6 Challenges Facing the Parking Industry

Engineering the perfect parking system takes a lot of initiative. Before long, several insurmountable challenges will present themselves. But the best in the business know how to overcome these challenges. First, we must understand them though.

Let’s look at six clear challenges we are facing in the development of better parking systems around the world.

Web Access

Global web access is a dream that will perhaps one day be recognised.

But until then, we can’t always be sure that Wi-Fi is available wherever we go. The absence of freely available Wi-Fi poses several car parking barriers.

Mobile parking apps cannot function on phones without a web connection
Pre-booking your airport parking isn’t possible without web access
Location software will not work without mobile web access
Electronic payments are rendered inoperable without a connection

As the internet becomes more and more accessible around the world, these issues will become negligible. But until then they remain challenging within the parking industry.

Generational Gaps

Believe it or not, but there is a downside to super-fast-moving technology. People can’t always keep up. When something changes, some people get uncomfortable. “What was wrong with the old way?”

Since the point of upgrading a parking system is convenience, it stands to reason that this should be the ultimate goal—even for the older generation. If older people who are not technologically savvy don’t understand a new parking system, the establishment will lose out on a massive demographic.

In some ways, older people determine whether a general area is ready for advanced technology. If it’s too advanced, some areas simply aren’t ready to implement them yet. You could call this a technological delay, which is one of the challenges facing the parking industry today. Continue reading “6 Challenges Facing the Parking Industry” →

Best countries when planning a Driving Holiday

OSV Ltd has done some research to find out which country is the best for a driving experience. Their joint company director, Debbie Kirkley explained that now is around the time when people are starting to plan holidays. Debbie said that as so many people enjoy driving holidays they came up with a list of the top ten places for driving. They used a number of factors and scaled countries on those.

The factors they used included pollution & congestion, fuel prices, road deaths per 1,000 capita, road quality and driving rules enforcement. Adding up the scores for these allowed them to come up with a ranking of countries with regards to how friendly they are for drivers. Continue reading “Best countries when planning a Driving Holiday” →

How to Improve your Journey by Using Great Apps

There are so many of us these days that carry Smartphones with us everywhere and it means that we are able to use all sorts of apps that can help our lives to be easier. Some may help us to keep in touch with people others give us information and some entertain us. This means that there is almost something for everyone and for every situation.

YourParkingSpace has done some research into the various driving apps, which can help journeys to be more pleasurable. They may improve efficiency and speed of travel as well which can be really useful. They looked at apps designed for drivers but also at those they thought would be useful for passengers as well. A summary of the apps that they found follows below.

Apps for Drivers:

WAZE

Waze is traffic app which is updated by people on the road. This means that is continuously updated with information about accidents, hazards and congestion on the roads. The app uses this information to give the driver the quickest possible route to their destination. There is also the option to compare fuel prices so that they know where to fill up to save money. The app community keep it up to date, not only improving travel information but also the maps. They even make improvements to the user interface based on feedback from the users. There are millions of people using the app and sharing information proving drivers with the most up to date routes. Continue reading “How to Improve your Journey by Using Great Apps” →

Which type of Car Leasing is Right for You?

Whether you’ve just passed your test or you’re simply looking to upgrade your wheels, the good news is that financing a car doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. There are plenty of different options out there, to suit all budgets. Of course, you can always take out a loan to pay for a car, but sometimes, leasing is much more cost-effective. However, it can be difficult to know which type of leasing is best suited to your needs, so here’s everything you need to know.

Personal Contract Hire

With personal contract hire, you pay a fixed monthly amount that is based on the anticipated depreciation value of the car – this is the difference between the price of purchase and the resale value at the end of the contract. PCH is best suited to people who want to drive a brand new car every few years, but are not bothered about owning the vehicle. With a PCH agreement, you simply hand back the car. Payments are always fixed and you can even include a maintenance package to cover the cost of servicing and minor repairs. You will have to agree to a fixed mileage though, and the fees can be costly if you exceed it. You should always make sure that you lease from a trusted company, such as All Car Leasing.

Pros: Hassle free, lower monthly costs

Cons: You will never own the car and you can’t make any modifications to it.

Who it suits best: Someone who wants to always drive a new car, and isn’t fussed about owning the vehicle.

Personal Contract Purchase

A PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreement gives you more choice at the end of the contract. Instead of simply handing the car back, you have the option to buy it for what is known as a balloon payment, which is the minimum future guaranteed value agreed at the start of the contract. With PCP agreements, you’ll always pay a deposit and then low monthly payments, which can make driving an expensive car more attainable. At the end of the contract, you have three choices – hand the car back, buy it with the balloon payment or part-exchange it. You could also extend the finance.

Pros: Flexibility, low costs.

Cons: Can be one of the more expensive methods of buying a car if you choose to pay the balloon payment at the end of the contract.

Who it suits best: People who are indecisive.

Hire Purchase – Those who can’t afford a dream car but want to own it outright

Hire purchase is an easy way to finance a car. You will pay a deposit, followed by monthly payments, and once you have met the full cost of the car, you take ownership. The finance company calculates the cost of the car based on the price of the car, the amount you pay as a deposit and the amount of instalments. The loan is always secured against the car, which can make it easier to get finance, but the monthly payments are higher than other methods of leasing. The car can’t be sold and might be re-possessed if you fall behind on the payments.

Pros: You can drive a car you can’t afford to buy outright, but be safe in the knowledge that you will own it eventually.

Cons: You can end up paying high interest rates, so it’s best to shop around before you commit.

Who it suits best: People who are sure about their dream car but can’t afford to buy it outright.

What happens at the end of the contract?

You will be contacted by the leasing company to arrange a convenient day for the car to be collected. The mileage will be checked, as will the condition of the car. This is so that the company can ensure you haven’t gone over your mileage limit, and you haven’t damaged the car beyond ‘fair wear and tear’ – if you have done either of these things, you may need to pay a small fee.

The Low Down on UK Road Laws

Van Monster have research all of the most recent road laws including some statistics in relation to them. It is worth checking them to make sure that you do not get caught out by any of them.

Rule 148: Drivers in England and Wales must not smoke or allow anyone to smoke when in an enclosed private vehicle should someone under 18 be on board. This carries a £50 fine, but as of 29^th June 2016 no fines had been issued although there were verbal warnings giving to some drivers.

Rule 90: Any health condition likely to affect your driving must be reported to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The fine for this is £1,000 and you could be prosecuted. However, among drivers over the age of 65 three in ten drivers have medical conditions which should be reported and have not. Continue reading “The Low Down on UK Road Laws” →

Choosing the right Summer Tyres

For many drivers, the longer and warmer days herald the arrival of the ideal driving season. In the summer, the days are long and the skies are (usually) clear, which creates some perfect driving conditions.

As such, it makes sense to get your car prepared for the new season. The most important thing, arguably, is to get the right summer tyres for your vehicle. After all, the right tyres can determine how well your car handles on the road so, if you want to get the most from your ride, it helps to have the right support.

So, with that in mind, what exactly do you need for summer driving?

Easy Driving

Where as winter tyres focus on pushing through slush and snow, the summer is about driving on clear roads and making the most of the situation. As such, a low rolling resistance is a priority. Aside from using less fuel, this will convert more power from your engine into direct movement, allowing you to achieve the car’s full potential. Continue reading “Choosing the right Summer Tyres” →

Feeling Limited by the Motability Scheme – Here’s the Missing Piece

Reliable transportation is critical when you’re trying to make the most out of life on every level. While every disability looks different depending on the person, getting from one place to another is something that we all can understand quickly. So, if you’re looking to get a car under the motability scheme, you might be feeling a bit limited. After all, most do assume that they will not be able to find a reliable vehicle that truly fits their lifestyle. Having a caregiver drive you around might get tedious, but it can also be tiresome to find a vehicle that is covered under the plan.

Thankfully, this is where Spire Automotive comes in. They have a wider catalogue of motability vehicles at the ready, including some that you might not have thought about before. If you’re thinking that you’re going to have to walk out with a car that barely seats a driver and a passenger, then it’s time to be pleasantly surprised by the options.

Did you know that when you’re eligible to take advantage of your options, you also get insurance and breakdown cover at no extra charge? It’s just one more way that your needs are handled, even when you least expect it. Continue reading “Feeling Limited by the Motability Scheme – Here’s the Missing Piece” →