HiQ launches roadside emergency app

HiQ, the franchise retail arm of Goodyear Dunlop, has unveiled a new roadside emergency app. ‘Pocket HiQ’is free to download from app stores as of June and features functions including quick call links for a selection of breakdown providers as well as geo-location technology to find places of interest nearby should motorists and fleet drivers need to find facilities such as a café or petrol station. The app also provides directions, opening times and details of how to get in touch with the nearest HiQ centre should a motorist need a new tyre or other vehicle maintenance.

‘Pocket HiQ’ is also designed to help motorists and fleet drivers stay up to speed with the maintenance of their car before they set out on a journey or whilst they’re out and about thanks to other helpful features such as a road side quiz and helpful articles, a mileage and tyre pressure calculator, plus MOT and service reminders.

Talking about the development of ‘Pocket HiQ’, Geraldine McGovern, marketing manager for Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK & Ireland, said: “Now that motorists and fleet drivers can access faster mobile speeds thanks to 4G and wifi hot spots, we’re seeing a real trend in drivers relying more and more heavily on their smart devices. In fact, our data tells us that visits to HiQ’s website from smart devices (tablet and mobile) have grown by 32 per cent in the last three years to 45 per cent – now nearly matching visits from desktops (54 per cent).

“With this in mind, we wanted to respond to the market by building a reliable pocket companion in response to an ever-growing demand for access to information wherever and whenever motorists and fleet drivers are on the move. The app has been designed to meet the needs of motorists and fleet drivers in an emergency, but has also been developed to educate them in how best to keep their car maintained – from being reminded to check tyre pressures every six weeks and ensuring you’re up to date with your MOT or service, all the way through to refreshing themselves on the highway code through our road side quiz.

“It’s easy to panic when in a roadside emergency as motorists and fleet drivers may not know who to call, what to do, or sometimes even where they are in relation to nearby facilities, so we hope that they will feel the benefit of ‘Pocket HiQ’.”