home-cooked food which numerous take into account to provide much better value for cash, as well as becoming a far better good quality and possibly healthier option.”

‘Food is the key’;

Sarah Dunning, Westmorland Family’s CEO, says “correct food” is the company’s USP.

Westmorland has this year opened a second service station on the M5 close to Gloucester

“We have a great deal of repeat custom — and visitors to each Gloucester and Tebay are effusive in their praise, and that really helps to galvanise and inspire our staff to deliver each high quality and service,” Dunning says.

But she adds that the process of taking over a service station can be fraught with red tape.

“It was a quite long journey to open Gloucester Solutions, resulting in a judicial overview.”

Maybe this obstacle to competitors is a cause why other operators can get away with failing to meet customers’ expectations.

Evaluate vehicle insurance – you could uncover a great deal in minutes Get a vehicle insurance coverage quote

Why are our motorway service stations so awful?

Why are our motorway service stations so awful?

From overpriced meals to strict limits on parking instances, there are several causes motorway services get on our nerves.

Are Britain’s service stations a source of national shame?

That seems to be the conclusion drawn by a new survey of motorists.

A study carried out by the RAC has discovered that virtually 9 in 10 motorway users feel our service stations offer you poor value for funds while a majority describe visiting services as “not a pleasurable knowledge”.

‘As little time and funds as possible’;

This follows the RAC’s current findings that drivers are calling for curbs on the costs charged by motorway solutions for petrol and diesel.

The organisation’s new study located that the typical expenditure at solutions was between £5 and £10 per particular person, with 71% of respondents saying they tried to commit as small time and funds there as attainable.

RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams says: “Millions of motorists depend on motorway service locations for a properly-earned rest.

“It is crucial for their safety and that of other road customers that they take regular breaks so they are not tired when behind the wheel.

Strict parking limits

“But motorists really feel they are becoming seriously let down by what they see as overpriced products and a lack of good service to match these premium costs.”

Williams adds: “For a family members of 4 to consume a fast, fairly fundamental meal with each other, the bill can effortlessly pass the £40 mark, and even then, motorists tell us that the food on provide in some cases just doesn’t meet the mark.”

The RAC discovered that respondents have been specifically unhappy with the reality that a lot of service stations imposed strict time limits on parking.

Far more than 8 in 10 said solutions need to permit cost-free extended-stay or overnight parking so that drivers could rest adequately.

Unhappy clients

A quantity of Confused.com readers have been also vital of Britain’s service stations following our current report on high motorway fuel prices.

One commenter, Michael, says: “Personally I believe the entire standard of service stations in the UK is appalling.

“I travel every day from Manchester to the West Midlands and they are all dirty, overpriced and past their sell-by date.”

Yet another commenter, Mark, adds: “Every thing about motorway services is made for the extraction of the maximum amount of funds from the users, not for their comfort and safety.

A far better way

“If they had been concerned about the security of the driver, they would not have a parking time limit of 2 hours.

“On the Continent, they count on you to stop and sleep if you begin to feel tired. Right here, they anticipate you to cease, commit your income and then bugger off.”

Williams at the RAC says that a great example has been set by the independent firm Westmorland Household, which has run the Tebay solutions on the M6 in Cumbria for several decades.

He adds: “They have taken a quite diverse approach, sourcing excellent top quality components from the local region, generating home-cooked meals which a lot of think about to give much better value for cash, as well as becoming a much better top quality and possibly healthier alternative.”

‘Food is the key’;

Sarah Dunning, Westmorland Family’s CEO, says “proper food” is the company’s USP.

Westmorland has this year opened a second service station on the M5 near Gloucester

“We have a excellent deal of repeat custom — and visitors to each Gloucester and Tebay are effusive in their praise, and that really assists to galvanise and inspire our staff to deliver both quality and service,” Dunning says.

But she adds that the method of taking more than a service station can be fraught with red tape.

“It was a very long journey to open Gloucester Services, resulting in a judicial evaluation.”

Probably this obstacle to competition is a cause why other operators can get away with failing to meet customers’ expectations.

Examine auto insurance coverage – you could uncover a excellent deal in minutes Get a car insurance coverage quote

Why are our motorway service stations so awful?

Highway stars shine at M-way service stations this weekend

Tomorrow and Sunday (November 15 and 16), Highways Agency traffic officers will be on hand at motorway service stations across England to advise on winter driving, planning journeys over Christmas and checking your car before driving long distances in adverse weather.

Snap, crackle, pop

We might have had a wet and soggy winter so far, but it only takes one cold snap for roads to freeze over and conditions to become hazardous for drivers.

It’s bad enough your car breaking down when it’s hot and sunny, but freezing your proverbials off at the roadside when it happens in winter makes things a whole lot more painful.

It’s showtime…

The Highways Agency initiative is part of scheme called ‘Operation Showtime’. There’s no need for jazz hands though – this operation is all about making sure we, and our cars, are prepared for winter weather.

I’d have gone for ‘snowtime’, but never mind. And there’s no circumstance I can think of that isn’t enhanced with a bit of jazz-handing.

Kit cars

Brian Hensby, the Highways Agency operations manager in charge of ‘Operation Showtime’ said: “We’d suggest drivers put together a winter emergency kit for their car – with crucial items like warm clothing, a torch, de-icer, ice scrapers, shovel and boots.

“We also recommend checking your vehicle – is the tread depth on your tyres safe? Do your brakes work properly? Is your heating okay?

“If you are considering a winter service for your vehicle, be sure to get it done at least a week before any long journeys – sadly, there are countless examples of vehicles establishing problems during the very first journey after a check-up.”

Be prepared

As well as making sure your car has been serviced, there are lots of basic checks you can perform to make sure your car is set for winter.

As Hensby points out, checking your tyres is crucial – if they are worn, you’re much more likely to skid. The tread legally needs to be at least 1.6mm, but if you’re driving in winter it should ideally be more than 2mm.

The 20 pence piece test is a doddle. Insert the coin into the tread and, if you can see the rim above the tread depth, your next journey should be to a tyre provider.

And you might want to think about investing in winter tyres if you live in a rural area where roads aren’t regularly gritted.

Assault on your battery

You should also check your oil level, hazard lights and anti-freeze, and think about when you last changed your battery, which takes a hammering in the winter because of the extra load from lights and heating. If it is over 5 years old, you might want to think about replacing it.

Think about the type of oil you’re using as well – the thicker it is, the less effectively it will lubricate, so you’ll need to change it regularly and make sure the level is between the maximum and minimum marks on the dipstick.

Don’t be shy about getting a garage to give your car a pre-winter health-check. It’ll cost you, but peace of mind rarely comes without a price tag.

Afore ye go…

Make sure you’re prepared for any winter weather that might hit while you’re on the road. If you’ve got a long journey scheduled, look at the weather forecast before leaving home and check the latest traffic information for delays.

Use common sense and don’t travel in conditions that are hazardous. If you have to, delay your plans – it’s better to be inconvenienced than to put yourself and other passengers in any sort of danger.

Timing is everything

Hensby said: “It may be a case of leaving earlier, or leaving a little later, or simply planning the best places for rest stops along the way.

“You can’t have too much information before you set off: and the more you know, the more likely you are to enjoy a smoother journey this winter.”

You can contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or visit its website for information about road incidents and conditions.

Big up for breakdown cover…

It’s a good idea to have comprehensive breakdown cover in place so that you have someone to call on to get you to safety – and so you can avoid hefty garage call-out costs.

Highway stars shine at M-way service stations this weekend

Highway stars shine at M-way service stations this weekend

Tomorrow and Sunday (November 15 and 16), Highways Agency traffic officers will be on hand at motorway service stations across England to advise on winter driving, planning journeys over Christmas and checking your car before driving long distances in adverse weather.

Snap, crackle, pop

We might have had a wet and soggy winter so far, but it only takes one cold snap for roads to freeze over and conditions to become hazardous for drivers.

It’s bad enough your car breaking down when it’s hot and sunny, but freezing your proverbials off at the roadside when it happens in winter makes things a whole lot more painful.

It’s showtime…

The Highways Agency initiative is part of scheme called ‘Operation Showtime’. There’s no need for jazz hands though – this operation is all about making sure we, and our cars, are prepared for winter weather.

I’d have gone for ‘snowtime’, but never mind. And there’s no circumstance I can think of that isn’t enhanced with a bit of jazz-handing.

Kit cars

Brian Hensby, the Highways Agency operations manager in charge of ‘Operation Showtime’ said: “We’d suggest drivers put together a winter emergency kit for their car – with crucial items like warm clothing, a torch, de-icer, ice scrapers, shovel and boots.

“We also recommend checking your vehicle – is the tread depth on your tyres safe? Do your brakes work properly? Is your heating okay?

“If you are considering a winter service for your vehicle, be sure to get it done at least a week before any long journeys – sadly, there are countless examples of vehicles establishing problems during the very first journey after a check-up.”

Be prepared

As well as making sure your car has been serviced, there are lots of basic checks you can perform to make sure your car is set for winter.

As Hensby points out, checking your tyres is crucial – if they are worn, you’re much more likely to skid. The tread legally needs to be at least 1.6mm, but if you’re driving in winter it should ideally be more than 2mm.

The 20 pence piece test is a doddle. Insert the coin into the tread and, if you can see the rim above the tread depth, your next journey should be to a tyre provider.

And you might want to think about investing in winter tyres if you live in a rural area where roads aren’t regularly gritted.

Assault on your battery

You should also check your oil level, hazard lights and anti-freeze, and think about when you last changed your battery, which takes a hammering in the winter because of the extra load from lights and heating. If it is over 5 years old, you might want to think about replacing it.

Think about the type of oil you’re using as well – the thicker it is, the less effectively it will lubricate, so you’ll need to change it regularly and make sure the level is between the maximum and minimum marks on the dipstick.

Don’t be shy about getting a garage to give your car a pre-winter health-check. It’ll cost you, but peace of mind rarely comes without a price tag.

Afore ye go…

Make sure you’re prepared for any winter weather that might hit while you’re on the road. If you’ve got a long journey scheduled, look at the weather forecast before leaving home and check the latest traffic information for delays.

Use common sense and don’t travel in conditions that are hazardous. If you have to, delay your plans – it’s better to be inconvenienced than to put yourself and other passengers in any sort of danger.

Timing is everything

Hensby said: “It may be a case of leaving earlier, or leaving a little later, or simply planning the best places for rest stops along the way.

“You can’t have too much information before you set off: and the more you know, the more likely you are to enjoy a smoother journey this winter.”

You can contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000 or visit its website for information about road incidents and conditions.

Big up for breakdown cover…

It’s a good idea to have comprehensive breakdown cover in place so that you have someone to call on to get you to safety – and so you can avoid hefty garage call-out costs.

Highway stars shine at M-way service stations this weekend

Highway stars shine at M-way service stations this weekend

Tomorrow and Sunday (November 15 and 16), Highways Agency targeted traffic officers will be on hand at motorway service stations across England to advise on winter driving, organizing journeys over Christmas and checking your auto just before driving extended distances in adverse weather.

Snap, crackle, pop

We may have had a wet and soggy winter so far, but it only takes one cold snap for roads to freeze over and conditions to turn out to be hazardous for drivers.

It’s poor sufficient your car breaking down when it is hot and sunny, but freezing your proverbials off at the roadside when it happens in winter makes things a complete lot a lot more painful.

It’s showtime…

The Highways Agency initiative is component of scheme named ‘Operation Showtime’. There’s no need for jazz hands although – this operation is all about producing positive we, and our cars, are prepared for winter climate.

I’d have gone for ‘snowtime’, but in no way mind. And there’s no circumstance I can think of that is not enhanced with a bit of jazz-handing.

Kit automobiles

Brian Hensby, the Highways Agency operations manager in charge of ‘Operation Showtime’ mentioned: “We’d suggest drivers put collectively a winter emergency kit for their auto – with crucial products like warm clothes, a torch, de-icer, ice scrapers, shovel and boots.

“We also advise checking your vehicle – is the tread depth on your tyres protected? Do your brakes function appropriately? Is your heating okay?

“If you are thinking about a winter service for your car, be certain to get it done at least a week ahead of any lengthy journeys – sadly, there are countless examples of autos establishing difficulties for the duration of the really first journey right after a check-up.”

Be prepared

As effectively as generating positive your car has been serviced, there are lots of standard checks you can carry out to make confident your vehicle is set for winter.

As Hensby points out, checking your tyres is crucial – if they are worn, you’re considerably a lot more likely to skid. The tread legally demands to be at least 1.6mm, but if you are driving in winter it ought to ideally be far more than 2mm.

The 20 pence piece test is a doddle. Insert the coin into the tread and, if you can see the rim above the tread depth, your subsequent journey need to be to a tyre provider.

And you may well want to feel about investing in winter tyres if you live in a rural location where roads aren’t frequently gritted.

Assault on your battery

You must also verify your oil level, hazard lights and anti-freeze, and think about when you last changed your battery, which requires a hammering in the winter simply because of the additional load from lights and heating. If it is more than 5 years old, you may possibly want to consider about replacing it.

Consider about the sort of oil you are employing as effectively – the thicker it is, the much less effectively it will lubricate, so you’ll require to alter it regularly and make positive the level is between the maximum and minimum marks on the dipstick.

Do not be shy about getting a garage to give your vehicle a pre-winter wellness-verify. It’ll expense you, but peace of mind seldom comes without a price tag.

Afore ye go…

Make positive you are prepared for any winter climate that might hit even though you’re on the road. If you’ve got a long journey scheduled, appear at the weather forecast prior to leaving home and check the newest traffic details for delays.

Use frequent sense and do not travel in situations that are hazardous. If you have to, delay your plans – it’s greater to be inconvenienced than to place your self and other passengers in any sort of danger.

Timing is almost everything

Hensby said: “It may be a case of leaving earlier, or leaving a tiny later, or merely organizing the best locations for rest stops along the way.

“You can’t have as well a lot info ahead of you set off: and the much more you know, the much more likely you are to get pleasure from a smoother journey this winter.”

You can get in touch with the Highways Agency Data Line on 0300 123 5000 or pay a visit to its site for information about road incidents and circumstances.

Large up for breakdown cover…

It’s a great notion to have complete breakdown cover in location so that you have a person to contact on to get you to safety – and so you can steer clear of hefty garage call-out costs.

Highway stars shine at M-way service stations this weekend

Are we operating out of petrol stations?

Classic roadside petrol stations and pubs have a lot in frequent.

They both sell high-priced liquids whose price tag is inflated by the addition of whopping amounts of duty and value added tax that flows straight to the Inland Income.

They each face stiff competition from supermarkets, who undercut them on value, usually selling their product as a loss leader to get folks into the retailer.

And they are both decreasing in number at an alarming price, particularly in rural locations.

Broken Hertford

But not just rural regions. Take Hertford, county town of (you guessed it) Hertfordshire, situated just 21 miles north of Trafalgar Square. Significantly less than 10 years ago there were 2 petrol stations inside a 5-iron of the town hall. Now there are none.

And they’ve not even been replaced by supermarket forecourts. The town may possibly be ‘blessed’ with a Sainsbury and a Tesco (along with a Waitrose and M&S – we like our groceries in Hertford) but neither of them has the area nor the inclination to begin promoting fuel.

So if you reside in Hertford and want to refuel your automobile, you’ve got to head out to a mad-busy service station 3 miles away on the A10, or drive to an adjacent town such as Welwyn or Stevenage.

Woe betide you the subsequent morning if you drive property on fumes a single night.

Closing time

British pubs are closing at a shocking rate – as several as 30 a week, according to some reports.

Thankfully, this blight has yet to afflict Hertford, but that’s possibly only due to the fact most of the nearby boozers are tied to the town’s brewery, McMullen.

As for petrol stations – nationwide, independent petrol retailers are closing at the rate of 250 a year according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). The difficulty is at its worst in Wales, Scotland, East Anglia and England’s West Country.

Not working at the automobile wash

The circumstance is getting exacerbated by the loss of revenue from car-wash facilities.

It appears we’re no longer willing to get tokens for a single of those (frankly, a bit scary) machines when we can pay a gang of strapping young lads down the road to do the job for us.

But it’s the supermarkets which remain the principal target of PRA’s wrath. The trade body reckons a standard supermarket fuel outlet sells 11.3 million litres of fuel a year, whereas an independent retailer sells 2.1 million litres a year.

It says: “This figure equates to each hypermarket draining the whole volume of 5 independent sites out of a regional region, resulting in a loss of jobs (an typical independent forecourt gives up to 8 portion and full time jobs), a loss of local facilities and decreased fuel resilience in the event of a crisis, such as the panic getting noticed in March 2012.”

To address the problem, the PRA wants regional and national government to limit the quantity of new supermarket forecourt openings by means of the organizing application method.

Market place forces

I should confess to a lingering affection for non-supermarket petrol outlets. I even visited a single in Norfolk not too long ago where they come out of the office and fill your car up for you.

Exact same goes with classic British pubs. Ask not for whom the bell tolls at closing time, and all that.

But probably 4 occasions out of 5 I fill up the automobile at a supermarket. And I don’t get to the pub half as often as I would like. So I’m performing little if something to arrest the deep changes taking place in these sectors.

Perhaps market place forces are irresistible, and pubs and local garages are not immovable objects. Undoubtedly looks that way.

We can only hope that when they’re all gone, the supermarkets don’t use the reduction in competitors to bump up the rates they discount at the moment.

But it would only serve us appropriate if they did.

What do you reckon? Ought to some thing be completed to save our independent petrol retailers?

Are we operating out of petrol stations?

Are we running out of petrol stations?

Standard roadside petrol stations and pubs have a lot in typical.

They both sell pricey liquids whose value is inflated by the addition of whopping amounts of duty and value added tax that flows straight to the Inland Income.

They both face stiff competitors from supermarkets, who undercut them on price tag, often promoting their product as a loss leader to get folks into the shop.

And they are each reducing in number at an alarming price, especially in rural places.

Broken Hertford

But not just rural locations. Take Hertford, county town of (you guessed it) Hertfordshire, situated just 21 miles north of Trafalgar Square. Less than 10 years ago there have been 2 petrol stations inside a 5-iron of the town hall. Now there are none.

And they’ve not even been replaced by supermarket forecourts. The town could be ‘blessed’ with a Sainsbury and a Tesco (along with a Waitrose and M&S – we like our groceries in Hertford) but neither of them has the space nor the inclination to start selling fuel.

So if you live in Hertford and want to refuel your auto, you’ve got to head out to a mad-busy service station 3 miles away on the A10, or drive to an adjacent town such as Welwyn or Stevenage.

Woe betide you the subsequent morning if you drive home on fumes 1 evening.

Closing time

British pubs are closing at a shocking rate – as several as 30 a week, according to some reports.

Thankfully, this blight has yet to afflict Hertford, but that’s probably only simply because most of the neighborhood boozers are tied to the town’s brewery, McMullen.

As for petrol stations – nationwide, independent petrol retailers are closing at the price of 250 a year according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). The problem is at its worst in Wales, Scotland, East Anglia and England’s West Country.

Not working at the car wash

The circumstance is getting exacerbated by the loss of income from vehicle-wash facilities.

It appears we’re no longer willing to buy tokens for 1 of those (frankly, a bit scary) machines when we can pay a gang of strapping young lads down the road to do the job for us.

But it is the supermarkets which stay the principal target of PRA’s wrath. The trade physique reckons a common supermarket fuel outlet sells 11.3 million litres of fuel a year, whereas an independent retailer sells 2.1 million litres a year.

It says: “This figure equates to each and every hypermarket draining the complete volume of 5 independent internet sites out of a neighborhood region, resulting in a loss of jobs (an average independent forecourt gives up to 8 portion and complete time jobs), a loss of neighborhood facilities and decreased fuel resilience in the occasion of a crisis, such as the panic acquiring seen in March 2012.”

To address the dilemma, the PRA desires local and national government to limit the quantity of new supermarket forecourt openings by way of the planning application approach.

Market forces

I should confess to a lingering affection for non-supermarket petrol outlets. I even visited 1 in Norfolk recently where they come out of the workplace and fill your car up for you.

Same goes with conventional British pubs. Ask not for whom the bell tolls at closing time, and all that.

But most likely 4 instances out of 5 I fill up the car at a supermarket. And I don’t get to the pub half as often as I would like. So I’m performing little if anything to arrest the deep modifications taking place in these sectors.

Possibly market place forces are irresistible, and pubs and local garages are not immovable objects. Certainly appears that way.

We can only hope that when they’re all gone, the supermarkets do not use the reduction in competition to bump up the rates they discount at the moment.

But it would only serve us right if they did.

What do you reckon? Should some thing be accomplished to save our independent petrol retailers?

Are we running out of petrol stations?

Are we running out of petrol stations?

Conventional roadside petrol stations and pubs have a lot in typical.

They both sell pricey liquids whose price tag is inflated by the addition of whopping amounts of duty and value added tax that flows straight to the Inland Income.

They both face stiff competition from supermarkets, who undercut them on value, typically promoting their solution as a loss leader to get folks into the store.

And they are each lowering in quantity at an alarming price, especially in rural regions.

Broken Hertford

But not just rural regions. Take Hertford, county town of (you guessed it) Hertfordshire, situated just 21 miles north of Trafalgar Square. Much less than 10 years ago there had been 2 petrol stations inside a 5-iron of the town hall. Now there are none.

And they’ve not even been replaced by supermarket forecourts. The town may possibly be ‘blessed’ with a Sainsbury and a Tesco (along with a Waitrose and M&S – we like our groceries in Hertford) but neither of them has the area nor the inclination to start selling fuel.

So if you live in Hertford and want to refuel your vehicle, you have got to head out to a mad-busy service station 3 miles away on the A10, or drive to an adjacent town such as Welwyn or Stevenage.

Woe betide you the subsequent morning if you drive home on fumes 1 evening.

Closing time

British pubs are closing at a shocking rate – as a lot of as 30 a week, according to some reports.

Thankfully, this blight has but to afflict Hertford, but that is probably only because most of the regional boozers are tied to the town’s brewery, McMullen.

As for petrol stations – nationwide, independent petrol retailers are closing at the rate of 250 a year according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). The dilemma is at its worst in Wales, Scotland, East Anglia and England’s West Country.

Not functioning at the auto wash

The circumstance is being exacerbated by the loss of income from car-wash facilities.

It seems we’re no longer willing to purchase tokens for 1 of these (frankly, a bit scary) machines when we can pay a gang of strapping young lads down the road to do the job for us.

But it is the supermarkets which stay the principal target of PRA’s wrath. The trade body reckons a typical supermarket fuel outlet sells 11.3 million litres of fuel a year, whereas an independent retailer sells 2.1 million litres a year.

It says: “This figure equates to every single hypermarket draining the complete volume of 5 independent web sites out of a neighborhood area, resulting in a loss of jobs (an typical independent forecourt provides up to 8 element and full time jobs), a loss of neighborhood facilities and decreased fuel resilience in the occasion of a crisis, such as the panic acquiring observed in March 2012.”

To address the issue, the PRA wants local and national government to limit the quantity of new supermarket forecourt openings by means of the arranging application approach.

Marketplace forces

I need to confess to a lingering affection for non-supermarket petrol outlets. I even visited 1 in Norfolk lately exactly where they come out of the office and fill your car up for you.

Exact same goes with traditional British pubs. Ask not for whom the bell tolls at closing time, and all that.

But almost certainly 4 times out of 5 I fill up the car at a supermarket. And I don’t get to the pub half as typically as I would like. So I’m carrying out small if anything to arrest the deep adjustments taking location in these sectors.

Maybe industry forces are irresistible, and pubs and nearby garages are not immovable objects. Undoubtedly appears that way.

We can only hope that when they’re all gone, the supermarkets don’t use the reduction in competition to bump up the costs they discount at the moment.

But it would only serve us right if they did.

What do you reckon? Should anything be completed to save our independent petrol retailers?

Are we running out of petrol stations?