Car Care: Check those expiry dates

There are some rules around caravans and bikes you need to be aware of if you don't want a costly infringement ticket.

Going on holiday? There are a few things to consider

It's that time of the year when many of us are preparing to head away for the Christmas break, but before you start packing the car you need to do some last-minute checks.
You need to ensure the Warrant of Fitness is still valid on the trailer, caravan or even the car and don't forget to check those expiry dates to make sure the WoF and rego are still valid while on holiday.

If you own a caravan and are booked into a camp ground and intend hooking up to their power supply then you need to check that the electrical warrant is current on the caravan and valid for the entire holiday period.

If not and the camp office checks the expiry date as they should on arrival, you may well be refused access to the on-site power connection. That would definitely not be a great way to start the holiday.

Don't forget the roads will be monitored closely by the authorities over the entire holiday period, especially with the speed restrictions being enforced. There will no doubt be an increase in the number of vehicles pulled over by the authorities and once a patrol car officer starts to walk towards a stopped vehicle their trained eyes will start to focus on a number of different legal requirements with both the vehicle and anything that's hitched to the towbar. With the recent changes in the WoF inspection dates that could mean while your vehicle may well have a valid unexpired warrant, it may not meet the correct safety standards on a given day due to wear and tear since the last inspection.

Tyres, lighting and expiry dates on relevant windscreen labels are the obvious easy targets and let's not forget about the driver's licence itself. They are all easy checks to make on a stationary motor vehicle and its driver.

And when was the last time you looked at the expiry date on your licence?

If you have moved house recently and have always relied on receiving motoring-related reminders via the post, then think again. You could be at risk of driving an unlicensed or unwarranted vehicle.

Blaming somebody else for not reminding you about expiry dates or safety inspections is no excuse and doesn't wash with the authorities. It's best you go and do your own simple peace of mind checks.

Summer holidays are also a time where we start to see an influx in bicycles hanging off the back of vehicles. Just make sure you abide by the rules around number plate and brake light visibility while on the move as it could be another reason for seeing those flashing police lights in your rear vision mirror, especially when driving at night.

Most leading bike shops sell plate/light accessory boards to ensure drivers adhere to the regulations. Or you can call Best Bars on 09 250 1553 (0800 BEST BARS) for further information on what's available and costs.

Enjoy your summer break, stay within the law, and travel safe.