With wind, rain, ice and snow – winter can throw the very worst at us. So to help make sure you are prepared when travelling by car this season, here’s some helpful advice from the Highways Agency.

For a smoother journey check your vehicle is ready for winter.
Regularly servicing and checking your vehicle is in good running order before setting out, will reduce your chances of breaking down on the road. It’s worth making these checks regularly – especially before a long journey:

• Check and replace the anti-freeze in the radiator
• Make sure your lights are clean and check the bulbs
• Ensure your windscreen is clean
• Replace the battery if it’s not reliable
• Ensure your tyres are correctly inflated and replace them if the tread has reached the legal minimum. For further information please see www.tyresafe.org

For peace of mind always carry an emergency kit.
Gather a few items and keep them in your car – just in case. Below are items that should be in your Emergency Kit:

• Ice scraper and de-icer
• Torch and spare batteries
• Warm clothes and a blanket
• Boots
• First aid kit
• Jump leads
• Food and a warm drink in a thermos
• A shovel
• Reflective warning sign
• Sunglasses – the glare off snow can be dazzling

For a safer journey adapt your driving in bad weather.
Even after roads have been treated, driving conditions may remain challenging especially on stretches of road where there’s greater risk of side winds or of ice forming. These include places where: –

• There are changes in road elevation or exposure
• Where the road passes under a bridge
• Objects at the side of the road create shade
• There is infrequent traffic

It’s also advisable to slow down on corners where the risk of losing control is at its greatest.

Be a smarter driver – check traffic and weather updates.
Before you set off it’s worth taking a few minutes to make sure that there aren’t any problems on your intended route. You can check for live updates as you travel too – but remember not to use your phone while driving.

• Visit http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/traffic.aspx
• Check the weather at the metoffice
• Call the Highways Agency information line on 08457 50 40 30
• Tune into DAB Traffic Radio

Remember to take regular breaks from driving – tiredness and loss of concentration are major contributing factors to road accidents.

Think ahead move ahead

We know that many drivers are unsure of how to cope with conditions on the roads during the winter months. And it’s not just ice and snow which cause problems. You also need to take extra special care when there is fog, wind, rain, wet leaves and glare from the sun!

We have teamed up with Interactive Driving Systems, to help you become more aware of the risks and keep you safe when you are driving this winter.

Our top 10 tips for driving in the winter
1) Check the weather conditions before you set out.
2) Keep your distance from the car in front – it can take 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions and twice as long in wet conditions.
3) Drive carefully in a low gear .
4) Do not brake suddenly – as this can cause you to skid. If you do skid, steer in the direction of it
5) Leave plenty of time for your journey.
6) Use dipped headlights in fog and in thick fog use fog lights, but don’t forget to turn them off once conditions improve.
7) Don’t drive through flood water .
8 ) Make sure you have plenty of fuel and keep an emergency kit in the car (warm clothing, boots, flashlight, food and drink, blankets and a high-visibility jacket).
9) Tell someone about your journey and let them know when you have arrived .
10) Keep your mobile phone with you and the number of a breakdown company.

If you have any other tips to stay safe this winter let us know.

Apparently it’s all relative, time, space…and even which side of the road is right and which one is wrong.

I’ve recently passed my driving test in the UK and having originally learnt to drive in Italy, and have to admit that the first impact with driving on the left, was well, interesting. As my driving instructor eloquently put it, in the UK: “left is right and right is wrong…”, and that little mantra will probably stick with me forever.

But that got me thinking about all the British drivers who every day cross the Channel and face the slight disconcerting feeling of looking at the world suddenly flowing in the wrong direction.

Unfortunately I don’t have a catchy phrase for that, but I’ve tried to collect a short list of tips which I hope you could find useful:

1) Keep right: obvious as it sounds, that’s the golden rule when driving in Europe the USA and most other countries outside the UK. Right lane is your regular navigation lane whereas the left one is for overtaking.

Bear in mind that the side of the road is not the only thing you have to consider when driving abroad. Of course most road signs and general rules are the same but others vary by country. In Italy for example you normally give way to vehicles coming from the right, but if you are driving roundabout you have to give way to traffic coming from the left.

2) Watch your speed: when you drive the “wrong side of the road” you will have to fight rather than rely upon some of your basic instincts, and if total concentration is paramount, driving at a moderate speed will give your brain that extra time needed to assess the situation and make the right decision in an unfamiliar situation.

3) Follow the crowd: I know this could sound obvious but paying attention to what other road users are doing is usually the best way to get, and stay, on the right side of the road when pulling out off a parking space or exiting a junction.
This is especially important when coming out of a junctions or…negotiating your way across a roundabout.
Of course if you are coming out an airport car park, chances as your fellow drivers might be as clueless as you are…. so be careful!

4) Take your time: Make sure you take few moments to familiarise with your car before you set off. No matter where you drive, pedals will be in the same, but when you drive in Europe for example, the steering wheel and the stick gear will be on your right so you will have to learn to change gear with your right hand. Doesn’t take long to get use to it, but if you feel this could be an issue for you, you might want to consider going for an automatic car.

5) Mind the curb: gauging distances when you suddenly have the bulk of your car on your right instead of your left might be tricky especially when you are trying to find your way around those picturesque, narrow passages that are so popular in Italy, Spain and France. So once again be careful and allow plenty of space when overtaking.

I hope these tips help, but if you have any others of your own please let us know.

I am one of sat nav’s biggest fans. It’s one of those gadgets that once you’ve started using it, it’s hard to imagine how you managed to cope for all those years without it. But while sat nav has saved me a great deal of stress and time, the slightest spelling mistake can take you on a long, hard drive in the wrong direction.

That’s what happened to a Swedish couple recently. According to the BBC, the couple set off on a holiday to the Capri, a beautiful isle in the Gulf of Naples. Unfortunately, instead of typing “Capri” into their sat nav, they typed “Carpi”, sending them 400 miles off course to the industrial town in northern Italy. Much to the bemusement of local officials, the couple only realised their mistake when they visited the town’s tourist office to find out the location of the famous Blue Grotto (the fact that they had not crossed a bridge to reach what was supposed to be an island had not given the game away).

So while sat nav can help take the stress out of your travels, the slightest mistake can ruin your holiday. So be careful what you type. And if you have any amusing sat nav stories of your own then please post them!

If you live or work in London, you may have seen Transport for London’s smarter driving initiative. The idea behind it is to get Londoners to travel smarter and consider other forms of transport – including car sharing, and giving up car ownership altogether, only renting one when needed for longer journeys.

On their website, www.tfl.gov.uk/smarterdriving, they give 10 great tips to help cut not only emissions, but also fuel bills – in fact, they believe that, by following these tips, you can save up to £120 per year in fuel. In these credit crunch times every little helps!

Here are the tips:
1. Keep your tyres at the right pressure- underinflated tyres increase your fuel consumption by around 2%
2. Avoid short journeys – cold engines use twice as much fuel as warm engines, and catalytic converters take 6 miles to become effective
3. Speed up and slow down smoothly – avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy breaking reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
4. Change gears at lower revs – to save fuel change up a gear at between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm
5. Avoid the air conditioning – it places huge demands on your engine, meaning you burn much more fuel
6. Get your car serviced regularly – it’ll help it run at optimum efficiency, helping to reduce fuel consumption
7. Empty your boot! – carrying excess loads makes your engine work harder, burning more fuel
8. Share your ride – giving a friend or colleague a lift means one less car on the roads, and someone to talk to on the way!
9. Plan your journeys – combine errands into one sensible trip to avoid unnecessary mileage and save CO2 emissions
10. Avoid leaving your engine running to warm up – idle engines use 0.5 litres per hour, the equivalent of 3.5 miles worth of fuel

If you feel inspired by these tips and would like further information, please visit the TfL smarter driving website, where you can make a pledge to cut down on your emissions, as well as get further information on the greenest cars to drive, events in London and lift sharing.

It would be great to hear your thoughts on the above, and whether the credit crunch has got you thinking about how to save money as well as the environment.

Recently, the Irish Government introduced a new barrier free tolling system on the M50 motorway which circles Dublin. The new system relies on camera recognition to identify drivers who should be charged. It’s very easy not to be aware of this charge so if you’re taking an Avis car to the Republic of Ireland from the North or the UK, remember to pay.

As a frequent traveller and someone who drives a fair bit in foreign countries, I always check local traffic laws before I travel. Some other notable differences I’ve experienced are:

French Toll Roads

All autoroutes in France are privately owned and most charge you for the priviledge of travelling on them. Costs vary by distance and location so make sure you check before you travel. Luckily, you can pay by cash or credit card. There are several sites, including autoroutes.fr which give you a travel planner that not only provides directions, but also gives toll costs for your journey.

London Congestion Charge

I live in London so am well aware of the boundaries and costs for this charge. However, many visitors do not know about or understand the Congestion Charge and end up getting penalised. If you are renting a car from an Avis location in the zone, the first day’s charge is automatically added onto the rental, so you don’t have to worry about it. However, all other day’s charges are the responsibility of the renter.

To help you further, Avis also have information at all London locations, the major airports around London and on our website. But, if you are visiting London and aim to drive, please check out the information on the Congestion Charge website before you travel.

German Autobahns

We’ve all heard of the mythical roads where speed limits don’t exist and where drivers can test their cars to the limit. However, only two-thirds of the Autobahn network has no speed permanent limit, although there is always an advisory limit of 130 km/h (81 mph). Many sections do have permanent or dynamic speed limits ranging from 80 to 130 km/h (50-80 mph), some sections feature night time and wet-weather speed restrictions and trucks are always regulated.

Which unusual traffic laws have you experienced while driving in another country? Why leave a comment and let us and other readers know?

With the wintry weather hitting the UK hard this morning, here’s a quick reminder of some of the advice we’ve previously posted for driving in adverse conditions.

Click on the following links for:

Tips on Driving in Winter Weather
Tips on Driving Safely in Snow
Tips from the Highway Agency for driving safely this winter

Please check your route before you travel, take care and, as always, have a safe journey.

At Avis, we hear lots of stories from our customers (and our delivery drivers) about tailbacks and delays when the days grow shorter and the weather turns wintry. These can be caused by a car breaking down on the motorway, someone running out of petrol in the middle of the countryside and even snowdrifts or floods blocking the road! If it’s happened, we’ve heard it!

To try to ease the delays as traffic increases this winter, the Highways Agency have launched the “Don’t be that Guy” campaign. The campaign aims to help and educate drivers by reminding them of a few simple steps they could take to make their journeys this winter safer, easier and a little less frustrating for everyone.

Preparing as best as you can for any situation can really help you out if it all goes wrong on the roads. On the site, you can find information to help plan your trip, reminders to check and service your car regularly throughout the winter and details of what to include in your emergency kit: from jump leads and de-icer to warm drinks and blankets.

To help you during your journey, there are great tips on driving safely in every kind of unpleasant weather condition including rain, fog, snow and wind. And if something does go wrong despite all your careful preparation, the website tells you what to do and how the Highways Agency and its operatives can help you get home safely.

At Avis, we prepare all our cars especially for winter. Tyre pressures are checked, fluid levels are topped up, anti-freeze is added and an Avis ice scraper is put in every car. We also supply GPS units (dependant on availability) for an additional charge to help you get to your destination on time and without getting lost. However, the Highways Agency still recommends that you plan your route and check the traffic conditions before you leave and that you make sure you have got some warm clothes in your car, just in case you get stuck.

Always remember, a traffic free road is a happy place for everyone. Travel safe this winter and don’t be that guy.

At Avis, we’re committed to reducing our impact on the environment. We’ve previously supported the CarbonNeutral campaign, introduced Electric Bikes for deliveries in London and in Jan 2008, we were voted the Greenest car hire company in the Telegraph travel awards.

Now, we’re supporting ACT ON CO₂, a cross governmental campaign designed to help people to save money and fuel as well as reducing their CO₂ emissions. Visit the ACT ON CO₂ website for more information on buying, driving and sharing cars.

There are a few easy things you can do to reduce the amount of work your car engine has to do, the amount of fuel you burn and your CO₂ emissions. By following the below tips, you could cut your CO₂ emissions by around 8% – equivalent to saving up to one months fuel per year.

1. Pump up to cut down

Under inflated tyres create more resistance when your car is moving, increasing CO₂. Simply check your tyre pressures regularly and before long journeys. This will also help to increase the life of your tyres. However, remember that over inflated tyres can be unsafe, so check your car manual for the correct tyre pressure.

2. Less clutter means less CO₂

Clutter in your boot is extra weight your engine has to carry around. By removing it, you will burn less fuel and cut your CO₂ emissions.

3. Driving at an appropriate speed reduces CO₂

Staying within the speed limit increases driver safety and drivers should never exceed the speed limit. It also reduces CO₂ emissions and saves money on fuel. At 70mph you could be using up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15% more fuel than at 50mph.

4. Less stopping and starting means less CO₂

Every time you stop and start in traffic, the engine uses more fuel and produces more CO₂. Keep an eye on the road ahead and slow down early by gently lifting your foot off the accelerator while keeping the car in gear. In this way, traffic may have started moving again by the time you approach the vehicle in front. You can simply change gear and be on your way.

5. Over revving accelerates emissions

Modern engines are efficient from the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a Formual 1 car in pole position wastes fuel and increases engine wear. Using your gears wisely can also reduce revs. If you drive a diesel car, try changing up gears when the revs reach 2000rpm. For a petrol car, change up at 2500rpm.

6. Idling is wasting fuel

When the engine is idling, you’re wasting fuel and adding to CO₂ emissions. If you’re likely to be stationary for more than three minutes, switch off the engine.

Why not let us know on this blog what your tips are for saving money on fuel and reducing your carbon footprint?

The Department for Transport have just launched the latest THINK! road safety campaign to promote the use of seat belts. Some people may think that this is not the most obvious issue on which to focus a road safety campaign. Admittedly, my natural reaction was to think that most people wear a seat belt anyway but this one simple fact speaks for itself:

In 2007, of the 1,432 car occupants killed, research indicates that some 34 per cent were not wearing a seat belt.

Sometimes it can be easy to dismiss putting on a seat belt if you’re travelling a short distance or travelling at low speeds. But even at low speeds you are putting yourself at serious risk of injury or even death. And wearing a seat belt, where one is fitted, is the law. For more information on the latest THINK! road safety campaign including the facts and information on the law regarding seat belts then please click here.

You can also view the new TV ad for this campaign below, (please be advised that this advert is not suitable to be shown before the 9pm watershed):