QDOS Accident Assistance

29/11/2016

Taking inspiration from Road Safety Week last week, we would like to impart a little knowledge about possibly the most important safety feature found in a car that we now take for granted.... the seatbelt.

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It's been almost 60 years since Volvo patented the three-point safety belt. This patented seatbelt became a standard feature in the first production car of 1959, the Amazon. It is estimated that at least 1 million lives have been saved by the three-point seatbelt since it was patented 57 years ago, making it the most passive safety feature in a car.

The seatbelt barely changed over the first 40 years of its existence, but since then, the latest systems have transformed the safety of modern cars. In the 90’s, development accelerated and load limiters became part of our cars from the turn of the century. In a collision, this feature prevents the loads transferring to your chest, in turn breaking your ribs.

Nowadays if you ignore the seatbelt warning alert and don’t buckle up, some manufacturers alter the performance of the airbag deployment during a crash. Modern sensors are already able to detect a collision before it happens, although the software still needs further adaptation so that it can react to different types of accidents.

Richard Cuerden, chief scientist at the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), explains: “The big case for [this technology] is our ageing population. As more of us drive later in life, we’re more vulnerable, so it’s desirable to develop restraint systems that can [adapt to] protect the most vulnerable in moderate crashes and the younger, higher risk drivers in more violent crashes.”

Ahead of Road Safety Week from November 21-27, it’

25/11/2016

Lit Motors have created a vehicle that is a mixture between a bike and a car. The futuristic C-1 can reach 100mph and will NEVER fall over thanks to its self-balancing technology.

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The design is as thin as a motorcycle and could help you cut through traffic while keeping you safe and warm. Even better, it uses gyro stabilisation to stay balanced, so unlike a motorcycle, it will never fall over.

The C-1 has a top speed of 100mph (160kph) and can go from 0 to 60mph in a blazing six seconds, according to Lit Motors. But the most impressive trick that the C-1 can boast about, is its ability to balance itself on just two wheels.

Using a pair of flywheels spinning at 10,000+ rpm, the gyro system exerts 1300 ft-lbs of torque to control the tilt and lean of the vehicle. This allows the C-1 to lean itself into and out of turns, and is powerful enough to keep the C-1 upright, even in a collision.

What's more, the C-1 is also environmentally friendly, powered by electricity instead of petrol. A 10.4 kilowatt-per-hour battery pack lasts 150 to 200 miles on a single charge, according to Lit Motors.

While it looks small, the C-1 has enough space for a passenger in the backseat. It also allows the driver to squeeze into parking spaces normally reserved for motorcycles. The founder of Lit Motors, Danny Kim, hopes the product will hit the market next year and will cost from $24,000 (£15,000).

Check out the video in the link provided to see it in action. It's pretty incredible!

Our tech is engineered from the ground up with you in mind. Slip and park between cars, get to work …

23/11/2016

We thought we would offer some timely advice by pointing out how the cold weather can negatively affect your car battery and how to prevent this from happening.

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Sadly, your car battery is more vulnerable in colder weather. A useful suggestion is to have it tested once the cold weather starts to appear. This will prevent going out to your car only to find that it won't start due to a dead battery.

Since the operation of a battery is based on a chemical reaction, temperature plays an important role in performance. The ideal operating temperature for an automotive battery is 26.7 C (80 F). This is when the battery operates at its maximum efficiency. Cold temperatures slow these chemical reactions, hence why a battery can become sluggish in winter, even though its state of charge may remain unchanged.

There are a few ways to prevent your car battery going flat:

1) Where possible, keeping vehicles in a garage is one way to ensure they will start in particularly cold conditions.

2) Be aware of its age. A typical battery can last an average of between three to five years. Once they get past 5 years it’s a good idea to get them replaced.

3) Either ensure you make some long journeys to charge up the battery or invest in modern battery conditioner/intelligent charger so that the battery can be left connected indefinitely without overcharging it.

4) It's easy to forget just how much electronic equipment there is in modern cars that can drain the battery. Remember to unplug items from the 12V socket and any USB ports, when not in use and ensure you do not leave your interior lights on (we've all been there!).

To give your battery a bit of a hand before you start up the car, switch off everything electrical (particularly fans/blowers and lights) and depress the clutch on a manual vehicle, to reduce the load on the battery when you start the car from cold.

18/11/2016

It’s quick-fire question time! See if you can answer this multiple choice question correctly.

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If you have a collision, which of the following will reduce the risk of neck injury?

a) A collapsible steering wheel
b) A properly adjusted head restraint
c) Having no seatbelt on
d) Holding your neck upright


ANSWER:
The headrest must be adjusted properly to provide support. The other options above will make no difference or even increase the risk of a neck injury.
Therefore, the correct answer is b).

15/11/2016

It’s time. So what helpful piece of information can we enlighten you with this week? Well today it’s about positioning your wing mirrors.

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Our tip this week is to not have your car body visible anywhere in your mirrors. This is one of those things that takes next to zero effort to do correctly, but that many people ignore.

You hopefully already know that the "blind spot" is the name for the area on either side of a vehicle that is invisible to wing mirrors. It's such a frequent cause of accidents that higher-end car models have adopted radar or camera systems that are capable of detecting other vehicles in your blind spots and delivering the information to you in urgent beeps or visual prompts within the mirror itself.

You see, blind spots can be brought into increased view of your wing mirrors, provided that these mirrors are adjusted to contain no part of your own car. Just angle them away from you until the point where your car is no longer visible in either one, and leave them there. That way, there's no overlap between them and the rear-view mirror, and any car that's passing you on either side will remain in at least one of your mirrors until it enters your field of vision.

Admittedly, this seems less like a "tip" and more like "the most obvious piece of advice of all time," but the number of people who don’t know this is surprisingly high. So if you haven’t already, give it a whirl and see the difference.

13/11/2016

As the winter weather is now upon us, we should start considering how it can affect our vehicles. There are a number of ways it can do so, the first we would like to bring to your attention is tyre pressure.

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Tyres tend to be a bigger issue in the winter due to compressed air that cooler weather brings. In extreme temperatures, tyre pressure can fluctuate; the tyre pressure can decrease at rest and increase when the car is moving.

It sounds like the most obvious thing to do, but if the tyre pressure warning light comes on, don’t ignore it and hope it goes away, make sure you inspect the tyres.

Driving with low – or too much – tyre pressure can lead to uneven wear and a shortened lifespan for the tyre. It can also lead to a tyre blowout on the road.

It may be a good idea to keep an emergency maintenance kit in the car and include a portable air pump and pressure gauge.

10/11/2016

Yet another car recall due to its lack of safety – this time it’s the Vauxhall Corsa.

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Vauxhall is having to recall the previous-generation Corsa because it is found to be a fire risk according to BBC’s Watchdog programme. A total of 2,767 cars produced between 2006 and 2014 are affected, but which models particularly?

The cars in question are the 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine models. The majority of those are said to be the Black Edition spec (see article for photo), but some are the SE and SRi models. The Black Edition cars are more easily identifiable by their exclusive two-tone alloy wheels.

The cause of the fire has been found to be if water reaches the Vacuum Pump Relay Box, it can lead to a short circuit. It is only these models that have this part, so no other Corsa models should be affected.

If you own one of the above mentioned cars, then you will be notified by Vauxhall if yours is included in the recall. However, they are encouraging all anxious Corsa drivers to contact its customer care helpline on 0800 026 0867 if they wish to speak to a professional.

Vauxhall is recalling the previous-generation Corsa due to a risk of fire, which has been investigated by the BBC's Watchdog programme

08/11/2016

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08/11/2016

It’s quick-fire question time! See if you can answer this multiple choice question correctly.

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What should the left-hand lane of a motorway be used for?

a) Normal driving
b) Breakdowns only
c) Vehicles travelling at the minimum speed limit
d) Overtaking traffic in the middle lane

ANSWER:
The left-hand lane is just for normal driving. It is the lane in which people join the motorway, and it should be used by all drivers unless they are overtaking.
Therefore, the answer is a).

06/11/2016

After a car-to-car crash test, Nissan is forced to withdraw a model from sale.

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The new Nissan Tsuru has been removed from the market after it earned an appalling zero-star safety rating. These cars are built for the Mexican market and are largely used as taxis but the Tsuru was found to be well below the standard of its US counterpart.

The model was assessed in a 50% overlap collision with the US market Nissan Versa (which is similar to the UK’s Nissan Pulsar). Both cars were moving at 40mph at the time of impact, however there was a vast difference in the damage done between them.

The Versa has a full set of airbags and a deformable crash structure which ensured that the occupants escaped with only cuts and bruises. The Tsuru has no airbags and the car’s A-pillar buckled so badly that it pe*****ted the passenger compartment, ensuring fatal injuries to the driver.

The test was carried out by global New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) as part of its campaign which is focussing on raising safety standards as well as removing new cars that perform poorly. NCAP reported that the Tsuru was involved in over 4,000 fatal accidents in Mexico from 2007-2012, with its poor safety standards contributing towards the statistic.

Car-to-car crash test sees Mexican Nissan Tsuru earn zero stars, prompting firm to drop it from line-up

03/11/2016

Insurers have been found to be ‘using fraud to justify bigger premiums’.

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A personal injury solicitor has claimed that insurers have been found to be making fools of motorists by using a record number of whiplash claims to raise prices almost ten times the rate of inflation. Since October 2015 the average policy has increased by £38 (a 9% rise) according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

The overwhelming number of whiplash claims in the last year has seen insurers blaming the inflated cost on personal injury claims, higher repair bills and rises in insurance premium tax. However, a Solicitor of whiplash claims at Thompson Solicitors, accused insurers of attempting to mislead motorists by arguing that the cost of claims fell last year and was 30% lower than in 2010.

“Fraud is being cynically exaggerated to attack the rights of honest motorists and to justify premium increases. It’s high time the insurance industry stopped their manufactured hysteria about fraud and concentrated on providing greater transparency so consumers can see if the ever-growing premiums are justified” he said.

Rob Cummings from the ABI, said: “The government has a key role to play in ensuring the best insurance deals for honest motorists.”

Insurers have asked the government to have automatic emergency braking technology as a compulsory addition to new vehicles to reduce the frequency and severity of collisions.

Honest motorists are being taken for fools by insurers using a record number of whiplash claims to justify price rises almost ten times the rate of inflation, a personal injury solicitor has claimed.

01/11/2016

Headlights in cars might sound like a simple subject. If they’re on, they’re on, and it’s easy to tell because you can see where you’re going. Right? Well, that isn’t always the case. Here’s our on which lights should be used and when.

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Nowadays, with the rise of automatic headlights and daytime running lights, (DRLs) it isn’t always quite so easy to fathom which lights your car is showing. So which lights should you have on, and how can you tell whether they are?

Daytime running lights (DRLs)
• European legislation said they should be fitted to all new cars released after February 2011, these illuminate whenever the ignition is on, and the headlamp switch is in the 'off' position.
• They must not be used instead of normal headlights because they aren’t bright enough to light the road ahead of you, your car will not be lit from the rear and your registration plate will not be lit, which could land you in trouble with the police.

Sidelights (or side marker lights)
• These come on at the same time as the rear lights but shouldn’t be used at night because they are usually very dim.
• You can also use these to illuminate your car when it’s parked, if you’re afraid other drivers might not see it. Their low brightness means they won’t drain the battery as quickly as regular headlights.

Dipped-beam headlights
• These are often referred to as ‘headlights’. They’re the bright lights at the front of the car that you would be using to drive at night. When you turn them on, the sidelights stay on which means you get red lights at the rear of the car, combined with bright white lights at the front.
• You should also use them in any conditions in which visibility is compromised – including when driving through rain, fog, smoke, or even tunnels.

Full-beam/Main beam headlights
• These are brighter headlights which should only be used when there is no other traffic around, to see further along the road than you otherwise would be able to. They can also be flashed briefly, usually by pulling back lightly on the indicator stalk.
• You should also avoid using them in fog, which the bright beam doesn’t pe*****te; instead, it gets reflected back, meaning it’ll reduce your visibility rather than increasing it.

Rear and front fog lights
• Rear fog lights (fitted as standard) are brighter versions of your rear sidelights. They’re used to ensure your car can be seen from the rear even in low visibility. Front fog lights (not fitted as standard) project a low, wide beam which helps you to see the edges of the road at close quarters when you’re driving slowly in fog.
• Fog lights should only be turned on when visibility drops below 100m, and should be turned back off again whenever the visibility increases again otherwise they can blind other drivers.

A good tip is to try and remember at all times not just what you can see, but also how your car looks to other road users. It’s something you should think about and question repeatedly – can other drivers see you? Can you do more to make your car stand out? Are you dazzling them with your main beam?

30/10/2016

From supercars to superminis, here are the best new cars for the year.

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2016 has brought more choice than ever before for the car buyer, and more are arriving every week. This amount of choice can make it extremely hard to make a decision, so to help decide between these fantastic 2016 cars, and those still to come, we have supplied this article to give you some professional help.

On this list the range varies from fun small cars to crazy hypercars, the new hybrid technology cars and all-electric SUV’s. Varying models put different experiences first, including driving thrills and extreme designs. Technology, however, is becoming more prominent in the driving experience, including the autonomous features and connectivity.

With that in mind, check out the best new cars for 2016.

From supercars to superminis, we round up the best new cars to hit showrooms this year

27/10/2016

We have all been there... driving on a long journey, having had a terrible night previously and are left feeling tired behind the wheel. First you feel your eyes burning and blink them for a second to help to ease the discomfort… and before you know it, you've nodded off to sleep whilst driving.

It doesn't take an expert to figure out that the above situation can be dangerous and in fact, deadly. If you ever feel tired when driving it is always safer to find a sensible place to pull over and have a snooze for a while and allow your eyes to rest. As the old saying goes... it's better to be late in this world, than early in the next!

To help avoid the situation where you feel yourself snoozing at the wheel, a company called StopSleep has developed a device which detects classic signs of driver fatigue and alerts you immediately before it becomes a problem. To use the system, you simply wear it on any 2 fingers of either hand whilst driving and it analyses your skins’ electrodermal activity using various sensors and warns you that your concentration level is starting to drop. It does this in the form of a mild vibration should your concentration levels have dropped slightly, and if your concentration and awareness levels have dropped significantly, it will beep loudly and vibrate to alert you.

Driving when tired is the number one cause of fatal accidents on European roads, claiming more lives than speeding or drink-driving. So, it's good to see companies offering solutions to this problem and potentially saving lives.

The video demonstrates how the ring StopSleep warns the driver of any drop of attention or concentration, well before he is feeling drowsy or sleepy. It has ...

25/10/2016

It’s our day. This week it’s about road markings, signs and safety.

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The Highways Agency and other localised authorities control where road signs and markings are placed. They are essential to the safety of both road users and pedestrians and are placed in their location for a reason.

As a general rule of thumb;

• More signs = more danger
• More paint = more danger
• More street lights = more danger

Signs are placed in each area to give instructions and provide information for the motorists. It is equally as important to look at the road for additional markings as these are just as important. The more paint on the road, the more potential danger there is.

Assume that lamp posts mean there is a limit of 30mph, until signs say otherwise, but remember it could also be 20mph. The law does not allow highway authorities to put repeater speed limit signs on 30 mph roads that have street lights. Instead the Highway Code advises that street lights usually mean the limit is 30 mph unless there are signs showing otherwise.

However, on the open road, the presence of street lights seen ahead will indicate a junction or a roundabout coming up – clearly an area of greater danger.

Were you also aware that every roundabout in the UK is lit by street lights at night?

23/10/2016

BMW has revealed a futuristic motorbike that is impossible to tip over.

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The motorbike revealed by BMW excitingly looks like something you would find in a science fiction film. The Motorrad Vision Next 100 is a self-balancing bike and is so safe that that the rider does not need to wear protective clothing or a helmet.

Edgar Heinrich, the design director from BMW states, "Its self-balancing system will help protect the rider at any time" and that, "any late reaction from the driver will trigger and the vehicle will balance out."

This Tron-style bike is sadly still a prototype, so it’s unlikely that we will see the finished model until the 2030’s.

BMW says it wants to have fully autonomous cars available by 2021, but they do not envision autonomy on motorcycles, so the Motorrad Vision Next 100 won't be self-driving.

What do you think of this new motorbike prototype from BMW? Let us know below.

The Motorrad Vision Next 100 is a self-balancing sci-fi bike that you won't be able to buy for a long time yet

19/10/2016

Tyre makers disagree over potential change in law of minimum tyre tread depths.

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There has been a proposed law change in the UK over the minimum tyre tread depth and Michelin is not in agreement. The suggested alteration would be the tyre tread depth increasing from 1.6mm to as high as 3mm or 4mm. Michelin maintains that this is wasteful and the current limit is perfectly safe.

Rival manufacturers want the law to be in place as early as 2018, in the name of safety. However, Michelin’s technical manager, Jamie McWhir, claims that tyres are built to “guarantee maximum effectiveness right down to 1.6mm”. McWhir suggests that instead of a law change, manufacturing quality should increase from some rivals.

According to Michelin, this change in law would not only cost car owners more money, as they would have to replace their tyres more frequently, but also raise pollution levels due to the lower tread depths being more fuel efficient.

Road safety charity TyreSafe found that nearly 1/3 of tyres in the UK are illegal. This means more than 10 million tyres are either below 1.6mm minimum tread depth or have bulges and tears. Due to these defects, amongst others, the number of motorists that have been given penalty points for driving on these worn tyres has increased by 40% since 2013.

Do you think the legal tyre tread depth of 1.6mm is okay? Let us know below.

Michelin opposes a UK minimum tyre tread depth law change, claiming 1.6mm depth is ‘safe’. Others disagree

17/10/2016

Time for a quick multiple choice Q&A. Can you answer this correctly?

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A police officer flashes their headlights at you and points left. What should you do?

a) Turn left at the next side road.
b) Brake immediately.
c) Pull up on the left.
d) Turn left at the next roundabout.

The correct answer is C. You should pull up on the left as soon as it is safe to do so. The police officer is asking you to do this so that they can communicate with you properly.

Did you get it right? Let us know!

13/10/2016

Audi refuses to pay out for longstanding design flaw.

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An Audi customer bought a new A3 and within the first year the air-conditioning stopped working. After taking it into his local dealer he was told that it was due to a stone passing through the front grill and was not under warranty due to it being accidental damage. He was told it would cost £750 to repair.

After doing some research he found that numerous other Audi customers had been in the same position since at least 2014, and worse still Audi were aware of it but denied that it was a design flaw. They have been found to cover this under warranty for a very small proportion of their customers.

If you, or anyone you know, has been in this situation, the linked article could help your cause.

Many drivers have complained of air-conditioning failures since 2014, yet it insists that my case is an accident not covered by warranty

11/10/2016

Forbes have provided a list of 15 new cars that we should avoid.

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Sometimes buying a new car just isn’t economically friendly. Times have changed and new cars just aren’t what they used to be. Reviews are carried out on all new cars and a list of the top 15 cars that just aren’t worth the expenditure has been created.

From below average depreciation & reliability, overall value and expensive operating costs to rock-bottom resale value and low marks for quality and performance, the following cars are on the list:

BMW 7 Series
Cadillac XTS
Dodge Journey
Fiat 500L
Jeep Compass
Jeep Patriot
Jeep Wrangler/Wrangler Unlimited
Lincoln MKS
Lincoln MKT
Mitsubishi iMiEV
Mitsubishi Mirage
Nissan Armada
Nissan Titan
Scion iQ
Smart ForTwo

Check out the article for why each individual car should be avoided.

New cars just aren’t what they used to be. No, we’re not getting all crotchety and decrying the evolution in styling and technological breakthroughs that have literally reinvented the automobile during the last quarter millennium. Rather, we’re bemoaning the fact that, unlike as in past model years,

04/10/2016

It’s time for our . Have you ever wondered what details you should note down if you are involved in a vehicle accident? Well this may help:

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If you have been involved in an accident, and you have checked that nobody has been hurt, then you should record some details. Collecting as many details as you safely can will help you with any claim you may make. Where possible, it is also very helpful if you can take photographs.

1) The scene:
Note down the date, time and location. Other helpful information would be weather conditions and any road markings, signs and signals nearby.

2) The people involved:
Ensure you obtain the contact details of the other driver(s) and any passengers. It is also worth noting any distinguishing features of the driver(s) and whether any witnesses were around to give their statements. If witnesses are available, get their details too. If the police were at the scene of the incident, note down their details also, for reference.

3) The vehicles involved:
The make, model and registration number is of key importance, as is the colour of the car and what condition is it in. If you are able to note down your estimated speeds that will help your case. Also, if you were using your lights and/or indicators at the time of the accident.

4) Damage:
A description of the damage to the vehicles involved is incredibly useful. This is where photographs would come in handy if you have a camera or phone to available. Also, if there is any damage to any property, or injuries to any 3rd parties involved, note this down.

Having an accident, no matter how small, is always a stressful time and it is often overwhelming to deal with all the details. If the accident was not your fault, give us a call on 0800 093 0982 or visit our Online Claims Portal ( http://www.qdosassist.co.uk/newclaims ), we can help with handling your claim and hopefully relieve some of the stress.

02/10/2016

Did you know: There are around 74,000 accidents involving deer each year on UK roads.

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You’re more likely to find a deer in the road around May-June and October-November. This is because of the rutting season and young deer dispersing.

The total vehicle damage from deer-related accidents in the UK adds up to around £17 million a year.

As October is now upon us, stay alert on the roads and take notice of the warning signs if you pass them.

29/09/2016

Speed humps, or "sleeping policemen", have been in use for many years to slow down speeding drivers. The problem however, is that whether you are speeding or not, you have to still drive over the humps and people often complain about tyre damage and also damage to the wheel bearings .... even at low and legal speeds.

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This may all change with a new invention from a Swedish company which only deploys the speed limiter if your speed is above the legal limit for that road. The new "Actibump" intelligent speed limiter works by using a radar which is placed a distance from the Actibump itself to detect the speed of your vehicle as you approach. If your speed is below the acceptable limit, the bump stays flush to the road surface and you just drive over it without any problem. However, should your speed be above the limit for the road, the Actibump drops by 60mm into the road surface, creating a sort of pot-hole and slightly jolting the vehicle.

The system has already been successfully installed in several cities in Sweden. There is plenty of room for cyclists to avoid it if it were to deploy against a nearby vehicle and it is also fitted with transponders which detect emergency vehicles to ensure it does not deploy when they pass over at speed.

Behold my friends, the Swedes have found the solution to punish only those who violate the law. We are talking about Actibump, an intelligent speed limiter which gives a “gentle” physical reminder to those who drive above the speed limit. The purpose of this traffic-calming system is to cause speed…

27/09/2016

It’s day! Here are 8 things to keep in your car in case of an accident or emergency.

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It’s always a good idea to be prepared just in case an accident occurs. Having the right tools can help you tackle difficulties more easily and help you stay safe should any problems arise.

Here are some things to keep in your accident and emergency car kit:

1) First aid kit:
This essential pack gives you the ability to deal with minor injuries while on the road and can make your journey much more comfortable.

2) Waterproof and warm clothing:
Keeping these in the boot is in case you get stranded in cold or wet weather is highly recommended. Warm/waterproof clothing will help if you need to wait out of the car for assistance.

3) Torch:
This is always a useful item to have if you break down or have an accident at night and need to inspect parts of your car. Don’t rely on the torch function on your smartphone: batteries drain surprisingly quickly. A candle in a can and matches can also be useful in winter emergencies.

4) Water and non-perishable food:
Keep liquids sealed and fresh. They can help you stay hydrated on long journeys, and when waiting for roadside assistance. Examples of food are for crisps, cereal bars, energy bars etc. in case you need to keep your energy up while waiting for help to arrive.

5) A fully charged mobile phone:
Most people have mobiles these days, but they are not always charged. Keep a charger in the car that works via your cigarette lighter. Having a working phone will help pinpoint where you are and allow you to call for assistance. It also allows you to take photographs wherever necessary.

6) A pen and paper:
Mobile phones are brilliant for emergencies, but are not infallible. Keeping a pen and paper in the car allows you to take down details such as names, addresses and contact details from any drivers, passengers and witnesses if you are in an accident. You can also sketch positions of the cars on the road.

7) Hazard triangle & reflective clothing:
In the event of an incident with the car, a hazard triangle will alert other road users where your car is. In the same way, high visibility clothing will let anyone nearby know what your location is.

8) Tow rope:
If an accident occurs and there is a car that has been pushed dangerously across the road, a tow rope could help to move the vehicle out of oncoming traffic.