The Automotive Blog

aide automotive have released a web site dedicated to the BrakeCheck decelerometer.
BrakeCheck is ideal for any commercial vehicle operator or repairer to complete the often requested inspection sheet brake test.
BrakeCheck has no connection to the vehicle, simply position the brake tester in the vehicle, arm for test, accelerate to 20KPH and activate a controlled emergency stop. Once the vehicle has come to rest the Peak & Average deceleration is recorded with the extra benefit of a left and right pull measurement. Brake Efficiency is usual word for Peak Deceleration.
VOSA recommend decelerometers for all commercial vehicle inspection sheet brake tests!

Richard Dixon of VOSA – Statement On Inspection Brake Testing

If an operator conducts a decelerometer test on the vehicle during inspections then as a Vehicle Examiner I would be quite happy that an efficiency check of some kind had been conducted.

Gloucestershire Council released a statement on their website highlighting Safe Driving while at work.

There is a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to ensure as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees while at work. Employers and employees also have a duty to ensure that others are not put at risk by work related driving activities.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work regulations 1999 also apply and require that risk assessment are undertaken for activities with significant risks, and that effective management controls are put in place and implemented.

When considering driving safety there are also a number of road traffic laws to take into account, including the Road Traffic Act.

This document details how managers should manage occupational driving and details staff (driver) responsibilities. It explains the processes to be followed in evaluating the risks associated with driving at work and the control measures that need to be in place to mitigate those risks, which include driver familiarisation and training, driver documentation checking etc.

X-Driven is an ideal tool to prove who is a Safe Driver, simply sitting on your dashboard or attaching to your windscreen the X-Driven is powered by the cigarette lighter or can be fully wired into the vehicle cab. The X-Driven will record and store data for any sudden ‘shock’ movements such as harsh braking, vehicle impacts or excessive acceleration. The X-Driven can also be dismounted and carried to record damage at the rear of the vehicle or general accident information such as loading or delivering damage.

aide automotive ltd promote safe driving through all its own fleet and UK companies.

Reports are increasing of thefts of fuel from vehicles across the UK. Recently the RAC have reported a major increase in fuel theft from cars and light commercial vans.

“There has been a 500% increase in call-outs to fuel thefts from cars throughout Greater London, and nearly every other region of England has seen a rise of more than 50% since January”, the RAC said.

aide automotive ltd has been involved with the fuel theft problem for many years, Matthew Burke founder of aide automotive ltd states ” back in 2001 a coach operator advised me that fuel was stolen weekly. Not having any product to offer the customer I looked at what I could invent to counteract this theft. After discussions with a local engineer, we came up with an anti siphoning device to suit buses. We then found that this fuel theft problem was a common occurrence and hauliers were also finding fuel theft was affecting their business.  Since then aide automotive ltd have introduced a variety of anti siphon devices for trucks, buses, coaches, vans and now cars!

With many commercial anti syphon devices sold in the UK, aide automotive ltd have also seen a requirement for anti siphon devices for cars and vans. With this we are proud to announce a new device for diesel cars and vans. Our latest device will help prevent fuel theft from a diesel car or van and also stop the major problem of misfuelling.

Mis fuelling is reported to take place once every 3 and a half minutes, and with the high cost and inconvenience of a diesel engine being filled with petrol, this device will cut out expensive repair costs and vehicle downtime.

Car fuel theft will increase as long as fuel prices increase, so for a small investment of around £50 reduces, loss and downtime inconvenience.  Protecting a car’s or van’s fuel is a wise move.

aide automotive are pleased to offer a special purchase price for our excellent brake tester BrakeCheck.

Sales of BrakeCheck have grown since 2002 to a massive 8000 plus testers sold, making BrakeCheck the number ONE decelerometer in the UK.

With many bus & coach companies from small to national operators purchasing BrakeCheck to complete an inspection sheet brake test, aide automotive are pleased to offer a special deal for a BrakeCheck when purchased with a printer.

So for June 09 only you can buy a BrakeCheck for just £274.00 (list price (£349.00) when purchased in conjuction with a printer at a list price of £145.00.

To take up on this great offer phone 0115 8456471 and quote promotional code 6BC09.

All prices exclude carriage & VAT.

aide automotive have introduced a new website for the Diesel Key mis fuelling device.

Mis fuelling or using the wrong fuel has become more popular over the last fews years and is easily done. The nozzle of a petrol pump is smaller than a Diesel nozzle, and therefore fits into the fuel tank without resistance. All you need is for something to catch your attention and you have an expensive repair bill on your hands (and sometimes an insurance claim!)

Diesel Key is the only device to help stop car fuel theft, this device will stop siphoning from a diesel car.

Visit aide automotives main site and the mis fuelling site by clicking on the highlited names.

Keystone Distribution UK has fitted the Fresnel lens to its fleet of 14o trucks.

The Fresnel Lens is a clear, thin, flat plastic lens that is press fitted to a truck’s passenger door window to help drivers tackle the truck mirror “blind-spot” problem.

Keystone’s transport manager decided to fit the lens as it offers an extremely effective and economical safety aid to each truck and helps the driver cover all blind spot areas.

The Lens is a simple, effective product and can be used on virtually any type of vehicle that is susceptible to blind spots, whether left or right hand drive. Blind spots are big enough to hide a small family saloon. The Fresnel Lens is backed by VOSA, The Department of Transport, The Highways Agency and Border & Immigration Agency.

aide automotive are apporved suppliers of the Fresnel Lens.

Scott Benbow, product manager at Continental Tyres, answers some frequently-asked questions.

How do I know what the correct tyre pressures are?

The correct tyre pressures for your vehicle will be found in the vehicle handbook and in some cases inside the vehicle – such as on the pillar of the driver’s door.

Read more at Fleet News.

Also aide automotive offer AirAlert the ideal product to check tyre pressures.

Fleet managers are advised to make cost savings says Ross Jackson’s artice on the Energy Savings Trust website.

Ross Jackson, managing director of consulting firm Fleet Operations, noted that managing costs needs to be the “number one priority” for transport executives.

With this the goverment have made an incentive scheme to buy more electric cars.

aide automotive have always seen that costs savings is the way forward, recharging batteries rather replacing is an ideal way to help costs and the environment.

Monitoring driving can also reduce costs, the Driver Eye is a simple cost effective monitor for any fleet.

Read the full article by clicking here.

The UKmotorist.com website has an interesting article on braking systems & stopping distances.

The report highlights that Every year 14,500 – 16,000 large goods vehicles are involved in UK crashes.

Further advice and recommendations are reviewed in the report, to read more click here.

aide automotive advises to check brakes regularly, BrakeCheck is the ideal tester for commercial vehicles inspection sheet brake test.

ASDA have recently been featured on saving money through fuel economy performance.

A massive 23 % reduction in fuel use is providing ASDA with great standing with customer relations and environmental challenges.

You can see a full viedo artice at the BBC official website.

aide automotive also strive to promote fuel reduction, using tyre pressure monitoring devices helps reduce fuel usage and again help reduces environmental impacts.

Anti siphon device are also an excellent product to stop fuel theft.