Protecting Your License Whilst Driving

If you’re reading “Automotive Tips”, the chances are that driving is pretty important to you. We all love driving but for some of us it’s an essential part of our daily routine.  Without a driving license we wouldn’t be able to get groceries, go to work or support our families.  If this is the situation you are in, losing your driving license could have a serious negative impact on not just your life but the lives of the people you care most about.

We strongly advice you follow all the laws of the road, but to make sure you treat driving with the care it needs this article outlines which driving offences are most likely to lose you your license. The article also offers tips for ways to keep your license should you be accused of committing a driving offence.

Causing death by dangerous driving

Nobody wants to cause the death of another through dangerous driving, so it is understandable that under these circumstances you could face extremely stiff penalties.  If found guilty of causing the death of another through careless driving you will almost certainly lose your license for at least 2 years, face 14 years in prison and receive an unlimited fine.  If you find yourself accused of causing the death of another it is imperative that you seek legal advice to make sure your side of the story is heard by the court.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Most of us would agree that being under the influence of drugs or alcohol seriously impedes our ability to drive.  It should therefore come as no surprize that doing so will likely result in a two year driving ban as well as a fine of up to £5000 with the possibility of up to 6 months in prison.  These penalties would of course be even more severe if you are involved in an accident.  The best practice here is not to drive if you have consumed any alcohol or drugs that can affect you’re driving.  After you’ve had a drink it can be all too easy to make the wrong decisions.Don’t drink if you’re likely to want to drive afterwards.  Should you find yourself in this situation it is again extremely important that you seek specialist legal advice so the court hears your side of the story.

Other offences that can lose you your license

The following offences can also lead to your driving license being revoked as well as a fine although they are generally regarded as less serious and if you have not caused an accident and have a previously clean license you won’t necessarily loose your license.  Careless driving, failing to report an accident, driving without insurance, speeding, traffic light offences, failing to identify the driver of a vehicle.Under these circumstances you may be able to persuade the court to let you keep your license.  The courts may decide not to ban you from driving if you can prove that a driving ban will cause you exceptional hardship.  Exceptional hardship normally means more than just losing your job and depends very much on your individual circumstances.  Furthermore should you find yourself in court for a driving offence lessthan here years later you will not be able to plead the same exceptional circumstances.  Having your exceptional circumstances heard requires good knowledge of how the case is heard so once again having specialist legal advice will greatly increase your chance of having your case heard.

A driving ban can also be avoided if you can prove that there were extremely exceptional circumstances that force you to break the law.  Again these circumstances are considered on a case by case basis.

Offences considered less serious which are normally punished with a fine only to drivers with clean licenses include: using a handheld phone whilst driving, driving without an MOT and seat belt offences.  A court appearance is normally only necessary if you wish to contest the charges and even then it can often be done through the post.

None of the above tips should be considered legal advice and if you are being accused of any of these offences it is advisable that you contact a specialist driving offence solicitor with experience in your area.  A lawyer will do everything they can to help you keep your license, but nothing is more effective than driving carefully and safely to begin with.

In our experience acting swiftly can be a great asset in any case related to a traffic offence, many fines will be greatly reduced if paid with in a set time limit of being issued and courts will be more willing to listen to defendants who have made an effort to have rectify there offence rather than trying to avoid it.  If you need help fighting your case calling an experienced driving solicitor should be one of the first things you do.

A Guide to How In-Car GPS Works Plus How You Can Update Your Maps

The GPS device has become one of the World’s most popular gadgets with millions of units being sold over the last ten years.  There are two companies that lead the way in terms of sales, which are TomTom and Garmin who hold the lion’s share of the market.   There are typically three different styles of GPS product that can be used in the car, there are the standalone devices (for example Garmin), built-in factory installed models, and now even Smartphone navigation.  But how does GPS work to get you routed from A to B when driving?  If you have ever wondered then read our guide to GPS and satellite navigation below.

Global Positioning System (GPS) formed by 24 Satellites

In total there are twenty four satellites orbiting the Earth which form the basis for the Global Positioning System – which is where the GPS term comes from.  These were put in place by the US military as a defense project, but were then made commercially available at the beginning of the 1980s so companies could start to use the technology themselves.

Satellites Send Signal Transmissions to Earth’s Surface

The satellites all transmit GPS signals to the Earth’s surface, and each signal contains information on the satellite’s position and ID – each satellite does this at the same time which means the GPS in your car will be able to receive signals as long as it has a clear sight to the sky and is not blocked, for example by a tunnel or underground car park.

Trilateration for Accurate Positioning

When your GPS receives signals there is a delay in time from being sent to received, and because of this delay the product can calculate the distance back to the satellite.  It will take signals from at least three satellites which then let the GPS determine your position due to a method called trilateration.  This allows for accurate positioning and almost determines the pin-point location of your car.

Showing the Car’s Location on the GPS Digital Map

But how does the product then route you along your journey?  Well, it’s quite simple after this point, because each GPS device has digital maps stored onto it.  Because of this mapping software the device can to overlay your vehicle’s position onto the map and then give you the directions that you need.  Because the GPS device is constantly having signals sent to it from the satellites it can display the location of your car and you will see the visual effect of the vehicle moving along the digital map on the screen.

Updating the Maps on Your GPS Device

As you can see from the guide to GPS above, the device that you own will only ever be as good as the actual maps that are stored on it.  Contrary to popular belief, the maps are not beamed down from the satellites – only the car’s position and location.  Because of this, the maps on a GPS will need to be updated frequently to accommodate for road changes and new highways being built.

How to Update Factory-Installed Devices

Cars which come with a GPS pre-installed at the factory need to be updated via new mapping software discs, for example Nissan GPS products will need to be updated using a Nissan Navigation DVD.  (Additional manufacturers and options can be seen on the independent www.GPSNavigationDVD.net which lists all car-types).  The main supplier of maps to car manufacturers is a company called Navteq so if you are in any doubt how to update your GPS make sure you check online for Navteq update discs.

How to Update Standalone GPS Devices

If you instead own a standalone product from Garmin or TomTom then updating the maps is easier as you can download new software direct from the manufacturer.  Both brands offer schemes where you can pay for lifetime maps or opt for a one-off upgrade, and some newer models even come with the option of having lifetime maps bundled with the purchase so you can continually download updates over the time you own the GPS device.

How to Update Smartphone GPS Apps

For those people who use a Smartphone device for navigation then you will need to visit the iTunes stores to purchase app upgrades, or your relevant Android online store.  Please be aware though, Smartphone navigation does not offer true turn-by-turn navigation and they are not as reliable as factory-installed or standalone products and should be seen as a cheap alternative rather than a premium product.

The Science Behind Sat Navs

Ever been driving around an unfamiliar city and been guided by SatNav?  It’s an experience becoming increasingly common for many drivers as SatNavs have gone from high tech luxury items to a feature that many drivers expect as standard.  If you’re new to SatNavs you might find yourself wondering exactly how it is the small device on your dashboard knows exactly where to go, or even if it can be trusted, so for the curious among you here is a guide to the science behind SatNavs.

How it works

Sat Nav devices find your position by detecting radio signals being broadcast from navigational satellites orbiting the earth.  It takes 24 of these satellites each of which weighs between three and four thousand pounds, to ensure the entire planet can get navigational coverage.  Currently orbiting the earth are 27 navigational satellites ensuring that should one become damaged there are still an additional 3 available to provide constant coverage.  Your Sat Nav device picks up a signal from three or more of these satellites.  It records how long it takes the signal from each satellite to reach it and thus how far away the satellite is.  Recording this information from three or more satellites allows your SatNav to triangulate and calculate its position.  SatNavs can also work out your velocity by monitoring exactly how quickly this information changes.  SatNavs have maps saved on then, once the Sat Nav knows exactly where you are it can display this on the map, and use its own sophisticated mapping software to work out the best route to get to the destination you have selected.

The origins of satellite navigation technology

SatNavs like a lot of modern technologies were originally developed by the military.  The navigational satellites that SatNavs utilize were originally launched to guide smart bombs and missiles.  In WWII a high level bomber could drop a bomb that landed within a mile of its target and it would still be counted as a hit.  Now day’s bombs and missiles can be guided to hit individual buildings, or even individual rooms of buildings all thanks to satellites.  The result is wars have become a lot cleaner with far less civilian casualties.

As with most technologies as it is further developed its costs have decreased and navigational satellites were made increasingly available for the wider population.  Many businesses that have a lot of motor vehicle assets such as delivery companies or security companies started installing GPS trackers made by companies like RAM tracking in their vehicles so the location of vehicles could be tracked at all times.  The advantage of this is that the nearest car can always be sent to a job saving fuel costs, and customers can be kept advised of any delays helping improve the customer’s experience.    The technology continues to progress and we have now reached the stage where almost anyone has access to it either in their car or on there phone.

The future of SatNav technologies

In just a few short years the technology has gone from a very exclusive military weapon to something that we all have access to, but where will it go next.  Just this week the UK motor insurance company the AA launched a new insurance scheme aimed at younger drivers that based prices on driving style.  Cars are fitted with sat nav devices that monitor driving speed, how aggressively corners are taken and how hard drivers break all this is used to establish the ability of a driver.  Good drivers using the system are expected to pay significantly lower driving fees which could be good news for young UK drivers who often face prohibitive insurance costs.

Google have plans to use satnav technology to finally launch the long dreamed of self-drive car.  Although the idea has been around for years Google recently filed a patent for a car that used sat nav as well as other sensors to allow a car to drive its self.  Although this system is still a long way off it could completely change the face of driving.

Satellite navigation technology is one of the most exciting innovations of recent years with so many possible applications it seems we are still only just scrapping the surface.  The navigation device on your dash board might be your first experience with satellite navigation, but it is unlikely to be your last.

Garmin Nuvi 1340: A Great Step Forward for GPS Technology

Garmin have come a long way in the past few years when it comes to different types of GPSes. Starting out in the United States and Canada, one of the earliest limitations of Garmin devices was their use only in certain parts of the world and the expensive map expansion packs that had to be purchased depending on where you were travelling to. With many new features and preloaded maps, the Nuvi 1340 is ready to take on the road with you no matter where you are in the world.

Maps

Obviously, the most important feature of any GPS is how nice the preloaded maps are. The 1340 has preloaded maps for Western Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. While it may not be the entire world’s worth of maps, it’s still a significant number of maps that you can use when travelling through Europe. Maps can be updated by connecting the device to your computer via USB and using the provided software to purchase maps for other parts of the world or update existing maps that have become outdated.

Traffic Alerts

One great feature of the 1340 is the ability to use the traffic detection service for life. Garmin doesn’t charge any type of subscription fees each month, so when buying a Garmin you know that you can get up to date traffic information wherever you are on the road to help you avoid large traffic jams or accidents that may happen.

Fuel Saver

A newly added feature to the Nuvi 1340 is the ability to learn the most fuel efficient route possible. Garmin takes into account things like hills and valleys and optimizes your route to save the most fuel and get you there as fast as you can. Although it’s a cool feature, it’s important to remember that it’s still new to Garmin systems. Within a few years the technology is sure to be much better and can provide detailed reasons why a certain route is perfect for saving fuel in a particular vehicle and not just general fuel saving routes.

Installing the Device in Your Car

If you’ve never owned a GPS or satellite navigation system before and installation of the device worries you, don’t fret. Installing a GPS can’t be easier and all you need are the contents included in the box. Satellite navigation systems are designed so that they’re easily transported between cars and purses without having to install any fancy equipment.

Inside of your Nuvi 1340 box will be a windshield mount that you can use to attach your GPS to the window. A suction cup on the mount allows you to stick it to either your windshield or dashboard without worrying that it’ll topple over. Then, using the included power cable, you can power your GPS using your car’s cigarette lighter or twelve volt adapter.

Speed Camera Detection

Just like radar detectors available in some parts of the United States that tell motorists about where the next police officer will be with a speed trap, Garmin has included something similar in their European devices to allow motorists to know when and where speed cameras and traffic cameras will be placed. If you’re the type that often has to dodge and avoid traffic cameras so that you can keep your insurance premiums down and your penalty point count down, this feature of the Nuvi will surely be of great use to you. It’s easy to see why Garmin has been selling a lot more units lately because of this added feature, and it’s also no surprise that it’s often the best selling point of any new GPS.

Travel with Ease

As mentioned earlier, the ability to add new maps to your device isn’t difficult at all. All you have to do is connect your GPS with your computer to update maps or download new worldwide maps so that you can travel across the globe and know exactly where you’re going when you get there.

In addition to the easy to use map feature, Garmin has also included a currency converter and world clock to aid you on your travels. No longer will you be completely lost in a new country trying to figure out how much things cost or how far away the nearest landmark is.

Overall

Overall, the Garmin Nuvi 1340 is a great little device with a large 4.3” screen for easy navigation. The touch screen provides plenty of screen real estate so that you can see exactly where you’re going without squinting or taking your eyes off the road for too long. The 15mm thickness of the device also allows you to take the GPS out of your car and on the go with you as you try and navigate a new city or place for the first time. Safe travels and hopefully the world is your oyster!

TomTom XL IQ Routes A Detailed Review

TomTom has quite a few different products to choose from, and with an app coming to the Android phone soon enough, it’s no wonder why they’re the most popular navigation device company in the world. One of the nicest features they have been putting on new devices, such as the TomTom XL, are their IQ routes. Below you will find not only an overview and review of the TomTom XL, but also an indepth look at what IQ routes are and why they’re the next best step forward for the GPS world.

IQ Routes

Old GPS devices had a little bit of trouble when it came to figuring out which route was the best to take to get to your destination. The reason was that the only data they had to go off of was data provided by satellites and a few land surveys. With IQ routes all of that changes.

By using real-time data provided by actual drivers, TomTom is constantly updating their routes and route times for the most accurate information possible. By monitoring drivers’ speeds and drive times on all of the roads of their routes, TomTom is able to accurately predict what traffic looks like on a given road or if there are any foreseeable delays.

By knowing the actual average speed of drivers on particular roads, TomTom is able to better determine not only what traffic looks like, but is also able to constantly determine the best route for you to take by calculating the shortest route time as you drive. You can take comfort in the fact that the route you’re taking is the best one possible and you’ll get there faster than anyone else.

TomTom XL Overview

In addition to featuring the patented IQ Routes system, the XL comes with some other awesome features.

• Simple Menu: Some GPSes get bogged down because they have simply too many buttons and options to choose from. The XL takes a simplified approach to help you better navigate the device and get to the navigation faster than ever before.
• Text to Speech: New text to speech features have the ability to give you street names and more accurate turning distances so that you no longer have to glance over at your GPS to find out where you are or when you should get ready to turn. The text to speech function guides you every step of the way for even safer driving habits.
• Lane Guidance: One of my personal favorite features is lane guidance. I often get confused when approaching new intersections and off-ramps. Lane guidance takes that stress away by providing an accurate 3d model of what the intersection or exit will look like so that you can prepare well in advance.
• Touch Screen: I don’t feel like it’s much of a feature anymore as a necessity, but the TomTom XL comes with a touch screen so that you can easily tap your address into the device without fumbling with clunky buttons that don’t always work.
• Speed Camera Notifications: A sneaky feature that a lot of users may be excited to hear about is speed camera location finder. As you’re driving along, the XL IQ will let you know where the nearest speed cameras are so that you can slow down and avoid getting a nasty ticket in the mail.

Review

Ultimately, we love this device all around. It’s small and compact without being impossible to use. The screen is a great size and you won’t have to squint just to read or see streets that are hidden on the map. While it isn’t the cheapest device on the market, it’s definitely one of the better sub-150 quid devices we’ve seen in a while. The IQ routes system is phenomenal and you’ll never have to worry about whether the route you’re on is the fastest one you could be taking or if there’s a lane closure up ahead. Everything is taken care of for you.

By far the best (and maybe most basic feature) is the text-to-speech functionality in this thing. While every device for the past 10 years or so has had text-to-speech capability, the warnings this device gives you are fantastic. You’ll no longer have to swerve at the last second to make one of the infamous, “Right turn up ahead” that you actually just passed.

The TomTom XL IQ gets a thumbs up from us.

Improve Older Driver Safety With These Car Features

Driving is a complicated task that involves both mental and physical abilities, and aging has a direct impact on both. Knowledge and skill are factors that increase with experience, but advanced age often leads to specific health issues that can adversely affect the safety of even the best drivers.

Everyone ages differently, but all of our bodies eventually start to break down. By the age of 60, factors like flexibility, range of motion, and strength can decrease by up to 25 percent. Drivers who are over the age of 70 also experience an increased incidence of arthritic joints, which can restrict their mobility even further.

Maturation is a fact of life for every driver, but there are a number of modern technologies that can help counteract many of the effects of aging. These features can lead to increased safety on the road, and some of them can also have a positive effect on comfort.

Five Vital Features for Every Mature Driver

There are a number of features that can help keep mature drivers safe and comfortable on the road, but there are five in particular that apply to virtually every situation. Regardless of any specific health issues, every mature driver should look for:

• Crashworthiness.

Everyone should be concerned about crashworthiness, but its especially important to seniors. Good crash test ratings are essential, but its also important to check rollover ratings.

• Active head restraints.

In certain types of collisions, the sudden change in momentum can cause a motorists head to move violently forward and then backward. That can cause severe injuries to older drivers, which head restraints with active padding can help prevent.

• Side and dual-stage airbags.

Side airbags are important because they help protect the head, pelvis, and other vulnerable areas of the body. However, dual-stage airbags are even more important. The force of regular airbags can cause severe injuries to older motorists, but dual-stage airbags can automatically adjust to the weight of a driver or passenger, severity of a crash, and other factors.

• Anti-lock brakes.

Brakes that are equipped with hydraulic or vacuum boosters dont require a lot of force to activate, but some older drivers still have trouble with panic stops. Anti-lock brake systems automatically pulse the brakes, so the driver doesnt have to pump the pedal.

• Traction and stability controls.

In the same way that anti-lock brakes can help a driver maintain control when stopping, traction and stability systems can prevent the loss of control in other situations. These systems can help compensate for slow reaction times during acceleration and cornering.

Address Specific Health Issues

 
There are also certain conditions and issues that can be addressed by specific features. Drivers who have leg and hip issues should look for vehicles that include six-way adjustable seats, which can also be helpful to small-statured drivers. A low door threshold can also make it easier to get into a vehicle, and many people have trouble getting out of concave, bucket seats.

Power seats are often helpful to drivers who deal with arthritis and fine motor skill problems. These drivers can also benefit from large dashboard controls, keyless entry, and thick steering wheels that are easy to grip. Its also typically easier to open the doors on a sedan than a coupe because the latter tends to have longer, heavier doors.

There are also features that can help with a limited range of motion, vision problems, and various other health issues. The key is for each driver to identify his or her own health issues that can be alleviated through safety and comfort features.

Consider Aftermarket Solutions

 
In addition to the features that can be found in new cars, there are also a number of inexpensive aftermarket devices that can help improve comfort and safety. Depending on the specific issues that a mature driver has to deal with, some of the most helpful accessories and devices include:

• Larger rear-view mirrors
• Pedal extensions
• Steering wheel covers
• Seat pads and cushions
• Steering wheel spinner knobs
• Back up cameras