Winter 2017 drIVInG SAFETY driving home (and away) for Christmas If your business requires you to clock up the miles, make sure your vehicle is roadworthy and that youre ready for any eventuality oh the weather outside is frightful but those deliveries still have to be made and those meetings attended! Business doesnt come to a halt just because winter decides to make its presence felt with rain, sleet or snow. When going out on those all-important business journeys, however, you should plan for every eventuality, and check that your vehicle is roadworthy. Make sure it is maintained regularly; consult the manufacturers advice on servicing the vehicles handbook states which service is due and when and make sure you book it into the garage promptly. This should ensure your journeys are successful and add to the performance of your business, rather than detract from it. The following should be checked by you regularly: n Tyres n Water levels n Screenwash/windscreen wipers n Engine oil n Toolkit n Lights If you are travelling an unfamiliar route, use a sat nav or take a printout of your journey and have a road atlas in the vehicle in case of diversions or signal dropout. on a long journey especially in the winter, or if bad weather is forecast it is also advisable to carry some essentials with you. For example: n Fully charged mobile phone, with in-car charger or power pack n Flask of hot drink n Snacks chocolate or cereal bars n Personal medication n First aid kit n Blanket, rug or sleeping bag n Shovel n Ice scraper and de-icer n Torch and batteries n Extra screenwash n Coat, scarf, hat, gloves and warm clothes n Waterproofs n Sunglasses, for low-lying sun n Sturdy footwear Check out breakdown services websites for a full check list of the items you should carry with you on a journey. note on part-Worn tyreS if your business fits part-worn tyres, bear in mind that these carry additional risks compared to new tyres. Such tyres have already been used by another driver and could have sustained structural damage that is only obvious to an expert eye. trading Standards is aware of instances where part-worn tyres for sale had had punctures repaired using incorrect techniques and were, therefore, unsafe. in other cases, a repair should never have been attempted because of the size of the puncture or the area of the tyre in which the puncture occurred. a damaged or incorrectly repaired tyre can fail suddenly in use, putting the occupants of the vehicle and other road users at risk. only use part-worn tyres if you or the garage you entrust your vehicle to have the skills and equipment necessary to remove and examine them properly, to ensure they are safe. Credit:Tony Shore, Murray dewar Images: iStock.com / klosfoto / snoozle / torque For further guidance on part-worn tyres, click here. the Consumer rights act and the sale of motor vehicles if you sell vehicles, you should be aware that your customers have a number of core rights. the vehicle they buy from you must be: n Fit for all the purposes for which a vehicle of that kind is usually supplied n Satisfactory in terms of appearance and finish n Free from minor defects n Safe n durable it must also be fit for a particular purpose that the customer has made known to you. For example, it must be possible to fit a roof rack on the vehicle if the customer has indicated that this is what they wish to do. vehicles should match any description given whether via a picture or in statements made online or verbally and match the model that the consumer examined or saw, unless you tell them otherwise. in addition, you should ensure you are legally entitled to sell the vehicle and that it has no outstanding finance on it. As a trader, you have only one opportunity to carry out a repair or replacement; if you are unable or unwilling to do so, the consumer has a final right to reject the car or if they wish to keep it claim a reduction in price. After 30 days from purchase, the consumer loses the right to reject the vehicle, but can still request a repair or replacement. if you are unable to repair or replace the vehicle after one attempt, the customer can keep the car and receive an appropriate amount of compensation or reject the car and receive a refund, less an amount for use (this does not include depreciation). a customer has no right to make a claim if: n the defect was brought to their attention before the sale n they examined the car before sale and the fault should have been obvious n they simply change their mind For more in-depth guidance on this topic, go to the Business Companion website. if any of your customers core rights are breached within the first 30 days of their purchase, they can either: n Reject the car and get a full refund, which must be given without delay and, in any event, within 14 days of you agreeing that the consumer is entitled to a refund; or n Request a free repair or replacement if they select a repair, you should carry it out within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to the customer and you should bear all of the costs. For further information, please contact your local trading Standards Service