The below story was not a shock to us because we know there is a lot of unscrupulous sellers out there but it just reminded us to hopefully bring some awareness to car buyers when purchasing a used car, how important it is to run a Cartell check and to get a trusted mechanic to do a Pre Purchase Check. Most honest sellers will not have a problem with having pre sales checks carried out.

Airbag System Fault

Our client recently brought a car to us for a repair to the airbag system. When our technician tested the car the scan found an intermittent fault in the airbag system. Our technician investigated the fault and he found the wiring to the seatbelt had been disconnected on the passenger side, as this would not be normal,  He then checked the other side and found the same issue. After further investigations we discovered the car was involved in an accident and instead of replacing the correct components they had bypassed the system, which fooled the airbag computer into thinking all components were operating. In an accident this could be fatal.

This was extremely annoying to think somebody could put a person and their families life at risk for financial gain.  After further checks we found the car was indeed involved in an accident and was very poorly repaired , the mileage had also been altered.

After notifying the customer he informed us that he did have one or two concerns when buying the car but the seller came across as been so honest that he didn’t bother proceeding with any further checks and took his word for it. So remember no matter how honest the person may seem never let that cloud your judgement and have your pre checks carried out. This car which the customer had purchased in good faith was a potential death trap and now is also worthless.

It is so important to have a history check and vehicle inspection when thinking of buying a car. It is probably the second most expensive purchase that many people make. If you are unsure about something don’t be afraid to ask questions or talk to your trusted mechanic before purchasing a used vehicle.

Richard’s Interview with Amy Molloy from Indepentent.ie Click Here

Learn more about a Cartell history check here

You might also be interested in the Importance of using a spray booth for crash repairs

The post The Importance of A Cartell Check And How It Could Prevent A Potential Fatality appeared first on Dublin Auto Body Repair Shop.

Fine Gael are proposing a bill that would mean drivers could be fined and receive penalty points for driving too close to cyclists.

The Irish Independent reports that the proposal could see drivers face a minimum fine of €80 and three penalty points if they’re caught moving into the cycle lane where cyclists are. Fines of up to €1,500, and five penalty points, would be imposed if an incident ends up in court and results in a conviction.

According to the article, the minimum passing distance would be 1.5 metres on roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or higher, and 1 metre for roads with a speed limit below that.

Minimum distance

The minimum passing distance would be set at 1.5 metres on roads with speed limits of more than 50kmh.

Mr Cannon said he did not want to “drive a wedge” between cyclists and motorists, but that he was seeking the law to raise awareness of the issue and change the behavior of drivers who did not consider cyclists while overtaking.

He gave the examples of the smoking ban and plastic bag tax as measures that previously changed public behavior.

The campaign for a minimum distance law ‘Stayin’ Alive at 1.5′ was set up by Wexford cyclist Phil Skelton, who felt compelled to take action when two local cyclists were killed following incidents with motorists.

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Survey Reveals Over 1 in 4 women Misuse Seatbelt

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has today 20th February 2017 launched a new digital road safety campaign focusing on the misuse of seatbelts by women. The campaign entitled “Get This Season’s Killer Look, is aimed at discouraging women from wearing their seatbelts under their arm, which can cause horrific injuries in the event of a collision.

A study of 300 women aged 17 to 34, undertaken in 2016 by Behaviour & Attitudes, on behalf of the RSA found that:

• 28% admitted to misusing a seatbelt by wearing it under the arm, rising to 35% among younger women.
• 53% of those interviewed said that their friends wore the seatbelt under the arm
• The main reasons cited for wearing the seatbelt under the arm were to relieve neck tension (49%) and for general comfort (47%).
• 9% said it was to protect their tan, or 7% to protect clothing.
• While seatbelt compliance is consistently very strong among young females, it is not universal: e.g. 23% do not always wear a seat belt as a rear passenger.

Commenting on the new campaign Ms. Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, RSA, said “How you wear your seat belt is as important as whether you wear your seat belt or not. Worryingly, whether for comfort or vanity, many women choose to wear their seatbelts under the arm, instead of over the shoulder, which exposes them to terrible injuries and even death in the event of a crash. Placing the shoulder strap of the seatbelt under their arm leaves your upper torso — including your neck, face and head — completely unrestrained during a collision.”

“My message to anyone who wears their seatbelt under their arm is simple – wear your seatbelt correctly. The belt should be worn diagonally across the wearer’s chest on their shoulder and never under the arm. If it feels uncomfortable, adjust the height of the belt on the anchor point on the door frame or adjust the seat position and height. Most importantly of all avoid getting “This Season’s Killer Look” because you didn’t wear your seatbelt properly.”

The campaign will feature primarily on online in a bid to reach young women where they spend the majority of their free time. It will be fronted by a 30 second ad that will be deployed on ‘Video On Demand’ (VOD) platforms. The “This Season’s Killer Look” Public Service Advert is centred on a young model, posing for a fashion shoot in a glamorous car. As the shoot progresses, the model puts on her seatbelt and places the belt under her arm. Suddenly, the model is thrown violently forward and the scene switches to an eerie x-ray world where we see clearly the devastating injuries sustained in a collision. When we switch back to reality, we see the model is wearing a neck and body brace and has scaring on her face. Lifelong injuries now replace her glamorous look. The campaign slogan invites viewers not to get – ‘This Season’s Killer Look’ – by never wearing a seatbelt under the arm.

The RSA sought the input of Gerry Lane, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Letterkenny General Hospital, Donegal in developing the campaign.

The campaign will also be promoted on the RSA social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram with the campaign’s official hashtag #KillerLook.

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Shopping for car insurance is not as exciting as shopping for a brand new set of wheels. Without motor insurance, you can’t drive your car on public roads. With coverage, you enjoy financial security and peace of mind. And yes, car insurance doesn’t have to be an expensive proposition, with many providers offering discounts and competitive deals.

Where do I start?

– It is vital to understand the kind of coverage offered by your car insurance policy. A comprehensive policy covers for loss of or damage to your vehicle caused by accident, theft or vandalism. It also covers the damages to others’ vehicle or property, or injuries sustained by them, resulting from your fault.

– Start by determining what coverage best fits your driving behaviour and requirements. See if the policy you like has add-ons, optional extras or bonus protection. They can drive up your insurance premium, so decide whether or not you really need them.

– Then, conduct an apples-to-apples comparison of coverage from different providers. To gauge the reputation of lesser-known providers, it is best to ask around or check online for customer reviews.

– Finally, don’t hesitate to get all your questions clarified by the insurance provider before signing on the dotted line.

How can I get discounts? 

– The good news is the providers will offer you a discount if your spouse/partner is insured as a named driver on your policy, and also has a car insured in his/her name. Of course, your partner/spouse should have a clean driving record.

– Insurance providers also offer a discount on your insurance premium if you have no penalty points. The only requirement is that your driving license or permit must be issued in the Republic of Ireland. It is one of those instances where safe driving can save you money on insurance.

– You may be eligible for an additional discount if you another insurance product from the same provider.

Will an excess help lower my car insurance premium?

There are two types of excesses: compulsory comes at a set rate pre-defined by the provider, and voluntary, which is the amount you’re willing to pay upfront. If you increase your voluntary excess, then the provider may reduce your annual premium. However, it has been seen that increasing the voluntary excess doesn’t minimize premiums by very much for younger, inexperienced drivers. Even experienced motorists are advised to weigh the overall benefits of a larger excess before putting down their money.

What are my payment options?

You can have the premium debited from your bank account each month. Most drivers prefer this method as allows them to keep their down-payments low and spread out costs. The other option is to pay an annual lump-sum amount.

Insurance providers offer a cooling-off period during which you can cancel your policy if you wish. If you cancel after this period, you will be charged a fee to cover the cost of administration.

How long do I have to make my decision?

Insurance providers may give you anywhere from one to a thirty day quote guarantee period. Comparison shopping in advance can help you make an informed decision before the quote expires.

The post Five Questions to Ask When Buying Car Insurance appeared first on Dublin Auto Body Repair Shop.

The RSA is asking road users to check local weather and traffic conditions and be aware of the conditions before setting out on a trip.

The RSA has issued the following advice:

• Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass.
• Remove ALL snow from your vehicle before commencing your journey.
• In snow and icy conditions slow down, use all controls delicately and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front.
• Remember that heavy snowfall and rain reduce visibility. Use dipped headlights and decrease speed smoothly.
• Do not drive on the tail-lights of the vehicle in front. This can give a false sense of security and you will be too close to be able to brake safely. In heavy fog, turn off your radio and let down your driver’s window a fraction, so as you can hear other traffic.
• Watch out for “black ice.” If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, black ice” one of winter’s worst hazards.
• Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and allow extra space.
• The best thing to do in extremely bad weather is to stay off the road. Take heed of warnings not to go out and travel only if absolutely necessary.

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The following toll roads will be affected:

• M1 (Gormanston – Monasterboice)
• M7/M8 (Portlaoise – Castletown/Portlaoise – Cullahill)
• N25 (Waterford City Bypass)

This means that you will have to pay with cash at these toll plazas, your tags will not be recognised, the barriers will not raise.

At present, in order for a tag to be recognised as you pass through a toll plaza, the operator of the toll (CRG) must have an Agreement with the tag provider (eFlow). Unfortunately, due to reasons out of Eflow’s control, an Agreement has not yet been made.  This means until further notice, eFlow tag customers will not be able to use their tags at CRG toll plazas.

Your eFlow tag will continue to operate as normal at the following toll plazas:

• M50
• M3 (Clonee – Kells)
• M4 (Kilcock – Enfield – Kinnegad)
• N6 (Galway – Ballinasloe)
• N8 (Rathcormac – Fermoy Bypass)
• East-Link Bridge
• Dublin Port Tunnel
• Limerick Tunnel

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At present a voluntary system of notification is in place but for years  Cartell.ie has called for regulation which will place the procedure on a statutory footing.

John Byrne, Cartell.ie, says:

We welcome this initiative which is a necessary step in the Government’s efforts to make our roads safer. Since 2007 Cartell.ie has campaigned for regulation of written-off vehicles in Ireland to obligate insurers to notify the Department of Transport where a vehicle has been written-off. While the proposals which have been submitted to cabinet are confined to Category A and Category B write-offs – which are the most serious types – we would like to see this obligation extend in future to other write-off classifications.”

Earlier this year Cartell.ie reported that 10.75% of all UK imports registered in Ireland over a 6-month-period in 2015 were previously written-off in the UK.

The ABI Total Loss Categories (‘Write-Off’)

Category A: Scrap only – The vehicle has not been repaired following extreme damage. It was deemed too damaged to be repairable with little or no salvageable parts.

Category B: The bodyshell should have been crushed.  The vehicle has not been repaired following significant damage. It was deemed too damaged to be repairable however did have salvageable parts.

Category C: This vehicle was repairable, but the repair costs exceeded the vehicle value. The insurer chose not to repair for economic reasons.

Category D: This vehicle was repairable, but the repair costs were significant compared to the vehicle value. The insurer chose not to repair for economic reasons.

The post New legislation will compel insurers to notify Department of Transport of Category A & B Write-Offs appeared first on Dublin Auto Body Repair Shop.

An Garda Síochána and GoSafe are conducting a large scale national speed enforcement operation “Slow Down” between 7am this morning, Friday 27th May and 7am Saturday 28th May 2016. 

The objective is to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.

Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid, Garda National Traffic Bureau wishes to thank those drivers who continue to be compliant and drive within the speed limit and reiterates the message, to all motorists, drive safely and slow down.

Chief Superintendent Reid continued:-

“We are asking all drivers to support the National “Slow Down” day and not exceed the posted speed limit, but also as importantly, by adjusting their speed to all the road, traffic and weather conditions they face at that time. It goes without saying this is not only for one day, but for every day. We are asking people to support it, slow down and save lives.”

The operation will consist of high visibility speed enforcement activities to include all 1,031 speed enforcement zones, as well as the delivery of a road safety message through the use of national, local and social media.  In addition, Garda personnel will man display stands in key venues to provide road safety advice and distribute road safety leaflets.

 Click here to view safety camera locations

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Speaking today, Minister Donohoe said: ‘Following consultation with the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána, I have decided to extend the fixed charge notice system to vehicles with defective or worn tyres. This new measure is intended to promote greater awareness among motorists of the hazards of driving with tyres that are not in roadworthy condition.

“Since the penalty points system was introduced in 2002, there has been a dramatic fall in the numbers dying needlessly on our roads.  The penalty points system has played an important role in reducing fatalities and improving road safety since that time.  We need to keep up the pressure to reduce road deaths, and I am confident that the measure I am introducing today will make an important contribution to achieving that.

“Just this month, the Road Safety Authority reported that vehicle factors played a role in one in eight fatal collisions across the period 2008 to 2012.  Defective tyres were the most significant factor, representing almost two thirds of all vehicle factors identified as contributing to a collision and to the deaths of 71 people on Irish roads in the past five years.

“The RSA report also highlighted just how important it is that every aspect of a vehicle is in proper roadworthy condition.  None of us can predict what will happen on our roads; we may encounter other drivers behaving poorly or adverse weather conditions.  However, we can take personal responsibility for ensuring that our vehicle is properly maintained and be confident that our tyres can reliably respond to whatever conditions we may encounter. In a bid to highlight how critical this issue is to road safety, I have expedited the work to bring the offence of defective and non-roadworthy tyres within the penalty point system. I am urging people to take preventative measures today by checking their vehicles regularly and ensuring they are up to standard and roadworthy. It may just save your life.”

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