How to Lock Out the Car Thieves

Car theft in the UK is big business, and it is estimated that one car is stolen every minute, with over two million vehicle related thefts each year. Luckily, there are some simple ways you can protect your car from theft. Locking your car doors whenever you leave your vehicle can be the biggest deterrent for a potential thief. Other simple, yet sensible acts, like always rolling up your windows completely, never leaving your key in the ignition and parking in well-lit areas will also help deter thieves.

When you are at home, you may think that your car is safe in your driveway or garage, but your car can still be a potential target in these situations. Car theft is often an opportunist crime, rather than a premeditated one; so you should never head out to your car on a cold winter's morning, start it up, turn on the heater and then head back in the house to finish your breakfast. Likewise, you should never leave your car running just to pop into the shops to get some milk or return that DVD.

There are other, more advanced, measures you can take to protect your car as well. A visible or audible device will often scare off any potential thieves. A car alarm is noisy and will give the thief a big fright - hopefully enough to make them think twice about taking your car. Other devices such as steering wheel locks or steering column locks make an obvious statement that this is a car that is not worth trying to steal. Even if you can't afford a high-tech alarm system, consider just getting stickers that warn intruders of one, or buy a dummy alarm system. It may be enough to keep them from touching your car.

If a thief does get into your car, often the first thing they'll do is try to hotwire it to get it started. One way to ensure this doesn't happen is to install an engine immobiliser. An engine immobiliser works by disabling the car's engine and not allowing it to start. The only way to get it going is by inserting a particular key or code into the car which only you have access to. Most modern cars have an immobiliser installed as standard; if your car has one, be sure to make use of it!

Going up another step in car protection is to have a tracking system installed. Although expensive, it'll help to recover your car much more quickly and hopefully with less damage, by emitting a GPS signal that police can quickly trace.

Taking steps to protect your car against potential theft can not only provide peace of mind, but can also save you money when it comes to getting a car insurance quote, as some insurers may offer discounts on premiums for cars that are well protected.

Just one more reason for taking steps to safeguard your motor!

By Andrew Regan

School Bus Defensive Driving

You may think that driving a vehicle as big as a school bus automatically guarantees your safety. However, if you observe the news regularly, you know that not only do accidents occur that involve school buses but they are also very traumatic and often fatal when they do occur. Drivers may be required to take training to drive a commercial type vehicle, but school bus defensive driving is necessary to make them safer drivers.

School Bus Defensive Driving Saves Children's Lives

A school bus carries the most precious cargo of any other vehicle. Our children must rely on these vehicles to get them to and from school. For some sports team members or those of the band, trips to games may mean riding the school bus for hours at a time. Field trips are also taken in them frequently. The more time that is spent carrying students on a school bus, the greater the odds for an accident.

School bus defensive driving means more than knowing when to put the stop sign out to let children get on or off the bus. It means paying attention to other traffic. A driver should never assume that they have the right of way just because of the type of vehicle they are driving. If you go through an intersection where a car is approaching from another direction, don't assume the car will stop. Slow down until the vehicle has stopped or nearly stopped so you can be sure of their intentions. If they fail to stop as they should, you will be traveling at a slow rate of speed so you can stop in time for the vehicle to continue without your hitting it.

This is the whole purpose of school bus defensive driving. Not only are you responsible for preventing accidents with your vehicle, but you also take responsibility for other driver's mistakes by correcting them before they lead to tragedy.

School bus drivers are taught the basics about picking up and letting off and using their stop sign to signal other drivers. They can't rely on the signs to do the trick every time. You never know when an oncoming car may be driven by an intoxicated driver. Although most buses try to pick up and drop off on the same side of the road they are driving on, there are occasions where children must cross the road. In these cases, the bus driver should tell the students when to cross, regardless of the student's age, and they should only cross when there is no vehicle moving in sight in either direction. School bus defensive driving takes place while moving and while sitting still.

School Bus Defensive Driving - When Seat Belts Can't Help

Some of the newer models of school buses have seat belts in them and this will help greatly in reducing injuries when accidents occur. The majority of school buses don't have seat belts, so children are at greater risk. The school bus driver should make sure that students are seated at all times when the buses are moving. Just having to hit your breaks suddenly can lead to the serious injury of a child in the aisle.

School bus defensive driving may be required before you can be employed as a school bus driver. If so, take comfort in knowing you may be taking steps to save children's lives.

By David T Smith