November 26, 2015

Bric's Luggage – Compare This Luxury Company's Iconic Collections

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luggage, Bric's luggage

Bric's is an Italian luggage designer and producer that has established itself as one of the very best creators in its industry. With historical roots, it's been able to grow and become an international success, thanks to the company's evolving interpretation of the latest trends in fashion, durability, and functionality. Travellers would be hard-pressed to find a better brand when it comes to suitcase sets that give you all of the storage you need and the style you want. 

What are this luxury company's iconic collections all about? Check out the short comparison below to learn more. 

Bellagio 

Bric's Bellagio Spinner Trunk was ranked one of Fodor's best checked luggage for 2014. This collection is offered in a range of colours that both men and women will love, and you can choose from several different trunks of various sizes, complete with handy wheels and telescoping handles for ease of use when travelling for long stretches of time. The hard and tough exterior means these are durable pieces, yet they are surprisingly lightweight. 


Bojola 

The Bojola collection is a bit more feminine, coming in an iconic cream colour. These soft-sided suitcases are just as durable and easy to clean, as well as lightweight and easy to carry or pull on wheels, as Bric's other collections. You can choose from a variety of items in this collection too, from trolleys and spinners, to duffles and shave cases. 

Life 

The Life collection is a bit more masculine in appearance, with darker hues of cognac and olive. These soft-sided pieces are designed to be functional and lightweight, and they're made using easy-to-clean PVC that's sueded and trimmed with Tuscan leather, making them super chic. 

X-Bag 

The X-Bag collection is all about function meeting style perfectly. Available in a range of fun colours, these luggage sets are perfect for families that love to travel. But in addition to purchasing entire sets, you can also purchase single items in this line, such as the Rolling Duffle, Sportina Shopper in several different sizes, and the Pilotcase, to name a few. 

Pronto 

The Pronto collection is known for being super easy to clean and maintain, thanks to its durability and water resistance. Offered in multiple colours, this range includes products like the Ultra-Light Spinner in various sizes, the Ultra Light Rolling Duffle, which is perfect for day trips, and the Traditional Shave Case for all of the small travel essentials that you want to conveniently store and carry while on the go. 

As you can see, there are many different collections available from Bric's so you can find the one that is most suitable to your needs. Whether you are looking for masculine or feminine designs, single pieces or entire sets, there is something for everyone. So if you're ready to invest in some Bric's luggage that is sure to please your fashionable side as well as your practical side, shop online and in stores for Bric's suitcases that will meet all of your expectations for your upcoming business trip or holiday.
November 25, 2015

Examples of Social Media Gone Wrong

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social media icons, social media logos

Social media is a fantastic tool to get your product, idea or message known. Nowadays, literally everyone is on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and, what's more, they spend hours on these social media platforms. They are the perfect environments to get your business and product known, interact with your customers, attract new followers and establish a powerful brand, either by yourself or through a social media influencer platform. like NeoReach.

Social media can be an extremely powerful tool if you know how to use it, but it can also be incredibly dangerous for your business, especially if used carelessly. The competition on social media platforms is fierce and having a well-crafted strategy is essential for its success. On the contrary, poorly planned strategies can miss their target and, even worse, may be extremely detrimental for your business.

There are lot of examples of social media strategies gone wrong, but here are the most incredible ones:
  1. Twitter's CEO makes a blooper
It's one thing when a social media newbie makes a mistake in a campaign, but it's a completely different story when the CEO of an international multi-billion company does it. In 2014, Twitter's boss, Anthony Noto, made a terrible mistake when he posted a private message on his public account. It read “I still think we should buy them. He is on your schedule for Dec 15 or 16 -- we will need to sell him. I have a plan.” The message is thought to be about the possible acquisition of Shots, an app backed by Justin Bieber. The message was initially intended to go to Twitter's CFO but instead was made public to Anthony Noto's thousands of followers.
  1. NSFW message from US Airways
Social media is often used by big companies to talk directly to their customers or even to offer support. While this usually goes without trouble, there are some cases which can easily be defined as complete communication disasters. This is the case with one of US Airways tweets to one of its customers. The message was directed at a customer who complained about the company's service and included an incredibly inappropriate image. NSFW is really just an understatement for that particular picture, as many of  the users who have seen it said, but thankfully, the company deleted the message in less than an hour and issued a formal apology.
  1. Global Village's special offer for Martin Luther King's Day
Almost all companies try to have special sales on national holidays and commemorations, but when these sale promotions are offensive, everyone has to suffer. The manager at Global Village's Duluth, Minnesota, store tried to create a special sales day on MLK Day, but the message was condemned as being racist. The message on the store's Facebook page read “25 percent off everything black”, but was immediately taken down after customers complained about its offensive connotations. Fortunately for the customers, the offer still went on, but under a different slogan.
  1. Challenger's disaster causes a social media disaster
American Apparel found a very inappropriate way to celebrate 4th of July and annoy its customers in the process. The company's Tumblr page featured a picture of the Challenger space shuttle exploding as a way to celebrate the 4th of July. This absurd marketing campaign initially baffled clients, but later attracted a lot of negative feedback. The company deleted the image and apologized after several hours, but the damage was done. In a later statement, American Apparel's CEO explained that their social media manager was born after the terrible incident and didn't know what the picture was all about. A frivolous explanation, but at least they apologized.

About the Author:

Flaviu Mircea is a small business owner who has used social media as a marketing tool for his company. If you would like to learn more about Flaviu, you can check out his Google+ profile.
November 24, 2015

A Woman's Guide to Overcoming Car Trouble

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It is increasingly drilled into us that driving is a man's domain. One of the most tired tropes is that women don't know how to drive properly, despite evidence to the contrary. This becomes especially evident if, as a woman, you suffer a vehicle-related setback. All of a sudden, everyone around you is a car expert ready and willing to offer their insight into what you're doing wrong.

It's crucial that we arm ourselves with knowledge so that we can deal with car trouble by ourselves and avoid the dreaded mansplaining. Here is how to deal with some of the more common setbacks that usually leave women scratching their heads.




Filling Up with the Wrong Fuel

Despite what people may tell you, putting diesel in a petrol engine or vice verse is more common than you think. It's an error in judgment that has affected most drivers at some point or another. Knowing how to handle the situation will save you the embarrassment of phoning your husband to admit your mistake.

"Help! I've put the wrong fuel in my car!" isn't the death sentence for your engine that you might think. Provided you don't start the ignition, you can make amends for your mistake. Getting in touch with your breakdown cover will allow your car to get towed to a safe spot and drained of the wrong fuel. This minimizes the damage to your engine. That way, your seemingly costly mistake can remain a little secret between you and your breakdown service of choice.

If you haven't been so lucky as to uncover your error before starting your engine, things get a little trickier. You'll have to check whether your insurance covers you in this instance as you may need to replace the engine depending on the extent of the damage.

Jump Starting the Battery

There is only one thing worse than driving along when your car battery suddenly cuts out. And that's waiting by the side of the road for your knight in shining armour to come and rescue you. Our destiny is in our own hands, ladies. Arming yourself with the necessary tools and knowledge will keep you from being left red-faced when someone has to come and bail you out.

Jump starting a car is a two-person job, whatever way you look at it, but it's certainly not a man's job. All you need is another willing car with a working battery and a set of jump leads. Now, turn off everything that could possibly be draining the battery. That includes headlights, radio and air conditioning. Never try to charge a damaged or leaking battery, as this can spell trouble.

Connect the positive cables to both battery's positive terminal, and do the same with the negative terminal of the working car. Take care not to touch the terminals with your bare hands. Touch the metal of the flat battery with the remaining cable to earth the car. Start the assisting car and allow ten minutes or so until your car can fire up again. Job done.
November 20, 2015

Twitter Marketing Crash Course

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With over 300 million active users, Twitter is an essential marketing platform that businesses can take advantage of. As one of the biggest social networks with incredible engagement among users, Twitter can be beneficial to businesses looking to build brand awareness and generate leads. So, if you’re looking to start promoting your brand and business using Twitter, the following tips should help you hit the ground running.

Optimize Your Twitter Account

This is the first thing you need to do. Start by creating a twitter account around your brand, business or organization. Let’s say that you want to promote your business; your Twitter account should only have details of your business and possibly the face or ambassador of the brand.

All tweets should be centered on the business. The same goes for your personal branding. The reason behind this is simple: if you’ll be gathering followers, it makes sense that they’ll follow you because of your brand.

So, posting tweets about personal things such as political leanings or religious issues should be avoided. You want to make sure that every time people stumble on or see your brand, they will only see the best things about it.

Target Effectively

One of the best things about Twitter is that you can literally find every niche there is on there. This essentially makes targeting your ads and messages easier. But since you’re just starting out, you need to effectively identify the best demographic that you can reach through that platform.

One of the best ways to do this is through locating influencers and amplifiers. Simply put, influencers are people with a lot credibility or authority perception in your industry. These should be the first set of people that you want to reach out to.

They often have a huge following, and you’ll often notice that their followers tend to interact more with them by retweeting their tweets and mentioning them in their replies. If you can find these influencers, you can get them to promote your products to their audiences by currying their favors or getting noticed.

Use Twitter Ads

Twitter launched their paid advertising platform a while ago. So companies, brands, organizations, and individuals can start promoting their products and services to their audience.

Using the provided tools, you can often find your target demography, thus creating laser targeted ads that they will see and hopefully respond to. The platform is designed to deliver set goals and objectives.

For instance, you can setup campaigns targeted at gaining followers, increasing your website conversions, measure app installs or downloads, capture more leads and measure audience engagement. Whatever you do, make sure you have a goal before setting these ads up.

Have Your Fingers on Industry Pulse

The best way to take advantage of Twitter for free advertising is by tracking industry trends, news, hot issues and major problems. So, start by looking for and identifying all these.

Once you have these, you should create content around these topics and issues and tweet the links. More importantly, you could tweet those links at major industry influencers whose audience would want to know about your resource.

Not only does this help increase your followers and popularity on the social media network, it also helps improve website visitors, click through rates and conversion rates on your website.

Get Noticed

The simplest way to do this is by frequently retweeting all tweets from prominent individuals in the industry as well as mentioning them. You should also engage with them on other platforms using the same profile. If you do this on a daily basis for long enough, they will take notice of you and your brand, and possibly go on to promote your brand to their audience.

Joining a respectable marketing community is a good way to develop your marketing strategies and connections. To learn more or start a conversation about Twitter, visit Kreativa.co.



About the Author:

Oscar King is a small business owner who understands ins and outs of marketing. If you would like to learn more about Oscar, you can check out his google+ profile.
November 14, 2015

Premium Tyres: Worth The Money Or Just Marketing Hype?

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Do you need to buy some new tyres for your car soon? If so, one thing's for sure. The process of selecting the right ones can, at times, get complicated! That's because there is so much choice on the market.

From a distance, all tyres look the same. Get closer, and you'll notice that they have different tread patterns. Still, that's all many people assume is what differentiates each tyre. Of course, what some folks may not know is that the chemical makeup of each tyre model is different too.

You'll also notice that some tyres are cheap, and get referred to as "budget" ones. You've then got mid-range and premium tyres that cost more. If you're unsure of the tyre "type" to buy, you may have asked your friends or even car enthusiasts online.



Some of those people may have said to you only to stick to premium brands and models of tyre. But, are premium tyres worth the extra expense? Or are they just a marketing ploy to have you spend more money with tyre retailers?

As someone that's bought all kinds of tyres in the past, I can tell you that it's worth paying more for premium ones. Here's why:

They last longer than budget tyres

Some people assume that budget tyres are cheap because they are dangerous. To be honest, there are some pretty good budget brands out there. But they only work well on specific types of cars and in specific road conditions.

Stick those budget tyres on a car they're not meant for, and they won't last long. Premium tyres cost more because they have more to offer. They might look like budget models, but there are significant differences.

First of all, they will have an improved chemical composition. Tyres aren't made just of rubber. They also contain other chemicals to help them perform well in a variety of settings. Second, they are tougher. That means there is less chance of punctures affecting your tyres.

And, third, they will offer better fuel economy. Take the Michelin Energy Saver+, for example. Many sizes offer fuel economy ratings of B, and wet weather ratings of A.



They are quieter than budget tyres

Another benefit of premium tyres is cabin noise. The faster you drive on the road, the noisier your tyres can get. What some people may not realise is that certain tyre brands and models are louder than others.

In general, tyres with a softer rubber "compound" emit less noise. Cheaper budget tyres are often louder because they have a different chemical composition.

Warranty support is better

Sometimes customers may come across tyres that have defects from the factory. It's something that affects all tyres, regardless of who makes them. Although it isn't a problem that happens all the time, it can sometimes occur.

With tyre defects, premium brands offer better warranty support than budget ones. The good news is that you can usually take your car to an authorised reseller of your tyre's brand. So, if you happen to notice a defect and you're 500 miles away from home, a retailer near to you can help.


November 14, 2015

Bingo and its impeccable origin

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bingo balls

It’s often said that the oldest games are the best, and if you look at some of the classic games played today, many of them have archaic origins. Chess is a great example, as the current form evolved in the 1400s in Europe. In fact there are numerous amount of data which show similar games dating back to 6th century AD. Roulette has also been allied to a game that Roman soldiers usually plays with a chariot wheel along with many other gambling games which has been linked to timeworn China and Greece.

Even the humble game of bingo has historic origins. The game which bears correlation to ‘bingo’ as we know it today is the ‘Lo gioco del lotto del Italia’ which was got initiated during the 1500s. There is an identical format to bingo games today, with each player having a card with nine columns and three rows for the bingo classic 90-ball bingo.
game village, bingo

In fact this game is largely played in Italy today and due to its prominence it has become extremely popular in the other European countries. The game card bore quite a strong resemblance to the bingo tickets we see today. It had nine columns and three rows, with numbers engraved on any of the 15 boxes. Players always need to stay alert as they are suppose to check the called out number instantly without missing them.

Today, the virtual world is full of bingo sites offering a wide array of games along with a variety of fun features. If you play on a site like Game Village Bingo you’ll see that they have a wide collection of bingo games which is easy to operate as you don’t have to mark off the numbers yourself.

In fact the prizes are well taken care off! You can also opt to join in the progressive or the guaranteed jackpots along with the special games which are usually attached to big events or changing season. Keep an eye on the promotions tab of the site to make sure you don’t miss out on any of these.
Bingo has always been a great way to unwind your mind from a heavy day at work or at home. Hence you should certainly join in to relish on the flavour of some extremely popular set of bingo games at www.gamevillage.com.

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November 12, 2015

The Most (Affordable) Fun Cars On The Road

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When you’re buying a car, people throw all kinds of figures at you. There are mileage figures, safety ratings, insurance brackets etc, etc. If you ask us, cars shouldn’t be about statistics and numbers. It’s all about the driving experience. What does it feel like to get behind the wheel and put your foot down? At the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.

You’re going to spend a lot of time in your car. And all the fuel economy statistics in the world won’t make up for a poor driving experience. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not for a second suggesting you go out and buy a Ferrari because it’s fun. Super cars aren’t the only cars with a little excitement under the bonnet. Today, we’re focusing exclusively on small, affordable cars. So you can have fun, even on a budget.

Mazda MX5

The Mazda MX5 is generally considered the most exciting small car on the planet. Honestly, it will even give Porsche and Ferrari a run for their money. The engine isn’t particularly big, so what makes it so exciting? Well, it’s all about the build quality. Mazda have mastered the art of 50-50 weight distribution, and it’s light as hell. The steering is edgy and responsive, so you can fling it around the corners. The little roadster is like driving a go-kart.

Ford Fiesta

When it comes to small cars, the Fiesta comes out on top, every single time. We know it’s the most popular car on the planet (it has consistently topped the buyer’s chart for nearly a decade). But, that’s only because it’s so fantastic. Again, the engine is nothing to write home about. In fact, it’s smaller than some of its rivals. Yet, Ford have filled the Fiesta full of magic fairy dust, because it’s incredibly fast. Not only that, but it handles like a dream. All in all, it’s a great first car. Critics are already calling the latest ST model a future classic. It’s that much fun.

Fiat Punto

Fiat have always has a quirky side. The little Fiat Panda has tons of character with its small frame and bodywork, for example. The Punto is no different. It’s one of the most practical cars on the list, but it has that Italian flare for fun and style. Fiat design their cars with the twisty, windy mountains of Italy in mind. That means they know how to make a car that corners well. The Punto nips around tight corners with nimble footing, making it super fun to drive. Our friends at the Hilton Garage tell us that people always bring it back from the test drive with a smile on their face!

Mini Cooper S

The Mini has always been one of the most iconic styled cars. The new model is no different. It’s bursting with character and personality. Luckily, the fun doesn’t end there. The Mini is a firecracker under the bonnet. It’s the fastest in it’s class, and a true thrill to drive.

You can’t go wrong with any of these cars. Each has a fun personality, and plenty of power under the bonnet.
November 10, 2015

4 Reasons We Love Volvo Family Cars (And You Should Too!)

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All drivers are joined by a desire to find the best car for their needs and budget. When you have a family, though, the pressure to get it right feels bigger than ever. After all, our vehicles play an integral role in everything the modern family does. Choosing a model that isn’t right for you can make life far less comfortable.

One of the first factors that you need to decide before purchasing a family car is manufacturer. When it comes to finding a vehicle perfect for your family needs, we strongly feel that Volvo is one of the best options on the market.

And here’s why…

Safety

Road safety is a crucial aspect for any driver, but it feels even more sacred when you’ve got your children in the back. As a responsible parent, this has to be considered the most important factor.

Volvo are well-known for boasting great safety features. Two of their products top the http://www.carbuyer.co.uk list of safest vehicles. Meanwhile, the entire range is heralded for these aspects.

You can’t put a price on your family’s safety. For this reason alone, Volvo is worth consideration at the very least.

Practicality

Another vital feature for your family car is the practicality. A great family car must be comfortable and spacious. Most models in the Volvo range tick both of these boxes quite emphatically.

The cabin needs to be spacious for the kids. After all, there’s nothing worse than taking a long road trip in cramped conditions. You can also take comfort to the next level by adding music and other entertainment features to ensure that the little ones don’t get bored.

Meanwhile, mum and dad can relax in the comfort of the front where climate control and other cool features should make driving a joy.



Cost

Let’s face it, the financial aspects are going to play a vital role in your automotive purchase decision. Getting value for money is a must, and you can’t go wrong with Volvo.

By viewing the range of models at http://www.carcogroup.co.uk, it’s easy to see why so many opt for the Swedish manufacturer. If you compare the XC90 to crossover SUVs from other production lines, the value is clearly with Volvo.

When you also factor in the reduced maintenance due to great reliability, it’s a pretty easy decision to make.

Enjoyment

While putting your family first is natural, it’s still important to drive a car that you enjoy. It’s very rare that you’ll hear a complaint from Volvo drivers.

As long as you look after the car by regularly taking care of basic items like fluid levels and tyre pressure, you should be just fine. You’ll have a smooth, spacious drive with plenty of cool features to enhance your enjoyment. Whether you’re using it for the weekly grocery shop or taking the kids to school, you’ll never get bored.

And knowing that the children are safe and comfortable will give you an added peace of mind too. Quite frankly, you couldn’t ask for anything more.
November 06, 2015

Looking For Your First Car? Read This Advice Today

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So, you’ve just passed your driving test? Well done! You are now legally allowed to purchase a car and get on the road. The only hassle is that choosing the right model can be tough. You also have to make other decisions that could impact your driving experience. The chances of you being involved in a crash are much higher when you’ve just passed your test, and so it’s not worth buying a brand new model. You need to spend as little as possible while still getting a reliable runaround.

Decide on the best way of getting your car

You have three main options when it comes to obtaining your first car. Most specialist dealers will offer finance packages, and they are perfect for people without cash on the hip. There are also lots of leasing companies that would allow you to get an upmarket model for low rates. However, the best option on the table is for you to purchase the vehicle outright. Visit second-hand showrooms and speak to the owners. There is always room for negotiation when you’re purchasing used models.

Check insurance costs before buying

New drivers make a lot of mistakes when they first get on the road. One of the most costly relates to insurance. You could end up in financial trouble if you don’t get quotes before purchasing your vehicle. Just because the car is available for under £1000, that doesn’t mean the tax or insurance is low. There are plenty of models on the market for less than £1000 that have huge engines. So, you could end up paying closer to £3,000 for insurance costs, and that doesn’t make sense. Do yourself a favour and try to find models with an engine smaller than 1.2-litres. That way, you should keep insurance costs as low as possible.

Select a brand you can trust

Experienced sellers at A1 Carriages say all the top manufacturers produce reliable cars these days. However, household names like Ford tend to get things right more often than others. It’s always possible to get a bad car from any brand, but you can usually trust anything made by Vauxhall, Ford or Peugeot. Don’t worry about manufacturers like BMW or Mercedes-Benz at the moment. Their models are far more luxurious, but your insurance costs would be astronomical.


Take the model for a test drive

Test driving your vehicle should be a top priority. Most used car dealers are honest these days, but some might try to pull the wool over your eyes. It should be pretty clear if there are any strange noises coming from the engine when you are driving the vehicle. Presuming you don’t know much about automobiles, it might be worth calling a mechanic too. Most professionals are willing to attend car viewings with you for a small fee. Paying that money is better than losing thousands because you purchased something unsuitable.

Now you know how to get your first car without too much hassle, there should be nothing stopping you. Getting on the road after passing your test can be an exciting experience. However, you need to make sure that you don’t rush into anything. It’s much better to take your time and wait until you find a model that meets your criteria. You haven’t driven on the roads legally for your entire life. Another couple of weeks isn’t going to hurt.

November 03, 2015

Safety Tips All Female Drivers Must Know

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Being safe when driving is essential for anybody. Women driving alone at night need to be particularly cautious. It’s a sad reality that there are people out there who will take advantage of a woman driving by herself. However, this should not put you off from doing it. There are many things you can do to keep yourself safe. You just have to use your common sense and follow the tips below.

1. Keep your vehicle fully maintained.

This is an important tip. It can be scary to breakdown in the middle of nowhere or in an unfamiliar location. Keeping your car fully fueled and having regular maintenance checks is vital. If you notice something isn’t quite right with your car, get it looked at by a professional as soon as possible. Don’t leave it. It may be a serious issue that could get worse.

It’s important to have some basic knowledge about your vehicle to keep it maintained. Check dealership websites for full details for your car’s specifications, like this one for the 2016 Subaru Forester. It may also be beneficial to research issues other people have had with the same model. This will help you notice the warning signs before they get worse.

2. Locking your doors

Whenever you leave your vehicle, always ensure your doors are locked. You don’t want to make it easy for thieves to steal your valuables or your car itself. When you are walking back to your car, have your keys out ready. When you get into the car, lock the doors. A thief could take the opportunity to open your car door and steal your bag when you stop at a red light or when you are pulled over.

3. Hide your valuables

Don’t leave shopping bags or Sat Navs on display in your car. Some people won’t think twice about breaking your windows and grabbing what you’ve left inside. Keep your valuables hidden by locking items in the boot of your car. A break in makes your car vulnerable and more appealing for other thieves. Avoid this from happening by always hiding your belongings.

4. Full battery on your phone

Try to keep a full battery on your phone. You don’t want to breakdown and not be able to call for help. It’s also useful to have your phone in case your Sat Nav breaks, or you get lost. Invest in a portable battery charger that you can keep in your car. Remember always to keep your phone and charger out of sight.

5. Be wary of everyone

Majority of the time people will be genuine and just want to help if you get into trouble. But others may try to manipulate the situation. It’s important to be cautious of strangers, no matter how genuine they appear. Never pick up hitchhikers or people who appear stranded. Thieves are smart and will make themselves seem vulnerable to make you stop. If you are concerned about someone who seems stranded, call the police instead. It’s safer for you to drive past and call for help rather than get out of your car and intervene.

These are just five tips you should follow when driving alone, particularly at night. Just take the right precautions and always inform someone of your route beforehand.

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