A bus company has had to answer to furious mothers after placing a sex shop advert on the back of a school bus.

The advert for Erotic Dreams was seen by parents on the back of a primary school bus in Belluno, Italy.

The bus operator, Dolomitibus, hasn't commented on the incident, but faces running an empty bus until such time as the offending advert is removed.

An unnamed mother said: "Our children are old enough to be able to read this advert and come home asking what it is all about.

"N...

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I've just looked outside and anyone who is worried about their test beig called off today in Bristol, don't be.  The snow is too light.  Only when you can't see the kerb are test cancelled due to snow.

29/11:30: Heavy Snow - South West England

FLASH Warning of Heavy Snow for South West England valid from 1200 Mon 29 Nov to 1700 Mon 29 Nov

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New Government legislation will see the fine for driving an uninsured car drop to as little as £50 from 2011.

First proposed by the Department for Transport in September 2009, the new rules will see the introduction of a £100 fixed penalty fine for the owner of an uninsured car, which will be reduced to £50 for prompt payment.

If DVLA records show that a registered car has no insurance, the owner will be sent a warning letter. If a second check the following month reveals that the ...

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29/05:46: Heavy Snow - South West England

FLASH Warning of Heavy Snow for South West England valid from 0545 Mon 29 Nov to 1200 Mon 29 Nov

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Audi has unveiled the RS3, which is set to become the most powerful production hatchback in the UK when it hits showrooms in January.

Its 335bhp 2.5-litre turbocharged engine takes it to the top of the hot hatch charts, leaping over the 301bhp Ford Focus RS, the 266bhp Golf R, the 256bhp Mazda3 MPS, and the 250bhp Mégane Renaultsport.

Only the 345bhp Ford Focus RS500 and the 395bhp Subaru Impreza Cosworth trump the RS3, but they're both limited editions. The Focus is already sold ou...

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Research by CAR magazine has revealed that four out of five car radios will be useless in less than five years.

FM and medium wave radio signals are due to be switched off in 2015 and taken over by digital systems, but the majority of new cars are still being sold with old-fashioned radios.

Drivers will have to shell out an average of £250 for a new stereo that can pick up digital radio signals.

A cheaper alternative is available in the form of an adaptor, but the total switchover bil...

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27/00:58: Heavy Snow - South West England

FLASH Warning of Heavy Snow for South West England valid from 0105 Sat 27 Nov to 0700 Sat 27 Nov

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25/11:29: Heavy Snow - South West England

ADVISORY of Heavy Snow for South West England valid from 0001 Fri 26 Nov to 2359 Fri 26 Nov

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Some of DSA’s online systems won’t be available from midnight on Friday 26 November to 6.00 am on Monday 29 November. This is due to essential maintenance work.

It will affect access to:

• online instructor services on Business Link
• the online booking service for practical tests on Directgov   
• all online Driver CPC services
• DSA’s national speech recognition service for changing practical tests

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Some driving tests may be affected by winter weather over the next few days.

The Met Office has forecast colder weather with snow showers becoming increasingly likely. Some parts of the country may have significant snowfall. 

Your driving test

If you're due to take your practical test, follow the advice given on your appointment email or letter. You should call your test centre only if there is snow or ice in your local area on the day of your test.

DSA do not conduct tests in ...

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25/00:10: Widespread Icy Roads - South West England

FLASH Warning of Widespread Icy Roads for South West England valid from 0150 Thu 25 Nov to 1100 Thu 25 Nov

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A study of the most recent Government accident statistics by the AA has revealed that glare from headlamps and the sun is a bigger killer than rain, sleet, snow and fog combined.

The latest Department for Transport (DfT) accident figures show that in 2009, more than 3,000 reported crashes involving injury were caused by dazzle from sunlight or headlamps.

Of those, 29 were fatal - three were caused by headlamps and 26 were due to sunlight. In comparison, 23 fatal accidents were attribut...

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Famous US rapper 50 Cent has been filmed filling up his Lamborghini Murciélago with a huge stack of dollar bills.

The rapper and actor, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, can be seen filling up his car's modest storage area with crisp bundles of cash.

The Murciélago's engine is mounted behind the driver, so it has no boot to speak of and the only real storage area is under the bonnet.

At one point in the video, he refers to three different piles of money as his mother's ho...

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The Government's Highways Agency has been criticised for delays that led to a £660 million increase in the cost of widening the M25 motorway.

The London ring road is being widened to four lanes from three between junctions 16 and 23 to alleviate congestion.

However, a report by the Government National Audit Office (NAO) has criticised the Highways Agency for delaying the project by 18 months. The extra £660 million equates to a 25 percent increase and brings the total to £3.4 billi...

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The readers of the influential What Car? website have named Skoda the best car manufacturer 2010. It's yet another award for the Czech company, which also picked up the Best Small Family Car award for the Octavia.

However, Saab's recent resurgence has suffered a setback, as it was named worst manufacturer overall. The Swedish company has spent most of 2010 in transition, having been sold to Dutch firm Spyker by its former American owner, General Motors.

More surprising is the fact that...

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Scientists from Harvard University have invented a surface that resists ice. The amazing breakthrough could lead to an ice-resistant road, banishing winter traffic chaos for good and spelling the end for road gritting machines.

Harvard researchers have created a coating that prevents water from spreading and freezing on a surface, even at temperatures down to minus 30C. It uses nanotechnology inspired by the eyes of mosquitoes.

On a smooth surface, droplets of water spread out and qu...

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The first ever JD Power car insurance satisfaction survey has revealed the Royal and Sun Alliance (RSA) as the best - and the worst.

That's because insurer More Than ranked bottom of the list - a company owned by Royal and Sun Alliance.

The survey asked more than 5,000 policyholders to rate their car insurance providers in categories including claims handling, customer interaction and price.

JD Power then ranked the sixteen companies on a 1,000-point scale and assigned each a general rat...

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Congratulations to Lizzy for passing her driving test yesterday at Brislington Test Centre with just 3 minors!

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Porsche has launched most powerful, lightest and most hardcore Cayman yet. The Cayman R makes the gap between Porsche's entry-level sports coupé and the 911 smaller than ever.

The R uses the 3.4-litre engine of the Cayman S, tuned to develop an extra 10bhp, taking power to 325bhp. It's a full 55kg lighter too. That's about the weight of a small adult, if you like.

The weight reduction comes by way of lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels, carbon fibre bucket seats, a smaller fuel tank an...

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Will it ever end?  I've even got students commenting on the non-stop digging up of this road now.  Nothing too mega here this time, but the huge amount of traffic it's causing means you'll have to focus, remeber that 2 second rule even in slow traffic, watch where all the other cars go, usually experienced road users will pick up the new path you have to travel quickly. 

When heading back to the test centre, coming from the direction of town, just before you get to the one way system on Brist...
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For drivers wanting the ultimate family car, Aston Martin has unveiled the stunning Rapide Luxe.

The Rapide is already stuffed with luxury equipment, but the Luxe pack takes it to a new level. As well as a choice of extra paint finishes including Concours Blue and Quantum Silver, buyers get a six-piece custom luggage set to match the extended leather interior.

A pair of 6.5-inch DVD screens is located in the front seat backs for rear seat passengers, with a set of wireless headphones ...

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The first roundabout up the ring round by Longwell Green has been in bits for weeks now and now the signs on approach are a little misleading, so approach with caution.  Cones seem to appear in different places every time I go here with no warning, so be very careful and have a good look at where you  will be going first, before emerging onto the roundabout.

Red - Test Centre        Blue - The roundabout in question



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A millionaire car fanatic has spent £1,000,000 building the UK's first electric supercar.

Dale Vince OBE, owner of wind energy company Ecotricity, built the car, which has 330bhp, a 0-60mph time of 8.5 seconds and an untested top speed of 170mph.

Called Nemesis, the car is powered by two electric motors connected to 96 lithium-ion battery cells. The transmission is completely bespoke.

It can travel for up to 150 miles between charges, and in Vince's possession draws charge from ener...

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Closure of the M4 bus lane will begin today (November 15 2010) after more than a decade of controversy.

Introduced in 1999, the lane stretches 3.5 miles on the M4 near Heathrow airport towards London.

Explaining the decision, Transport Minister Phillip Hammond said that it "Ends the injustice suffered by thousands of drivers who sit in traffic next to an empty lane day in day out."

Only buses, taxis and motorcycles could use the lane, which together comprise less than one tenth of daily L...

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An amazing puncture-proof tyre created for NASA moon buggies could soon be developed for use on road cars.

The Spring Tyre, developed jointly by NASA and tyre specialist Goodyear, has picked up a prestigious R&D 100 award for innovation.

The annual R&D 100 award ceremony, informally known as the Oscars of Innovation, recognises 100 of the year's most significant inventions.

The Spring Tyre took the top prize in the Mechanical Devices category. Previous winners have included the fax ma...

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London Mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled an all-new London bus. It uses an efficient hybrid drivetrain that makes it the most fuel efficient bus ever to hit the capital.

Built by Wrightbus, the as-yet-nameless double-decker also sees the return of the traditional open rear platform, allowing passengers to jump on and off quickly.

It features two staircases to make embarking and disembarking quicker and the open back can be closed off if necessary.

Passenger comfort has been prior...

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Renault has won the right to call its new electric car Zoe after it was taken to court by disgruntled parents.

The parents of two girls called Zoe took the French car maker to court to try and prevent the name from being used.

Both sets of parents argued that children called Zoe - specifically their own - would face years of mockery as a result of sharing their name with a car.

But a French judge has dismissed the parents' claims, throwing the case out after failing to be convinced that...

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Forget small people carriers and phony 4x4s - this is what the crossover of 2020 will look like.

British supercar maker McLaren and students from the Turin Instituto Europeo di Design (IED) have joined forces to create the crossover of the near future. The results are more supercar than MPV.

The keen IED designers were given a specific brief by McLaren: the car had to be a hybrid, have a mid-engine layout, four-wheel drive and a two-seat cockpit.

From the 33 initial design proposals a sh...

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The BMW 3 Series has picked up another accolade - it's been named the UK's most reliable car in the highly respected FN50 survey.

The FN50, organised by Fleet News magazine, collects data from Britain's 50 biggest contract hire companies, whose fleets cover 1.5 million cars.

The annual survey asks the companies to name the most reliable new cars and vans on their fleets. The 3 Series came out on top this year, with Honda named the most reliable manufacturer overall. Perhaps unsurprisin...

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A massive congratulations to Linda for passing first time at Southmead on Friday morning.  Linda passed with an incredible 1 minor (missing one mirror check whilst reducing speed) and only 23 hours of tuition. Well done Linda, see you on the road!

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A new page has been added to the Brislington Trouble Spot section - Brislington Hill - Have a look here

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Can a car stereo match a music studio? We pitch a Range Rover with top-line stereo equipment against a multi-million pound studio with Ivor Novello-nominated band Patch William to see if the car can recreate the sound on the move.

Harmon Kardon's Tony Haberman reckons that a car is probably the most difficult environment to produce good quality audio. Yet, according to Harman's own research, some 65 percent of people always have music playing in their car.

Given that, it's hardly sur...

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Experts at Warranty Direct have revealed the ten car parts that are most likely to wear out within a typical manufacturer's warranty period.

The research revealed that around one in three repairs to cars aged between three- and seven-years old was due to a wear-related failure.

Suspension arms are the most common worn out components and account for 5.86 percent of all repairs under warranty. The average cost for such a fix is £230.60.

Ball joints and steering racks were next on the l...

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An American Scalextric enthusiast has built what appears to be the most realistic slot car circuit ever constructed in the basement beneath his house.

But James Harlan of White Lake, Michigan, USA, didn't simply buy as much Scalextric clobber as he could get his hands on - he spent $5,950 (around £3,700) and took three years to customise an incredible 145ft racing track.

Mr. Harlan used a mixture of fibreboard, copper tape, electric wires and some paint to create the 1:32 scale circu...

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Audi's engineers are currently developing a bespoke sound for the company's future electric vehicles to alert pedestrians and other road users to their presence.

The German firm has a number of electric 'e-tron' vehicles in the pipeline, which are virtually silent at speeds of 15mph or less, so it is experimenting with a number of different noises.

One that engineers are particularly keen on is the engine note from the Audi RSQ featured in the 2004 film I, Robot, starring Will Smith....

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London Mayor Boris Johnson has revealed plans to make London the electric car capital of Europe by installing 1,300 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the city.

The new charging network is known as Source London and is expected to be in place by 2013.

Impressive though it may sound, this is some way off Johnson's original target of 25,000 charging points by 2015. It is believed that Transport for London (TfL) abandoned this plan because it was too expensive.

Drivers will be a...

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Figures from the AA Index have revealed record insurance premium rises, with drivers aged 17-22 taking the biggest hit.

Those under 22 have seen premiums rise by a record 51 percent in the year between September 2009 and September 2010.

The average insurance cost for 17 to 22-year-olds is now a massive £1,956 per year, while some can pay up to £2,500. Those in the lowest risk 60 to 69 age bracket now pay £390 on average.

An overall rise of 39 percent - the biggest annual increase sinc...

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Volkswagen will debut the production version of the Up! city car at September 2011's Frankfurt Motor Show.

The debut model will be a three-door, four-seat city car powered by efficient three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, set to take on the funky might of the Fiat 500 and MINI.

Prices for that car will begin at around a relatively inexpensive £8,500 when it hits showrooms in late 2011, meaning the Up! will kill off VW's current tiny option, the Fox.

That will just be the beginni...

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People taking tests to be lorry, bus, coach or car-and-trailer drivers will perform the braking exercise on-road rather than off-road from 1 January 2011, the Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

Candidates will be asked to perform the braking exercise immediately before the angle start, where the driver is asked to pull away from behind a parked vehicle.

Mike Penning said:

"This update to the testing process reflects advances in modern braking technology and al...

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Taking the day off today as I'm very unwell, sorry students.

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The Sinclair C5 has made a sensational comeback, 25 years after production ended amid appalling sales, claims it was dangerous, and downright mockery.

Sir Clive Sinclair has unveiled the X-1 - a two-wheel electric bicycle that adheres to the same principles as the C5. It uses a small electric motor to assist the pedals.

Production of the C5 ended within a year in 1985 after catastrophic sales. But now Sir Clive believes that eco-conscious UK buyers are ready for another electric vehicl...

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Subaru has revealed a teaser shot of a bold coupé that's set to start a stylish new era for the brand.

The Japanese company has said little about it, but it confirmed that the coupé showcases its new design programme, known as 'Confidence in Motion'.

For the time being that's little more than a marketing buzz phrase, but the announcement means that the newcomer will set a blueprint for future Subarus - including the next-generation Impreza.

A Subaru coupé has been on the cards since...

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UK roads could soon be under the surveillance of the ultimate speed camera.

Known as ASSET (Advanced Safety and Driver Support for Essential Road Transport), the camera uses 3D technology to detect multiple driving offences at the same time.

As well as speeding, ASSET can determine if a driver is wearing a seatbelt, and measure the distance between his car and the car in front to see if he's tailgating.

It also reads number plates and tax discs to see if the driver has valid insurance a...

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Im looking to take on a ADI to help with the excessive work load.  Im turning away students daily.  If you are based near Brislington or the MPTC and are looking for work, Id love to hear from you.  Email me your details.

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• Page for learner drivers
• Safe driving advice and tips
• Visit facebook.com/mydrivingtest

Facebook users can now get safe driving advice and keep up to date with changes to the driving test.

The Driving Standards Agency has launched a page called 'I can't wait to pass my driving test' and wants learners to become fans.

As well as getting advice and tips about learning to drive, fans of the page will be able to find links to:

• detailed information about getting a driving licence, ...

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Congratulations to Olly for passing yesterday over in Brislington.

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It might look like it would be more at home on the moon, but the space-aged Extra Terrestrial Vehicle (ETV, for short) will be unveiled at the MPH show in London's Earls Court on November 4.

The show car is one of only four in existence and the only example that will be on public display for the foreseeable future.

Details are sketchy at this stage, but we do know that it will have Lamborghini style gullwing doors and hidden wheels.

The ETV has been supplied to the show by the London Mot...

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A blunder at a Tesco garage in Weston-Super-Mare caused motorists to flock to the forecourt, when the supermarket giant began selling petrol at 111.9p - seven pence less than the national average.

A mechanical fault caused the forecourt's price display board to freeze on an incorrect figure. The glitch first occurred two weeks ago and drivers have been taking full advantage ever since.

The supermarket also claims that covering up the incorrect price with a piece of cardboard - a tech...

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Of all the American brands not sold in the UK, Pontiac is the most iconic thanks to its cars featuring in many films and hit TV shows. However, its parent company, General Motors, has been forced to shut down the brand as part of its global rationalisation.

The Pontiac car company was formed in 1926 and several of its models, including the GTO, Bonneville, Firebird and Trans Am have a huge following in the US - and globally.

Pontiac's fortunes peaked in the late Sixties, when GM bestow...

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The doors opened to the annual SEMA tuning show in Las Vegas today (November 2). One of the somewhat surprising stars of the event is none other than Japanese luxury car maker Lexus. Five models have been transformed by some of America's top custom car outfits.

First up is Lexus' own customised take on the recently launched CT 200h hybrid hatchback. It's called the F Sport Concept. It is a thinly veiled preview to a sportier version of the new BMW 1 Series rival. Boosting its appeal a...

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We don't need to tell you about the economic situation. The fact is that more and more motorists are scrutinising their running costs. Bagging a bargain on the forecourt may be considered to be the first step, but it's worth doing some research into what the running costs of your second-hand car are likely to be ahead of time.

We've done the hard work for you by choosing our top 10 incredibly cheap cars to run and scored each out of five.

Chevrolet Matiz
Model year: 2005 - 2010
Guideline p...

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The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has announced it will no longer publish the multiple choice questions and answers used in the theory section of the driving test.

The announcement, by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning, follows the DSA's decision to stop publishing test routes from October 2010.

Unpublished theory test questions will be used from 1 January 2012.

Penning said: "The driving theory test should help to prepare drivers for real life on the road - good driving is not just a...

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Nissan has issued a worldwide recall for 2.14 million vehicles.

The recall is for an ignition fault, which Nissan UK claims may lead to a to the engine not starting or stalling.

As part of its Voluntary Safety Recall Nissan will notify affected customers and ask them to take their vehicle to a Nissan or Infiniti dealer for repair.

The repairs should take around twenty minutes and will be undertaken free of charge.

The recall affects vehicles built from August 2003 through to July 2006 an...

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Expert Rating:

What is it?

Boasting a record speed of 268mph, the Super Sport is officially the world's fastest production car.

This car was designed to sate the appetite of Veyron owners who, inexplicably, felt that 252mph wasn't really fast enough. They wanted a more basic feel, more involvement and they wanted to hear that W16 engine the way it was meant to be heard. In short, it's a Veyron with attitude.

Veyron production will cease at 300 examples so there will be very few of these...

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In this issue, we get the first feedback about independent driving - we hear from industry representatives, and also find out what the first candidates have been saying about the new test.

Elsewhere, we take a look at the work being done to stamp out illegal instruction, and there’s a reminder for LGV drivers to start their obligatory periodic training before it’s too late. For this and more, see the links below.

There are three ways to read Despatch:

• view th...

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