AXA Direct have opened three new branches in the last 6 months in Northern Ireland. Lisburn was the first AXA Direct branch to open its doors to Ulster motorists in July. This was swiftly followed by more branches opening in Bangor in September and Derry in November.
Staff pictured at the opening of the AXA Direct branch at Lisburn Square
Alison Boyd, Direct Business Manager for Northern Ireland says “The new branch network combined with the sales and services we offer through our Customer Service Centre and our website means that we can offer a truly multi-channel service. This is excellent news for our customers in Northern Ireland as they now have a greater choice of how to do business with us.
The personal motor insurance market in Northern Ireland is incredibly dynamic and this investment demonstrates our commitment to deliver a quality service at a local level”
New AXA Staff in Northern Ireland are ready to help you with all of your insurance needs.
AXA has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing the number of cyclists
hurt on Northern Ireland's Roads.
The company, which currently sponsors a number of hard-hitting road safety
advertisements, is giving away over 3,000 high visibility vests through its
branches in Lisburn, Bangor and Derry. The scheme is being supported by the
Road Safety Council of Northern Ireland.
 Available in three sizes to fit 8-10, 11-14 and 15-18 years of age the
vests are being offered on a first come, first served basis.
Gwen Baird, Manager of AXA Lisburn Branch, said: "Bikes are a popular gift
at Christmas yet many people don't think to purchase the appropriate
visibility gear to make sure children are seen by other road users.
"With the dark nights and mornings upon us, the risk of young children
travelling by bike or on foot, to and from school, is a worry for many
parents. By wearing visibility vests children are more easily spotted by
other road users and the chance of an accident is greatly reduced."
President of the Road Safety Council, Reggie Semple said: "This is an
excellent initiative fully supported by The Road Safety Council of Northern
Ireland. Anything that makes vulnerable cyclist more easily visible can
only be welcomed and therefore high visibility vests are essential during
these darker winter months. We applaud AXA's continued efforts to help
reduce casualties on our roads."
AXA has an on-going commitment to road safety and reducing traffic related
accidents in Northern Ireland. As well as sponsoring five road safety
television advertisements in conjunction with the DOE, the company also
supports an educational programme developed by the PSNI for 16 to 18 year
old children called the AXA Roadsafe Roadshows.
AXA Direct have continued to expand its branch network with a new office on
North Street, Belfast which opened its doors in July 2007
Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures which we have enjoyed over the past few weeks or so, winter isn't that far away.
Summer time has ended. The clock has gone back and the nights draw in, the weather worsens and the festive party season starts; consequently accident rates rise and fatalities increase.
Modern cars, with their traction control systems, efficient heating and window demisting systems and ABS brakes are much better able to cope with hazardous driving conditions than the cars of 10 or 20 years ago. As a result, there is the danger of being lulled into a false sense of security when driving in poor weather, particularly when it's freezing and wet. For instance, it is worth noting that ABS brakes, while an almost always an advantage in poor weather, do not increase the available grip. So here are a few tips and pointers that will reduce the likelihood of either accidents or breakdowns over the cold winter months.
Preparations before setting off
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Get up earlier. Okay, the thought of exiting your nice, warm bed into the freezing cold air any sooner than you have to may not appeal, but you may need more time to get your car ready and more time to complete your journey safely. In other words, you don't want to rush. |
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Before a long journey, check the weather forecast, and tell someone at your destination when you expect to arrive. &Make sure you clear your whole windscreen of any ice. Otherwise your visibility will be severely restricted for the first part of the journey, which won't endear you to cyclists or motorcyclists. |
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Proper ice-scrapers are cheap (perhaps free if you keep an eye out) and far more effective than a CD case. Keep deicer in your car for windows and locks. Warm water can work, but often refreezes quickly and can crack windscreens. |
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Learn which ventilation and air-conditioning settings you need to clear windows so you don't have to fiddle around with controls as you're driving. |
Things to keep handy in the car
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scraper and de-icer |
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warm coat and a blanket (in case you're stranded) |
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first aid kit |
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warning triangle |
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can of spare fuel |
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fire extinguisher |
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fully charged mobile phone |
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torc |
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high-viz jacket or vest |
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tow rope |
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jump leads (Read the instructions carefully so you know how to use them safely) |
Driving #
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When it's icy, or there's snow on the ground, multiply stopping distances by 10. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin and do manoeuvres gently, avoiding harsh braking and acceleration. |
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If you start to skid, gently ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you're skidding. Don't panic. |
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If you get stuck in snow, rock the car gently to free it. If you get stuck, call for help and stay with your car. |
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In fog, slowdown and use your dipped headlamps. Don't follow the taillights of the car in front, you'll probably end up travelling too close to it. |
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The roads might not be frozen close to home, but conditions can change quickly on the journey so take care. Keep an eye on the exterior temperature gauge if your car has one. |
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When making long journeys in poor weather conditions, take a break more often than you normally would. The extra concentration needed will make you tired more quickly. |
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Other drivers may not know as much as you think you know about winter driving techniques. Give them lots of space. |
Other dangers
Cyclists and pedestrians are put at extra risk through winter, particularly children on their way home from school. Drink-driving is another hazard of winter as the festive season gets underway.
Slow down, especially around schools, to give yourself more time to adjust to the reduced visibility in the dark and poor weather. Be on the lookout for pedestrians and cyclists that are far harder to spot in murky winter weather.
Get your children some reflective clothing that helps them to stand out when they're walking or cycling. It doesn't have to be unfashionable. Be patient with cyclists and give them a wide berth in case they suddenly swerve to avoid standing water or potholes.
Don't drink and drive. It's far safer not to drive, even after just one drink. Indeed, there's no failsafe guide for working out when you might be over the limit - it depends on your height, weight, age, metabolic rate and what you've had to eat and your stress levels.
It's very easy to still be over the limit the morning after a party, so don't be tempted to drive when you wake up. If you really pushed the boat out the night before, you might well need to leave the car keys on the hook until lunchtime or beyond.
Maintenance
Cars have a harder time during the winter so it makes sense to do some basic checks. These checks are advisable all year round, but more so in the winter.
Even if you know nothing about cars, it makes sense to learn them.
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Check the anti-freeze strength and try to change the coolant every two years at least. Generally, there should be more anti-freeze in the cooling system in the winter than during the rest of the year. |
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Keep your windscreen washer reservoir well topped up with appropriate screen wash containing anti-freeze additives. Examine the wiper blades, front and rear, and replace them if they're worn. |
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Dead batteries account for a large percentage of breakdown services' call-out lists. This is because cold starts place an extra strain on the car's battery, as does the increased use of the headlights and demisters. If your car is sluggish to start in the morning, consider replacing your battery. |
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Check your tyres. Low tread or unevenly worn tyres are dangerous, particularly during the winter months. A tread depth of around 3mm is recommended to be safe. Don't forget to check the spare, too. |
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Even in winter you should run your air-conditioning for at least an hour a week. This allows the coolant in the system to lubricate all of the moving parts and prevents the build-up of elements which can corrode pipe work. |
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It's especially important that you continue to regularly check all of the fluid levels, lights and tyre pressures through the winter. If you find something awry, fix it before you set off. |
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Make sure your car is serviced according to the manufacturer's schedule to ensure it's in proper working order. |
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