Unique Employee GPS Tracking and Clocking System

Blackbox Telematics are proud to launch in the UK a simple to use Employee GPS location & time clocking management system, which provides businesses with a cloud based accurate mobile time and attendance system for accurate time keeping in the feild or onsite, it allows businesses to monitor the location of your mobile work force in real time from anywhere. The GPS real time and location field based operative tracking solution is as easy as installing an app on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. The functionality and user privileges are fully controlled and managed through an easy to use cloud based online web based system. The system automatically generates electronic time sheets in real time from any computer with internet access, selectable by time, job and employee.

Feature Rich & Easy To Use

• Designed for wireless, mobile timekeeping for accurate time and attendance and GPS location
• Excellent to see where all your employees have been and the duration of the jobs
• Clock in for individual employees with a unique PIN number
• Track all work activities
• Free GPS functionality pinpoints the exact location each time workers clock in or out, and records to the back office reporting system
• Supervisors can send records wirelessly to the office over the Internet using  Service
• Wirelessly provides real time records back to the office, so no waiting on job updates
• Dual job creation from the office and the feild with all two way communication notes with audit trail
• Track an unlimited number of staff, their place of work and and any related information, such as job activities or status updates from your wireless, mobile device
• Management functions for managers or supervisors include:
  • Full Management Reporting
  • Clock in and out an entire team on one device
  • Add employees, jobsites and message staff
  • View, add and edit time records
  • Auto Clock in for regular shift paterns
  • Show map of where employees clocked in and out
  • Creat written messages or feild notes

So please remember our mobile smartphone time and attendance solution, means you only pay employees for hours they actually work because the system tracks and records what really happens, yes in real time! Providing your business with total visibility and control of all your feild employees, also they no longer need to remember how many hours they worked last week, as the system does it for them!

This is a real win win for all parties.

Visit :       www.blackboxtelematics.co.uk

Contact : info@blackboxtelematics.co.uk

Blackbox Fleet Solution has been uniquely designed to adapt perfectly to every size and type of fleet. Understanding exactly how you manage your fleet means we can ensure that Blackbox Fleet blends seamlessly with your business’s existing systems and processes. Whether you run a leet of 5 or 5,000, Blackbox Fleet will provide you with the very best in fleet management software and a flexible range of supporting services to address your specific leet requirements

Compliance

You need safe, compliant vehicles and informed, educated drivers…it’s all covered with Blackbox Fleet.

• HSE and legal requirements for leet operators are securely woven through all software functionality
• Correct Blackbox Fleet usage generates a sound audit trail of leet activity; a fundamental duty of care requirement
• Electronic document storage means instant access to essential paperwork
• Blackbox Fleet is fully supported by the UK’s leading transport solicitor and specialist tax accountant
• Free ‘Fleet Adviser’ website provides crucial information and advice for all your fleet questions

Compliance - Areas Covered :

Vehicle Management
Driver Management
Policies
Duty of Care

Savings

With a knowledge of how you manage your leet we can make sure Blackbox Fleet integrates seamlessly with your business. With consolidated fleet processes and improved accessibility, you can enjoy more eficient cost control, legal compliance and streamlined operations. Through a simple question and answer process we look at your current leet processes, and where appropriate integrate them in to one system allowing ease of data access and reducing administration time. Looking at all aspects of your fleet management enables us to identify areas of Blackbox Fleet’s potential cost saving integrated solution and Areas such as fuel management, leasing providers, administration. advice puts you reviewing your fleet processes will identify if you are potentially vulnerable in the areas firmly in control. of legal compliance, Health & Safety and Duty of Care.

Savings – Areas Covered:

Fuel – Fuel Card Purchasing Data
Time – Efficiency & Productivity
Maintenance – Safety checks / Pre Booking etc.
Accident Management
Tyre Management
Acquisition
Fleet Taxation

Fully Integrated & Accredited Vehicle Tracking 

The Most Cost Effective GPS Vehicle & Asset Tracking System fully integrated with your maximum beneit to all parties.
Blackbox Fleet software for a comprehensive, all-encompassing fleet management system. Instantly know where your vehicles and drivers are and communicate instructions direct from your office.

• Live Tracking
• Accurate arrival & departure Times
• Driver Behavior – Speeding & Fuel Idling Issues
• Direct Mileage import from vehicle tracking to Fleet system
• Automated Service & Advisory issues
• Analytic Management Reporting / Information Fuel usage
• Route Planning
• Live Traffic & Accident Information

Blackbox Telematics Ltd provides its clients with a future proof vehicle tracking proposition, the aim of the company is to always provide clients with the state of the art current technology vehicle tracking software. This is a long term customer strategy and one that their clients benefit greatly from, Blackbox Telematics builds value in what they supply they are not in the business of providing features without cost return benefit, for their clients.

Blackbox Telematics Senior Executive – Allan E Gibbons commented, “The latest cut of software includes the Google Street View mapping technology which adds a dynamic edge to the software coupled with the Live Interactive Reporting Suite provides the user with a super location based information system with a dynamic visual perspective, while still retaining its previous feature rich software its clients have came to depend on. Our system is currently delivering our fleet users with a fantastic returns on their investment, by providing them with tools facilitate visibility and control of their mobile assets while driving down costs and increasing efficiency, this all combines back into an increase to our customers bottom line of their business. Our mission is to continually delivery a fantastic solution but also promote our superb customer service. I have a no nonsense approach and i believe that service is only attained when both internal and external customers requirements are achieved or exceeded (Total Quality Management).

Blackbox Telematics Ltd also commented they have lots more they will be adding this year, to their current offer, this will become apparent in the very near future, and we look forward to another hugely successful year.

The Blackbox Telematics Team are waiting to welcome new users, and encourage anyone thinking about deploying such a system, experience their software live, so why not arrange a vehicle tracking demonstration today, it comes with no pressure or obligation it’s free.

http://www.articlesbase.com/gps-articles/gps-vehicle-tracking-system-software-enhancements-4993307.html

Allan E Gibbons, Senior Executive at Blackbox Telematics Ltd comments: “The expansion of our premises in Glasgow is absolutely essential – we are literally bursting at the seams and have had to expand to facilitate our fast growing Vehicle Tracking & Telematics Business, the new office incorporates our new partnership and relieves the pressure on space. Our employment projections indicate that we need to be in a position to cater for more new employees as soon as 2012, due to the increased levels of business. Our customers demand a high level of service which is our number one aim.”

To accommodate the recent growth, the Blackbox Telematics commercial team has expanded into a larger facility within its existing business premises in Garscadden House, a new state of the art Business Centre in Glasgow.

The expansion is a result of the growing market share of the UK’s Vehicle Tracking & Telematics market which is due to the company’s ability to combine the best deals with a simple to use system and fantastic customer support. As the fastest growing independent Tracking & Telematics company in the UK, Blackbox Telematics Ltd able to secure customers fleets of all sizes whilst offering a comprehensive range of benefits as standard.

The investment in the expansion follows the company’s successful Nationwide Service approach with local branches throughout the UK. We have further investment plans to expand our local branches bringing the number of branches in UK to 5.

The fastest growing independent Vehicle Tracking & Telematics Provider

If you haven’t already discovered it, we encourage you to go online and take a look now.

Among the many things you will see our screen shot demo this is available to all non clients or subscribers with just a click. We would the ask you to contact us to arrange an online demonstration live to see how the solution functionality best fits your business.

You will also find detailed explanations of the of each of our solutions from Vehicle Tracking, Personal Tracking, Asset Tracking, Driver ID, DVLA Driver Licence Checking, Driver Behavior, Driver Distraction Systems —and much more.

We hope you will find the new site to be easy-to-navigate, informative, and helpful. We will be adding new information and resources on a continuing basis, so that the site remains timely and is increasingly useful.

Please feel welcome to share your feedback with us on Facebook, Twitter (Blackbox Tracks) or, you can write to Blackbox Telematics executive director, Allan E Gibbons, who spearheaded this ambitious project. (info@blackboxtelematics ).

We look forward to hearing from you today.

Kind regards

Blackbox Telematics Ltd.

Safe DriverCheck ™ is designed to make the driver accountable for their performance and promote safe driving.

for more information contact us at:

info@blackboxtelematics.co.uk

An innovative scheme is helping to deliver thousands of pounds worth of savings by persuading health professionals to leave their cars at home.

They are being given access to low emission pool cars and electric bikes through a sustainable travel project called GoLow, which after a successful pilot could now be rolled out to other public sector organisations.

The Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) has around 3,500 staff, with a large number working to provide community health services in the south west of England.

However, a report from the Energy Saving Trust (EST) last year revealed that 93% of the Trust’s business travel was being undertaken in grey fleet vehicles.

That equated to an annual total of 4.2 million miles at a cost of £2.5 million.

The EST report revealed that staff owned vehicles being used in the Trust were on average more than 11-years-old, with average CO2 emissions of over 200g/km.

In addition, more than 50% of the Trust’s business mileage was being claimed by staff who undertook less than 3,500 miles per annum.

“This indicated that the Trust was supporting an inefficient system which was creating an environmental impact within the communities it serves,” says Pierre Fox, sustainable travel project manager.

The AWP Trust is currently developing a full travel strategy, with the aim of reducing the expenditure to £1.8 million by 2014.

“However, these measures alone may only create a very small impact on the huge business mileage in the organisation,” explains Fox.

The travel planning in the Trust has included trials of some alternative options, with access offered to the local car club and low emission pool cars, while an electric car was tested and some electric bikes were purchased.

Fox admits that while these trials demonstrated a lot of potential, there were challenges over the cost of the car club and the expense of electric vehicles.

However, with staff on the ground prepared to embrace a different approach to business travel, Fox realised that a radical shift could still be achieved.

He decided to concentrate on procuring a fleet of low emission cars rather than electric vehicles and ensure the electric bikes would be robust enough for the daily grind.

In May 2010, a fleet of 22 low emission pool cars was gradually introduced across eight community sites in Bristol and with support from Bristol City Council and the Cycle City team a number of secure cycle facilities were erected to house a fleet of 20 electric bikes.

Any problems of running a fleet of pool electric bikes were overcome by working closely with the Giant Cycle Corporation and the lease company Sustainable Travel Solutions.

“This has allowed the development of a cycle product that is well suited to the demands of pool use backed-up by a very responsive aftercare service and a network of dealerships,” says Fox.

So far, the existing 22 pool cars are projected to save the Trust £20,284 per annum, while transferring staff to low emission pool cars has results in cutting carbon emissions by 55.6% per mile.

“The pilot has demonstrated that it has been possible to create significant savings compared to paying staff mileage expenses,” says Fox.

In three months, one team achieved a 60% reduction in average monthly expense claims, down from 171 to 69 miles. At over 50p per mile the savings are beginning to add up.

Building on a successful pilot

Plans are now being discussed as to how the pilot scheme can be expanded further to include other public sector bodies in the Bristol area.

A dedicated website – www.golow.org.uk – is being developed, to allow users to book their transport needs online.

The cars will be managed by a telematic car share system hosted by Commonwheels social enterprise car club, while the bikes will be integrated into the system via a product being developed by Blackbox Telematics.

“The intention is to create a high profile, intensively managed service which will be able to make a real impact to reducing emissions and cost,” says Fox.

It’s also proposed that the business model be expanded to give access to other organisations, which would be run as a social enterprise.

Bristol City Council discussed the scheme’s merits last week at an event hosted by the sustainable development agency Forum for the Future to look at solutions for sustainable work-based travel.

Councillor Gary Hopkins, cabinet member for Strategic Transport, Waste and Targeted Improvement, said: “We need a sustainable solution which inspires other organisations and businesses with its simplicity and sustainability.

“Bristol is a forward thinking city and it does business in a way which reflects that.

“The future is low-carbon, fuel-efficient, less car miles, more cycling and walking. Staff travel should reflect this and the council and public sector should lead the way. I applaud any sustainable transport initiative that avoids the extra mile.”

Author
Gareth Roberts

Delivering Blackbox Telematics Partnered Solutions

Authorised  Partners Programme

Are your customers asking you for advice on fleet management? Are they looking to gain increased productivity from their staff and reduce operational costs? If your customers value fuel savings, a reduction in drive times, improved customer service and a reduced carbon footprint, you’ll want to consider becoming an authorised partner for Blackbox Telematics.

By becoming a partner of Blackbox Telematics, you’ll be able to offer your customers the premier automatic vehicle & personal location solution in the market. Your customers will benefit from their increased productivity and cost savings. And you’ll receive competitive commissions up front with no after-the-sale hassles. By partnering with Blackbox Telematics, you’ll be partnering with a committed channel management team who makes sure you’re successful the first time.

Contact us today : info@blackboxtelematics.co.uk

Blackbox Telematics provides some hidden surprises

Finding the Correct Partner & Choosing the right system will be one of the most important decisions that a Business Owner or Fleet Manager will make, so it is important to get it right.

There are now hundreds of different systems on the market.

So please consider things few important points – continuity of service is vital so look closely not just at the cost of the system and the features list but also consider the history of the company and how they fund your system. The funding should be sustainable – how long have they used their current funding model? Remember the company that uses third party funders, means your business is exposed to more risks and liability, if they were to cease trading, who would provide your service while you pay the leasing company for your service? Check the system and their track record in terms of reliability from both a software & hardware and a communications point of view.

Most companies with good reputations and history will be able to provide you with a live demonstration of the system, not a delayed smoke and mirrors presentation, also case studies from existing clients. Make sure the person you are talking to have strong product knowledge not just from a technical perspective but from an operational business perspective as well. Good advice from your chosen tracking partner can make a significant impact towards the operational and liability benefits you derive from using a tracking system.

Before making a final decision on choosing a partner talk to one or more of their existing customers. If the vehicle tracking company is unwilling or unable to provide reference sites that you can contact then alarm bells should start ringing.

Blackbox Telematics ensures all customers are provided with a system that’s self funded this is a business model that has been in place for the last 10 years so it is fully sustainable from our clients perspective.

Contact us today on :

info@blackboxtelematics.co.uk

1. After passing your test it will be strange to find an empty front passenger seat. The first time you drive take someone with you for support. Think seriously about displaying a `P’ plate.
2. When you do have to drive completely alone, begin on roads that you know but remember to keep a road atlas in the car in case you get lost.
3. When you get your confidence, drive like you own the car, not the road!
4. You’ve learnt to drive and passed your test by sticking to the rules. Stay this way and you’ll stay alive ! So will your passengers and others on the road.
5. Your quick reactions won’t always stop you having an accident. Spotting and responding to problems ahead in plenty of time will.
6. Drive in a way that suits your ability and the traffic conditions. It doesn’t impress anybody if you drive fast in the wrong places and you could end up in a lot of trouble.
7. Have plenty of sleep, especially before making a big journey and take plenty of rest breaks to restore your alertness. Listen to the radio for traffic reports and make sure you’ve enough fuel.
8. Fiddling with the radio or a cassette when your driving can be distracting, so can playing your sound system so loud that you can’t hear the sirens of an emergency vehicle.
9. Give your mates a lift, but remember you’re the driver so you’re in control. Don’t succumb to peer pressure. If they give you hassle, drop them off at a bus stop!
10. Keep your eyes moving but don’t scare your passengers by turning your head away from the road ahead when talking to any of them!
11. Take motorway tuition and seriously think about advanced driver training. Research shows that it makes better drivers.
12. Driving a four wheel drive motor doesn’t suspend the laws of physics. You can still lose control if you ask too much of it.
13. Don’t leave valuables in your car where they can be seen because this invites a break in.
14. Keep space from aggressive drivers. Don’t get involved in trouble.
15. Be seen. Whenever you need to turn your windscreen wipers on switch your lights as well.
16. If you’re driving on a slippery or loose surface use the foot controls very gently.
17. Taking drugs and driving, like drinking alcohol before driving is a definite `No’..
18. Before driving abroad you need professional advice.
19. Keep some tools in your car !
20. If you’re driving alone, particularly if you’re a woman you should:
    a. Plan your journey properly and let somebody know your route.
    b. Carry a pen, paper, maps, first aid kit, torch, small change, warm clothing/blanket and a fire extinguisher.
    c. Carry a mobile phone (only for emergencies).
    d. Carry a personal attack alarm.
    e. Be sure that your car is in good order and join a recovery organization
21. If your vehicle breaks down, don’t panic. There are far more friendly people on the roads than those who would wish to harm you.
    * If you can, pull up where there are houses, street lighting and a telephone.
    * If you are somewhere remote you are at less risk if you stay inside your car. Use your mobile phone. If you have to walk take your personal attack alarm with you.
    * If a stranger does offers assistance, note their car number, keep your doors locked, speak to them through a closed window and send them to get help.

• air con  Don’t use air con where possible. Air conditioners can use about 10 per cent extra fuel when operating. However, at speeds of over 80 km/h, use of air conditioning is better for fuel economy than an open window.

• Start up the car properly. With today’s cars, it is not necessary to prime the engine first by pumping the accelerator pedal repeatedly.Do not crank the engine excessively This only wastes fuel.When starting the engine, idle it no more than 30 seconds to warm it up. An engine will warm up faster on the road. However, avoid sudden acceleration before the engine has warmed up sufficiently.

• momentum  Rules at traffic signal. When you are nearing a traffic signal, slow down gradually. When you start, avoid accelerating immediately. Always switch off the engine while waiting for the light to turn green. Waiting with the engine on for more than a minute means more fuel consumption. Comparatively, the engine uses lesser fuel to restart.

• Drive at moderate speed -don’t floor the pedal.

• Gears. You also have to be very careful about changing gears. A higher gear at low speed and vice versa will lead to loss of more fuel. You must shift gears carefully and according to the desired speed. This will cause less strain on your engine.

Ask yourself is the trip to the office necessary? Walk to your neighbourhood shops? – maybe you need the exercise.  Arrange for car pooling – if your colleague is staying somewhere nearby?  Get a lift from other tennis players? -save parking fee as well.

• Maintenance. You must maintain the engine to ensure it remains in good condition. A defective engine can cut the car’s mileage by as much as 20 per cent. The spark plugs must be checked regulary. The engine oil should be checked and used according to the car  manual  specifications. Regular maintenance and servicing your car is very essential. Always keep you vehicle clean. A clean car offers less wind resistance
• Lubricants. Change the lubricant at regular intervals. Use only branded oil recommended by the manufacturer. It is also advisable to use an engine flush before changing the oil to remove dirt in the engine.
• Handbrake. It is always better to use the handbrake than the clutch and accelerator when you want to halt for a little while.
• Clutch. Avoid driving with your foot on the clutch, it leads to more fuel consumption. Use the clutch carefully only when changing gears.
• filter  Clean the air-filter regularly.   Clogged air filters increase fuel consumption by restricting airflow to the engine, and thus should be cleaned/replaced when necessary. Clogged air filters can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.

6.  Tyres

• Use thinner tyres .Tyres with thick width will improve the handling of your car. However,  it will also increase your car’s fuel consumption. Thicker tyres mean more rolling resistance! And thus will consume more fuel.

• Inflate your tyres. Keeping your tyres inflated is one of the easiest and most important things. If a range is recommended by the manufacturer, the higher pressure should be used to maximize fuel efficiency. Deflated tyres run hot and jeopardise safety. It will also cause the tyres to wear out prematurely, affect the vehicles adversely, and hurt the fuel economy by increasing the rolling resistance.Tyres lose about 1 psi pressure per month due to air loss caused by the tyre hitting holes, bumps and kerbs. Therefore, the tyres should be checked at least once a month. Just 1 tyre deflated by 2 psi will result in a 1% increase in fuel consumption. Also check the alignment of tyres regualarly.

7. Weight

Travel light -Avoid carrying any unnecessary weight in your car. On the average, every 50kg added load in your car will increase fuel consumption by 2%.

8. Minimise aerodynamic drag

2. Fill up when your tank is HALF FULL. The more fuel you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation.

3. Do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode when you are filling up petrol. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapours that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you’re getting less worth for your money.Make everydrop counts – don’t pump until the tank overflows; you pay for the petrol.  Always tell the attendant to set the pump to auto-stop.

4. Do not fill up, if there is a fuel truck pumping into the storage tanks; The petrol will be stirred up, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

• When at the back of a queue, always leave a large gap.
• Keep an eye on the mirror for approaching traffic, this gives you space to move forward to lessen or avoid impact. You may even be able to move out of the way.
• If the queue is hidden from following traffic by a bend, rise or bridge, consider stopping where following trafffic can see you — even if this is well short of the queue, only moving forward when you are sure vehicles approaching have seen you.
• Try to have an escape route planned and be ready in gear with handbrake on.
• Consider keeping brake lights on, and be ready to use hazard lights if necessary, these may be wise anyway in particularly vulnerable situations.
• Once you are sure the following driver has spotted the queue, switch your hazard lights off and release brake lights.

  Tip 2 — Autumn Driving The onset of Autumn presents many hazards. Roads can be slippery and visibility is often reduced. Darker nights and low sun bring their own hazards as does the start of the school term. The ABD has many tips to help you to avoid accidents in these conditions. Read on:

• When driving at sunset or sunrise dazzle can be a problem. Ensure that you keep your windscreen clean and free from smears which will be enhanced by low sun. If driving into the sun be aware that drivers behind may be dazzled and may not see you if you stop (see previous tips for avoiding being ‘rear ended’). If the sun is low behind you, be aware that oncoming drivers may be dazzled.
• In conditions of poor visibility use dipped headlights. This is not so that you can see but so that other road users can see you. If most around you have their lights on, the chances are that you should too. You may be able to see other vehicles but the motorcyclist with a rain soaked visor, the pedestrian with poor eyesight or the driver with misted up windows may mistake you for a gap in the traffic with obvious consequences.
• Only use rear foglights in extreme conditions (a good guideline is when the vehicles in front become difficult to see) and always remember to switch them off when conditions improve. Front foglights (lights mounted below the bumper are usually foglights) should only be used in thick fog.
• Your vehicle will take much longer to stop on a wet surface, particularly one covered with wet leaves. Adjust your speed and leave a longer following distance so that you are always able to stop in the distance seen to be clear. Find out whether your car has ABS brakes. It will make a difference to how you will need to use them in an emergency stop. Consider taking skid pan training to help you understand how your car will behave if you lose adhesion. There are many venues throughout the country.
• Watch out for children walking and cycling to and from school. Many schools unfortunately insist upon dark coloured clothing which can make them difficult to spot
• Ensure your tyres, brakes, wipers, heater and demisters are in excellent order

  Tip 3 — Don’t Procession — Leave a Gap Travelling along a single carriageway road, how often have you come across a procession of vehicles that is impossible to overtake because of its length? Such processions are inevitably caused by one or two vehicles closely following the one at the front of the procession (which is often an HGV that is legally obliged to travel at a lower speed). With a little thought, these processions would never build up.

• When travelling along a single carriageway road behind another vehicle, ask yourself if you have any intention of overtaking that vehicle.
• If the answer is no, leave a gap ahead of you that is long enough to facilitate overtaking.
• This allows other vehicles to overtake you, slot safely into the gap you have left, and await an opportunity to overtake the next vehicle.
• Vehicles which travel in close procession effectively create a very long vehicle that is far more difficult to overtake. This can cause frustration, and significantly increases the risk of accidents.
• Even if there is no vehicle behind you, leaving a large gap increases your line of sight and safety margin.

  Tip 4 — Motorway Driving Most congestion and accidents on the motorway could easily be prevented by the following good driving practices. Remember, congestion creates danger, it is every driver’s duty to do their bit to prevent it:

• On entering a motorway use the slip road to match your speed to vehicles already on the motorway. If vehicles in lane one are travelling at 70mph then that is the speed you should be doing in the slip road to merge in without causing disruption to safe traffic flow.
• Always use the leftmost lane unless you are in the process of overtaking. If the lane to the left of you is unoccupied, then that is where you should be. Never stay out longer than necessary. To do so causes great disruption to traffic flow as all traffic has to filter around you. This is probably the greatest cause of congestion, one middle or outer lane hog can cause miles of disruption. They are often completely oblivious to the chaos they are causing behind them.
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, a good guideline is to count two seconds from when the vehicle you are following passes a point to when you pass it. Double this if the surface is wet.
• Try to maintain a consistent speed (obviously where conditions allow). Frequent variations in speed are disconcerting to other drivers. In particular try to avoid unnecessary braking. Your brake lights can set up a chain reaction which often leads to congestion and may cause an accident. Try not to automatically brake if the driver in front touches their brakes unnecessarily. Keeping a safe distance will make it much easier to assess whether braking is needed.
• When changing lanes check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder to check your blind spot. Indicate your intentions well in advance.
• Try not to drive alongside other vehicles for longer than necessary, particularly large trucks. You will be in their blind spot and they may change lanes without seeing you. You are also not giving yourself an escape route for emergencies.
• Many left-hand drive HGVs have a blind spot on their right between what the driver can see in his mirrors and what he can see out of the front window. This blind-spot is roughly alongside the cab of the HGV. Before passing an HGV check to see if it has a foreign registration, and if so do not dawdle in his blind spot.
• If you come to the back of a stationary or slow moving queue, use your hazard flashers to warn following traffic until you are sure they have seen you are slowing (familiarise yourself with the location of the switch as you may need it quickly). Keep a good distance from the back of the queue and keep an eye on your mirrors for fast approaching traffic. This will give you more chance of avoiding or at least minimising a rear end impact.
• When leaving the motorway try to keep to the same speed until you are well within the exit slip road. Slowing down and even worse, braking whilst still on the main carriageway is a major cause of congestion around junctions and again can be dangerous. Slip roads are generally designed to allow time to slow down, but always assess the slip-road as you approch the junction as some have tight bends.
• Other drivers intentions can often be predicted. Vehicles drifting away from the centre of the lane may be about to change lane. Vehicles gaining on the vehicle in front, are likely to want to overtake — give them room if it is safe to do so. Drivers looking in their mirrors, the positions of their hands on the steering wheel, will tell you that a driver may be likely to change lane.
• Look out for inattentive drivers whose actions may be unpredictable, those on mobile phones or turning to chat to passengers, those wandering in lanes or blindly following too close to the car in front may be drowsy and about to fall asleep.
• When stuck in slow or stationary traffic, watch out for motorcycles which may be making their way between the lanes of traffic.

  Tip 5 — Killer Pillars Be aware that windscreen pillars may be of such width that they totally obscure motorcycles and bicycles from view. This is a particular danger when emerging from junctions, or at roundabouts. A quick glance to check what is coming may co-incide with the motorcycle or bicycle being hidden by the screen pillar. Always look for long enough to ensure that nothing is hidden from view, or move your head to ensure you get a complete view of the road.See also our press release ABD Supports “Killer Pillars” Investigation

This road safety issue was first highlighted by SafeSpeed and Bike Magazine. Tip 6 — Rain after a dry spell Rain after a prolonged dry spell can make roads extremely slippery, because rubber from vehicle tyres which builds up on the road surface during dry weather becomes lubricated by the first rains and seriously reduces your tyres’ grip on the road.You can deal with this situation by:

• Staying further back from the vehicle in front
• Slowing earlier for junctions, islands, traffic lights, etc, so you don’t have to brake so hard on the approach
• Not cornering as hard as you normally would, even in the wet (this applies particularly to motorbikes, as a greasy road surface can easily cause you to drop the bike on bends)
• Allow yourself, and others around you, more time to react