If you’re a PCO driver in London, you must know how busy it can get on the roads during rush hours and weekends. Also, while you’re on your shift, you might face disgruntled drivers, congested traffic, and long hours. So. If you’re looking for driving tips to make your life easier, you’ve come to the right place.
We asked some experienced PCO drivers in London about how they manage while driving on the streets of London, and they shared quite useful tips with us. Here are some of our favourites:
The Dos Of PCO Driving In London
The success of your PCO driving career depends on providing your customers with a great experience. So, here are some dos of PCO driving that can help you become a better driver:
Keep Your Car Clean
You should keep your car interior clean and tidy. In fact, make it a habit to remove the dirt from the carpets and wipe down the seats and interior before you start your shift in the morning.
Also, try to keep your car’s exterior clean as well. Your PCO vehicle can deteriorate because of salt buildup, bugs, hot asphalt, and road dirt that can damage your car’s functionality, appearance, and efficiency. So, to avoid this, regularly maintain your PCO car and get it professionally cleaned once a week. It’ll ensure that your customers have a good time every time they enter your PCO car.
Keep Your Windows And Side Mirror Clean
Try to keep your side mirrors, windows, and windshields clean. If your windshield, side mirrors, or windows are dirty, they can obscure your vision and may cause you to get into accidents. So, clean your windshield and side mirrors if they get foggy or dirty during your shift.
Take Breaks During Your Shift
Taking a break while driving at night is crucial because you’ll be driving for long hours in the dark and will need some time to recharge, focus, and give your eyes some rest. If you don’t take breaks, you may take a wrong turn or get into an accident because of fatigue and inattentiveness.
The Don’ts Of PCO Driving In London
Once you’re on the road, you must be vigilant about the rules and regulations and ensure your vehicle is in top condition. So, here are some don’ts you should avoid at all costs:
Maintain Your Tyres
Check your car tyres before beginning your shift in the morning. This is one of the most important safety precautions for PCO drivers because your tyres should have at least 1.6mm of tyre tread. Otherwise, you may put your and your passenger’s life in danger.
Tyre tread is important because it helps disperse the water from the contact area between the road surface and the tyre. So, if there’s less tread, less water is shifted away from the point of contact. Also, tyres can wear down after continuous driving, which can decrease the tyre tread as well. These conditions may result in loss of control because there isn’t enough friction to hold the car on the road.
So, always check your tyres and replace them when they show signs of wear and tear and their tread depth drops below 1.6mm.
Don’t Drive In The Bus Lane
Be mindful of the bus lanes when you’re driving in London. These lanes are monitored by CCTV cameras and record any unauthorized vehicle parking or driving within the area. Only licenced taxi drivers can enter bus lanes, but PCO or private hire drivers cannot.
If you enter the lane and are caught by the camera, you’ll be issued a PCN notice with a £90 fine. However, if you pay within the due date (14 days), you can get a discount and will only have to pay £45.
Get Luxury PCO Car For Hire In London
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They offer competitive rental rates for all their PCO cars on their website. You can choose from Kia E-Niro, Volkswagen ID3, Toyota Prius, Mustang Mach E, and many more.
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