Over two thirds of motorists want the Government to apply the brakes to plans to lower speeds limits on the motorway according to a new poll by Motorpoint. A web-based survey by the car supermarket chain found 78.1 per cent of drivers opposed proposals announced earlier this year to restrict speeds on a section of the M1 to 60mph. Over 4,100 people participated in the poll on the company’s website – www.motorpoint.co.uk/.
A specialist insurance broker is offering discounts of up to 20 per cent for vehicles fitted with auto-braking systems. Adrian Flux, the country’s largest specialist motor broker, has launched a new scheme to cater for the growing number of vehicles fitted with the technology, which significantly reduces the likelihood of lower-speed collisions.
Manheim’s latest monthly UK Market Analysis in 2014 shows that part-exchange values have risen again for the second month in a row, with February witnessing an all-time high of £3,216, which is a £7 increase when compared with the previous month. On the whole, average selling prices have been on a positive trajectory over the past six months, with values rising by £587 over the period. In fact, the positivity goes even further back, as average values in February 2014 are £280 higher when compared with the same period last year.
It comes too late for those who have already experienced tyre and wheel damage on poor road surfaces over the winter months, however the decision to direct an extra £140 million to councils in England to repair roads damaged by winter weather is nevertheless good news for motorists. The Local Government Association has welcomed Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s announcement, even though it believes the extra funds probably won’t cover the full repair bill following the winter floods.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists is warning drivers about the dangers of distracted driving after research found that nearly one in ten (nine per cent) of drivers admit to crashing their cars because they were distracted. Just under one in twenty drivers (four per cent) say that someone was injured in the crash.
A report in the Financial Times, which focussed on the expectations of German car producer companies, showed that younger people are shunning buying new vehicles. According to the report, the average age of a new car buyer in Germany rose to a record 52.2 years in 2013, three years older than the average a decade ago, reflecting a trend observed in other industrialised countries.
The AA’s flood rescue team, AA Special Operations, is calling for a review of road signage around flooding and warning drivers of the penalties for ignoring them. Since 1 December, the AA has attended around 3,200 flood-stricken vehicles, many of which were the result of drivers wilfully ignoring or misunderstanding road closure signs. Previous research […]
Autoparts UK has produced a new Ultratec oil selection poster to assist garages and motorists with selecting the correct oil for a specific vehicle.
The use of incorrect engine oil can lead to problems and result in expensive repairs. Also, car manufacturers have clearly defined oil drain intervals for oils which meet their specifications and the use of a lower quality lubricant in, for example, a long oil drain schedule can result in reduced engine component life and poor fuel economy.
There are now 2.5 million uninsured on UK roads, according to the new Private Motor Insurance Market Report, published by Lake Market Research. The report also suggests that 84 per cent of motorists want car insurance to be more tightly regulated and only 49 per cent of motorists completely trust the price comparison websites.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is disappointed that each day, an average of 200 drivers were arrested for offences related to drink driving during the annual Christmas crackdown.
Figures released by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) show that, in relation to drink driving, 6,550 drivers gave positive breath tests or refused or failed to give a test, during the campaign, which ran from November 29 to January 1 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is around 8 per cent fewer than the previous year’s figure of 7,123. Of those arrested, 1,675 (26 per cent) were recorded as being under the age of 25.
There are now more than seven million drivers over the age of 65 on the UK’s roads, according to road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). The number of drivers over 65 reached 7,191,192 in November 2013.
Following the worst winter storms to hit Britain for two decades, TyreSafe is reminding drivers about the need for more regular tyre checks. With its potential to cause aquaplaning, standing water remains a major hazard in many parts of the UK, while damaged road surfaces also presents a different tyre related challenge. However, by taking just a few minutes to inspect your tyres regularly, TyreSafe advises that the impact of these issues can be reduced.
Drivers Lobby Group the Alliance of British Drivers have expressed concern that losing the hard shoulder on the proposed M1 Managed Motorway scheme could jeopardise motorists safety.
The group are concerned that the modern trend for car manufacturers to substitute a can of foam for a proper full size spare wheel will put lives at risk where there is no longer a motorway hard shoulder.
It must be a new record, following a freedom of information (FOI) request by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, it has emerged that a man from Liverpool accumulated 45 licence penalty points in November without losing his licence. In normal circumstance a driving ban follows the accumulation of 12 points. According to the information released by the DVLA in response to the IAM’s FOI, the points were all for failing to disclose the identity of the driver or exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road, between 1 October 2012 and 20 June 2013. By all accounts this beats the previous record of 42 points.
A study across 10 major UK cities, quoted on the IAAF e-bulletin, revealed that some 10.1 per cent of vehicles checked in were found to have a failed headlight, sidelight, rear or brake-light; a proportion equating to some 2.6 million vehicles on UK roads right now.
The scale of the problem is also reflected in MOT failure rates with 1.16 million cars tested in 2012 falling short of required standards because of the condition of their lights.
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