Working as a locum, you will want to make sure that you can get to your place of work each day as easily and stress-free as possible. Not only do you need to assess your journey time, allow extra time for parking, traffic and contingency, you also need to make sure that your car is prepared for breakdown.
If you do breakdown you will definitely need to be enrolled with a breakdown service such as The RAC, AA or Greenflag. You can do so for as little as £30 per year.
To prevent your car from breaking down, it is important that it is serviced regularly. The AA has produced a helpful list of the ten most common causes of car breakdown and how to prevent them. Click here to view it. Most problems can be avoided with the correct preventative care, either through a little DIY or by a qualified mechanic.
A flat tyre is an inconvenient problem that can be easily and quickly resolved. By these few simple measures you can reduce the risk of getting a flat tyre, as well as be prepared if it does.
Check your tyre pressure and tread depth regularly. Tyre pressure can be a cause of a flat tyre and is especially important in the cold winter months. Correct tyre pressures can also help increase fuel economy.
Carry the necessary equipment for use in the event of a flat tyre or breakdown. Ensure your spare wheel is ready for use and you have all the tools such as a jack and wheel brace, and if you need it your locking wheel nut. Know where to go for help – your car user manual usually has instructions on how to change your wheel. (If in doubt or on the motorway, don’t try to change it yourself, just call the breakdown service).
You need to be extra prepared in the winter time. Bad weather causes all sorts of problems for the driver. Read this useful information that the AA has prepared on winter driving, click here to view it.
If you do encounter a problem that means you are going to be late for your shift, please call our office to let us know and we will contact the branch that you are heading to and the locum coordinator and anyone else that needs to know. It may be that you will be delayed for some time so we will decide what to do together.
Happy driving folks!