Don’t take ‘potluck’ with potholes

As local authorities set about repairing the UK’s pothole damaged roads with an extra £100m of government investment, motorists are being urged not to take ‘potluck’ with their wheel alignment. Driving over potholes is a major cause of wheel misalignment, which can reduce vehicle safety as the car can become difficult to control. It can also lead to higher fuel costs and increased tyre wear. Figures from the AA for 2010 put the cost to insurers for pothole related claims at £10.5m and many experts and organisations are predicting the UK’s pothole problem to be worse than ever in 2011 following the harsh winter. There is also the added problem that road maintenance budgets have been cut by up to 20 per cent meaning local authorities face difficult choices on the roads they prioritise for repair. Paul Beaurain from the website AlignMyCar.co.uk, explains: “To remain as safe as possible, all motorists should ensure that their wheels are correctly aligned, especially after driving through any large potholes. A vehicle can suffer from poor handling as a result of misalignment. For example, it may pull to one side, which in the event of emergency or evasive action could make the vehicle less stable. “Simple checks can be performed by properly equipped workshops to make sure the wheels are properly aligned and as part of the pre-alignment check tyres and other components can be inspected for signs of damage. “By ensuring all wheels are aligned motorists can also reduce their vehicle’s running costs. When all four wheels are positioned straight ahead, there is no excessive ‘scrubbing’ action on the road surface and hence tyre wear is reduced. This reduction in the tyres’ rolling resistance also means that fuel consumption decreases, reducing overall fuel costs.” Drivers visiting www.alignmycar.co.uk can locate their nearest wheel alignment centre and print off a discount voucher entitling them to a 5% reduction on their alignment bill at participating centres. Modern wheel alignment systems now use sophisticated technology to measure 14 primary angles of all four wheels in a matter of minutes. Any motorist considering having their alignment measured should check that the workshop performing wheel alignment will provide an alignment printout. Many these days are colour coded to easily show the misalignment errors, but will also detail the vehicle settings both before and after any work is carried out. Notes AlignMyCar.co.uk is a wheel alignment information resource and centre locator developed by Pro-Align, one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of wheel alignment and wheel service equipment. Pro-Align’s advanced systems are used by many vehicle manufacturers, franchised dealer groups, independent workshops, motorsport specialists and vehicle technology consultancies. Pro-Align is the sole partner for the Hunter range of wheel aligners, balancers and tyre changers in the UK. Useful Links AlignMyCar – www.AlignMyCar.co.uk PR Contact Danny Rughoobeer Red Marlin danny@redmarlin.co.uk T 01926 333245 M 07739 878365

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