Browsing Archive: April, 2012
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 30, 2012,
FIFTEEN people have been charged with offences including fraud, perverting the course of justice and misconduct in a public office after a criminal inquiry focusing on a driving test centre. Warwickshire Police said the charges had been brought against a man from Nuneaton and 14 other people from Leicester, Manchester, London and Yorkshire after a joint investigation assisted by the Driving Standards Agency. A police spokesman said the inquiry into driving tests taken in Nuneaton had resulted i... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 30, 2012,
OFFICIAL government fuel figures overstate just how many miles cars can do to the gallon, it has been claimed. Tests carried out on more than 60 cars showed every vehicle had a lower miles per gallon (mpg) figure than that given in the Government statistics. What Car?, which carried out the research in association with Tesco's filling station, said Government figures showed the Kia Picanto 1.0 2, for example, did 67.3mpg while the magazine's own test gave a figure of 41.2 mpg. Similarly, the Gov... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 29, 2012,
THE LONDON Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and BMW, the Official Automotive Partner to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, has revealed full details of the London 2012 fleet. The fleet includes low-emission diesels, hybrids and electric cars, motorcycles and bicycles were unveiled for the first time. It will be used to transport media as well as judges, event organisers, Games officials and staff, ranging from medical officers, IOC photographers and crew to official... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 29, 2012,
MOTORISTS have been warned to watch out as further heavy rain is expected across England and Wales with the wet weather set to continue for the next week. The Environment Agency said five flood warnings remained in place in south-west England where some areas saw up to 50mm of rain (2in) on Wednesday. More than 40 flood alerts were also in place across the rest of the country. Paul Mott, forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, warned of localised flooding. He sa... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 28, 2012,
THE ROAD Haulage Association (RHA) has reacted strongly to today's news that the economy has shrunk by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2012. "Of course we are disappointed at the news that the UK has returned to a state of recession," said RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning. "However," he continued, "what comes as an even greater disappointment is that this news is not unexpected. If Government would heed our advice and address the issue of fuel duty once and for all, this is a situation that could... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 28, 2012,
ONE OF the world’s rarest Italian supercars will be auctioned this June at London’s Motorexpo show. It’s believed that the Lamborghini Reventón offered for sale is the only one in the UK, but at the very least it’s definitely one of only 20 ever made. The Reventón was unveiled to the public at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, but before it ever saw the light of day every one of the 20 had pre-sold for a million Euros each, plus local taxes. Powered by a glorious 6.5-litre V12 engine prod... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 27, 2012,
CAR INSURANCE premiums have become slightly cheaper for consumers who shop around to get the best quote, but the decreases are unlikely to last long, a study found today. The "shoparound" quote for comprehensive cover, based on the average of the five cheapest premiums from insurers, dropped by 1.1% in the first quarter of this year to reach £1,132, the AA British Insurance Premium Index found. Over the year to March 31, the shoparound index rose by 7.7%, the smallest annual increase since 200... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 27, 2012,
PEUGEOT Citroen today said its sales slumped in the first quarter as Europe's recession-hit markets caused car sales to collapse across the region's southern flank. The Paris-based car maker says it made 15.4 billion Euros (£12.6 billion) in the first quarter, down 7% from a year earlier. The car maker, which has traditionally sold well in Spain, France, Italy and Greece, blamed the collapse of markets in southern Europe for the weak quarterly performance. Overall, Peugeot Citroen sales contrac... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 26, 2012,
ROAD RULE changes to allow cyclists to turn left at red traffic lights are unlikely to be introduced, Roads Minister Mike Penning indicated to MPs today. Altering the regulations for cyclists could lead to other road users trying to turn left at lights as well, Mr Penning told the House of Commons Transport Committee. He said the Government would "keep an open mind" about any alterations to traffic light regulations. But he went on: "The reason that traffic light regulations have not dramaticall... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 26, 2012,
PEOPLE claiming compensation for whiplash should not be entitled to a penny unless there is objective evidence that they have actually sustained injury, said the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Speaking at an international whiplash conference in Bristol today, James Dalton, the ABI’s Head of Motor and Liability said that Briatin’s ‘whiplash industry’ has to stop. “If whiplash was an Olympic sport, the UK would be gold medallists,” he said. “The fact that whiplash is virtual... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 25, 2012,
MORE THAN 40% of young motorists use mobile phones while driving, according to a survey. Nearly 43% of 17-25 year olds admitted making or receiving calls or texts while at the wheel, the poll by insurance company Swinton found. More than 12% of these young motorists did not consider such practice was dangerous, the survey showed. Lack of concern about the use of mobiles while driving was most prevalent among young drivers in north west England. Also, a third of the 2,900 young drivers surveyed sa... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 25, 2012,
HUNDREDS of workers have planned to take industrial action in protest at being asked to pay an annual levy to park their cars. The GMB said its members employed by Imperial Tobacco in Nottingham face an annual bill of £288 after the company decided to pass on the cost of the levy, which is being imposed by the city council. Workers will ban overtime from the end of the month and will work to rule for the first week in May. GMB official Chris Needham said: "The company is adamant it is going to ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 24, 2012,
Congratulations to Bibi for passing first time yesterday with just 5 minors! Well done Bibi, see you on the road. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 24, 2012,
Lamborghini has revealed its new concept Urus 4x4 at the Beijing Motor show - and it’s a million miles away from its famed line of sports cars. The Lamborghini Urus is an all terrain SUV with 600bhp under the bonnet, giving it a top speed of 180mph. It is a drastic departure from the two models the Italian car-maker currently has in production, as both the Aventador and Gallardo are traditional sporting Lamborghinis. To buy one will set you back though – it’s rumoured the price will be c... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 23, 2012,
BMW HAS announced a very limited-edition visually tweaked version of its M3 super-coupé, called the Frozen Silver Edition. Just 100 of the cars will be produced. While it uses the same high-revving 414bhp V8 engine as the normal coupé, it rides 10mm lower with a revised version of BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control Plus (DSC+) system. The colour, a metallic pale silver with a hint of frosty blue, is entirely new to BMW and is paired with matt black 19-inch alloy wheels, a ‘Dark Chrome’ fin... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 23, 2012,
PRICES and full specs have been released for the updated Hyundai i20 supermini, which will arrive in showrooms from May 7. The Fiesta rival will cost from £9,995 for the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol three-door Classic model, rising to £14,295 for the 1.4 CRDi diesel Style. Four trim levels will be available, including the high-efficiency Blue, which only uses the super-low-CO2 1.1-litre CRDi diesel. With styling that has been updated to better fit with the company’s ‘fluidic design’ eth... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 22, 2012,
THE PRICE of petrol at the pumps has risen to a new high, the AA said today. After a brief halt following weeks of increases, the average cost of petrol has gone up to 142.48p a litre. Diesel, at 147.88p a litre on average, is just short of the record price which was set last week. The AA said petrol had risen 10.23p a litre and diesel 7.32p a litre since pump prices started their climb at the start of the year, adding £21.72 to the monthly petrol cost of a two-car family. In the past month alon... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 22, 2012,
HONDA has released details of a new remanufacturing process that allows up to 80% of rare earth metals, like those in car batteries, to be recycled. At present the manufacture of nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, especially the large kinds that power some of the latest generations of hybrid and electric cars, is a relatively environmentally harmful practice but technology in the area is improving. The 17 rare earth metals are individual chemical elements, including scandium, neodymium and ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 21, 2012,
FRESH talks aimed at averting strikes by fuel tanker drivers are to be held next week, raising hopes that industrial action can be averted. The conciliation service Acas announced that leaders of the Unite union and officials from six distribution companies will meet on Monday. Unite has also been given an extension to next Tuesday before it has to make a decision about calling industrial action. The two sides have already held six days of talks, but tanker drivers' representatives overwhelmingl... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 21, 2012,
SEVERAL items of Ayrton Senna memorabilia are to be auctioned at the Silverstone Auctions Spring Sale, including the very car that was controversially denied a win at the rain-soaked 1984 Monaco Grand Prix. The Toleman TG-184-2 car Senna drove in what was his first season in the sport was generally uncompetitive, but after qualifying 13th at Monaco and seeing many drivers crash out in the appalling conditions, Senna was closing fast on the older, more experienced Alain Prost’s much better ca... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 20, 2012,
THE PROSPECT of a strike by fuel tanker drivers which could cripple petrol supplies grew closer today after union officials overwhelmingly rejected a proposed deal aimed at averting industrial action Around 60 Unite officials turned down the deal which was thrashed out during six days of talks between the union and representatives of six fuel distribution companies. Motorists were urged not to panic buy fuel as Unite said it wanted a negotiated settlement and stressed that it had not yet decide... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 20, 2012,
CAR MANUFACTURER Audi has bought the famous Italian motorbike manufacturer Ducati for an unconfirmed sum of around £705 million, including all debt attached to the firm. The Volkswagen-owned prestige car brand was rumoured to be interested in the motorbike firm, and its purchase now means that Audi will go head-to-head with its rival BMW on two wheels as well as four. In a statement, Audi said: "Ducati is known worldwide as a leading brand in motorcycle manufacture, with outstanding expertise ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 19, 2012,
THE most-vandalised car in Britain is not a luxury model but the ‘everyday’ Fiat 500, it was revealed today. The Fiat 500 had a 3.62% chance of being targeted by vandals in 2011/12, according to claims data from car insurance company swiftcover.com. Next on the vandals' list was the BMW Z4, with a 2.97% chance of being vandalised, followed by the Peugeot 207 (2.39%). In contrast, the UK's best-selling car in 2011 - the Ford Focus - had a vandalism "score" of just 0.58%. Other cars in the vand... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 19, 2012,
TWO NEW Mazda models have been released under the limited edition name ‘Venture Edition’. Mid-range Mazda 2 and Mazda 6 models have been given a bundle of extra equipment and unique paint options with the aim of injecting a little extra life into them in what may be their run-out year. The 6 Venture Edition will be even more of a company car favourite than the standard car thanks to the addition of a Sanyo TomTom sat-nav system, Bluetooth, part-leather upholstery and heated front seats. It a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 18, 2012,
THE MICHELIN Energy Saver car tyre has been awarded ‘Best Buy’ status in a recent test of summer tyres by the consumer magazine, Which? The test of 165/70 R14 T tyres, in the April issue of the magazine, rated them in all the main areas of performance including wet and dry handling and braking, external drive-by noise, fuel consumption and wear. The Michelin Energy Saver is the Company’s fourth generation of “green” car tyres which replaced the previous Energy range and is designed to... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 18, 2012,
TALKS aimed at averting strikes by fuel tanker drivers were adjourned again tonight and will resume tomorrow. Leaders of the Unite union spent all day negotiating with officials from six haulage firms under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas. Acas chief conciliator Peter Harwood said: "This is a complex process and all parties remain committed on this path to securing a positive way forward." The dispute over terms and conditions and health and safety has been brewing for more tha... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 17, 2012,
THE ROAD Haulage Association (RHA) has accused filling stations and oil companies of “naked profiteering” over the price of diesel. RHA Chief Executive Geoff Dunning has blasted “predatory pricing” techniques adopted by those in control of forecourt fuel prices in the wake of the tanker driver strike threat, claiming it is harming the economy and is unfair to motorists. “We have no doubt that diesel prices at the forecourt have rocketed as a result of the uncertainty caused by the thr... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 17, 2012,
DRIVERS are being charged "exorbitant fees" for minor policy alterations and renewals, according to an investigation by Which? magazine. Charges include up to £30 for minor amendments including change of address, updating personal details or transferring to other vehicles, the research showed. Cancelling policies or even simply renewing a policy can also attract charges, the consumer group found. Which? has criticised the charges for not being clear enough and not easily accessible to customers... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 16, 2012,
THE ML63 AMG super-SUV will cost £82,995 on the road, Mercedes has confirmed today. Powered by a 5.5-litre ‘BiTurbo’ V8 petrol engine, the fastest ML ever will hit 62mph in just 4.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155mph, which can be raised to 174mph as part of a £2,820 Driver’s Package. However, thanks to a specially-tuned seven-speed AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox, fuel efficiency has been improved by nearly 40%, and CO2 emissions have been slashed by close to 3... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 16, 2012,
VOLVO’S 2013 diesel engines have achieved astonishing CO2 outputs, placing 15 out of its 16 typical company car engine and model configurations below 120g/km, including the leviathan S80 and 211bhp D5. The figures, tested and confirmed on the standard EU combined drive cycle, reflect the efforts made by Volvo to strengthen its place in the European fleet car market – a market that is propping up many EU nations’ car industries in the face of squeezed personal budgets across the continent... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 15, 2012,
VOLVO has announced the starting price and a series of teaser details for its eagerly anticipated V40. The compact hatchback will start at £19,745 on the road, which eclipses the cheapest price for a VW Golf and is above the cost of a basic Audi A3, although the latter has a new range coming soon with prices to be confirmed. The efficiency highlight in the V40 range has been revealed, with the D2 diesel engine returning a claimed 78.5mpg and 94g/km of CO2, making it exempt from road tax and th... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 15, 2012,
SOME PARENTS are spending 50 hours a month driving their children to school and to social activities, according to a survey. As many as 19% of mothers and fathers fork out at least £1,200 a year per child on their offspring's hobbies and activities and the transport costs of getting them there, the AA/Populus poll found. A third of parents lose between 10 and 49 hours a month driving their children around, with 2% spending 50 hours or more on "taxi duty". London parents are the most prolific sp... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 14, 2012,
THE NUMBER of buses and lorries on the roads is continuing to fall, according to Government figures. There are now 6% fewer licensed buses than in 2005 while there are 9% fewer licensed heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) than in 2007, the Department for Transport (DfT) statistics showed. The number of licensed HGVs at the end of 2011 was the lowest since 1999, with the DfT saying that the decreases in buses and lorries was likely to be the result of the economic downturn that began in 2008. At the end ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 14, 2012,
THE ML63 AMG super-SUV will cost £82,995 on the road, Mercedes has confirmed today. Powered by a 5.5-litre ‘BiTurbo’ V8 petrol engine, the fastest ML ever will hit 62mph in just 4.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155mph, which can be raised to 174mph as part of a £2,820 Driver’s Package. However, thanks to a specially-tuned seven-speed AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox, fuel efficiency has been improved by nearly 40%, and CO2 emissions have been slashed by close to 3... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 13, 2012,
A revolutionary baby seat that deploys a protective cocoon in collisions has been unveiled by a British firm. The Carkoon is a rear-facing baby seat that features a sliding protective shell made from Kevlar and fireproof Nomex, which is capable of keeping a child safe for up to 18 minutes in the event of a blaze. The Carkoon also contains a transmitter that alerts emergency services with the exact GPS location of the child – giving vital extra information for any rescue effort. Added to the d... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 13, 2012,
MORE motorists are turning to waterless car-cleaning products following the much-publicised hosepipe ban in the South East of England. Consumer brand JML, well known for marketing seemingly endless but sometimes rather brilliant products designed to make life easier, has seen a 144% increase in sales of its spray-on car cleaner. Year-on-year sales of Mantis Instant Shine have increased from 331,878 units to 806,625, and a spokesman puts the rise down to the hosepipe ban. Thom Bateman, speaking f... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 12, 2012,
SKODA has dominated the 2012 Auto Express Driver Power car ownership survey with its Yeti SUV in top spot, the Superb family car second and the Octavia in fourth. This is the second year running that Skoda has topped Driver Power with this year’s rankings a reverse of last year, when the Superb came first and the Yeti second. Steve Fowler, Editor-in-Chief of Auto Express, said: “Skoda clearly knows a thing or two about keeping its customers happy. It builds cars people love, while its deale... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 12, 2012,
TALKS aimed at averting strikes by fuel tanker drivers will resume today after being adjourned last night. Leaders of the Unite union spent all day negotiating with officials from six haulage firms under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas. Chief conciliator Peter Harwood said last night: "Talks have adjourned for the day and will reconvene tomorrow morning. I am encouraged that talks are continuing and that the parties are committed to finding a way forward." The dispute over term... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 11, 2012,
HALF OF motorists disagree with a government proposal to increase fixed penalty notices from £60 to £90, according to research by the IAM. Fixed penalty notices can be given for a range of offences, but are most commonly associated with driving offences including speeding and jumping red lights. Under the plans, the £30 increase will be used to give a £30m cash boost to the fund for victims of crime and witnesses support. Of the 1129 respondents, fifty one per cent disagreed with the propo... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 11, 2012,
PLANS by Japanese car giant Nissan to build a new hatchback at its UK plant, creating more than 1,000 jobs at the site and in component companies, is a "big vote" of confidence in the UK's car industry, the company said today. The new medium-sized model will be built in Sunderland in 2014, bringing an additional 225 jobs to the factory and 900 to component companies supplying Nissan. The move follows an announcement last month that the North East plant will also produce a compact car based on t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 10, 2012,
SMALL cars are now a big deal as buyers seek to save money and not battle with parking and all the rest in our increasingly crowded cities. A new wave of small cars boasting big car refinement and road manners has done much to change the urban motoring landscape for the better. Cars from the likes of Kia, Hyundai, Ford, Renault, Peugeot, Citroen and Toyota make up the bulk of what’s available. Missing someone? Noticeable by its absence from that list is Volkswagen, which is odd considering i... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 10, 2012,
WHO SAID greed was bad? Doing the right thing is usually shorthand for being selfless and putting the needs of others first. But at what point do you get to do something for yourself? This logic applies as much to cars as it does to where you go on holiday. Happily Mini can now help you treat yourself with the most selfish Mini to date – the Roadster. It’s not really selfish of course; it’s just biased towards the needs of the driver and possible passenger, as this is the first two-seate... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 9, 2012,
THE MOST successful car designer in Formula One history was presented with an OBE by the Queen on Tuesday for an outstanding career in motor sports. Adrian Newey has been a guiding force behind former world champions such as Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell during a career in motor sports spanning more than 30 years. Newey has also helped three teams win eight constructors' championships - five with Williams, once at McLaren and the last two with Red Bull. The designer said after the investiture cer... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 9, 2012,
You wait years for one flying car to come then two arrive at once. The future of roads may be in doubt following the successful trial of two seperate cars that can fly. Side by side the PAL-V (l) and the Terrafugia "Transition" (r). The Dutch-built Personal Air and Land Vehicle [PAL-V] is an innovative car-gyrocopter hybrid able to reach speeds of up to 110mph on the road and in the air, thanks to a retractable auto-rotating rotor. Using this and a push propeller on the back the vehicle can tak... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 8, 2012,
SKODA has confirmed that the prices for the new Citigo city car will undercut both of its sister models, the Seat Mii and the Volkswagen Up. At £7,630 for the cheapest three-door version, the Citigo S, the smallest Skoda is £215 cheaper than the equivalent Seat Mii and £365 cheaper than the basic Volkswagen Up. The Citigo will also be available as a five-door in any of the three trim levels for a premium of £350. Above the entry-level S spec, which will include the basics and plenty of safet... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 8, 2012,
FORD IS claiming that one version of its latest Focus hatchback more than offsets the vast increases in fuel prices over the last few years, costing less to fuel per mile travelled than the equivalent model four years ago. Despite a 34% hike in fuel prices since 2008, Ford is claiming that its new 1.0-litre, 99bhp Ecoboost petrol engine sees motorists paying less out in fuel than they did back then. Using the claimed fuel economy figures and fuel prices from both then and now, Ford has compared... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 7, 2012,
MILLIONS of drivers could be putting themselves, fellow motorists and pedestrians at risk because they do not know The Highway Code, a survey has revealed. One in six drivers have ignored road signs when they do not know what they mean, Goodyear's Test the Nation survey found. More than four in 10 (44%) drivers could not correctly identify that a red and amber traffic light shown together meant stop, Goodyear's Test the Nation survey found. Instead they thought it meant to proceed with caution. T... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, April 7, 2012,
A EUROPEAN Commissioner today slammed the "unacceptable" red tape still hampering businesses and individuals 20 years after the EU single market was supposed to make crossing borders simpler. Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani was announcing plans to remove complications facing EU drivers who live part of the time in another member state. He said his plan would simplify registering a car in another EU country - and in some cases abolish the need altogether. But there is no intention to introdu... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 6, 2012,
THE NEWEST Jaguar sports car will be built in Birmingham, it has been announced. The F-type two-seater convertible will be built at Jaguar Land Rover's Castle Bromwich plant. The design will be unveiled later this year, the carmaker said during a press conference at the New York International Motor Show. Prototypes of the new luxury car are leaving the English plant as the company begins on-road testing. Ian Hoban, Jaguar's Vehicle Line Director said: "The engineering development of the F-type ha... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, April 6, 2012,
NEW CAR sales accelerated last month, boosted by the new 12-plate registration numbers, official figures have shown. There were 372,835 new registrations in March 2012 - a 1.8% rise on the March 2011 total, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Last month's figure took the total for the year so far to 563,556 - a 0.9% rise on the January-March 2011 total. The March 2012 figures were further boosted by private sales rising 7.4% - one of the best monthly increases in the past... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 5, 2012,
SUZUKI has unveiled a stylish new choice in its popular Swift line-up, following in the tyre tracks of the Attitude special edition from the previous Swift range and taking the same name. It’s aimed at younger buyers with a combination of visual modifications and low running costs, including a respectable group 9E insurance rating and the potential for 56.5mpg. Based on the 1.2-litre SZ3 model from the mainstream part of the range, just 500 Swift Attitudes will be built on a first-come, first... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, April 5, 2012,
THE AVERAGE price of a used car in the UK fell 1.5 per cent since January 2012, to an average of £9,376, as the economy remains weak, and consumers continue to hold onto their cars for longer. While on a national level used car prices have reduced, some regions have seen price rises of up to 12 per cent, but 6 out of 11 regions have seen used car values fall. The North East is the most expensive place in England to buy a used car with average prices at £10,427 and around £1,051 more than the... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 4, 2012,
Measures to boost safety for motorcyclists and lorry and bus drivers have been put forward in Parliament. The measures - which also strengthen requirements for driving examiners and impact on the rules for drivers towing trailers - will come in to force on 19 January 2013 as part of new European requirements aimed at improving road safety. The changes are being implemented by the Department for Transport in conjunction with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensi... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, April 4, 2012,
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has published its business plan for 2012-13. It sets out DSA’s plans and activities to improve road safety, customer service and efficiency. DSA business plan 2012-13 (PDF, 248K) As well as delivering services in an effective, economical and efficient way, DSA will contribute to the wider government agenda. It will deliver its services based on the five key principles set out in the Open Public Services White Paper: choice – choice to be increased whereve... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 3, 2012,
A GOVERNMENT minister who suggested filling up jerry cans with fuel because of a threatened tanker drivers' strike faced growing calls to resign after a woman was severely burned while transferring petrol between canisters in her kitchen. Diane Hill, 46, from York, is recovering in hospital with 40% burns after vapours ignited as she decanted petrol from one container to another, setting fire to her clothing. Labour MPs called for the resignation of Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude, who ha... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, April 3, 2012,
BRITAIN’S first council-imposed workplace parking charge scheme has begun, with firms likely to have to fork out a total of around £8 million in the first year. Nottingham City Council, which is running the scheme, said it will help fund major transport improvements in the area. But the AA dubbed the scheme "a tax on work" which would damage local businesses and employees. Known officially as a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL), the scheme requires companies in the city of Nottingham to pay an ann... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 2, 2012,
MODEL and TV presenter Donna Air was acquitted of fraud today by a jury that took just 20 minutes to reach its verdict. Air thanked the jury at Isleworth Crown Court in west London as she left the dock. Following her acquittal, defence barrister Benn Maguire told the court the trial had caused Air pain and heartache, and she had not been able to travel to America since the fraud charge had been brought. The court heard that she had applied for a parking permit in the Borough of Kensington and Ch... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, April 2, 2012,
MINISTERS will discuss emergency plans to deal with a tanker driver strike with haulier bosses today amid continued panic-buying at the pumps. Energy Secretary Ed Davey will lead the talks as the Government continues to face serious criticism of its handling of the threatened industrial action. Conciliation talks aimed at heading off the walkout will not be held before Monday once initial contacts with the Unite union and the seven distribution firms have been concluded by Acas. But despite any ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 1, 2012,
MORE MOTORISTS were caught speeding last year, with the worst offender caught doing 152mph. The total number of offences in 2011 rose 6% compared with 2010, according to figures from insurance company LV. Offending speeders drove at an average 56mph in 2011 compared with 54mph in 2010, the statistics from a freedom of information request to police forces showed. The 152mph speedster was caught by Sussex Police, while an offender was stopped by Tayside Police doing 149mph and a driver in the Tham... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, April 1, 2012,
ALMOST half of drivers talk on the phone while at the wheel, a survey showed today. Of the 48% who phone and drive, two in three illegally use hand-held mobiles, the poll by road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line found. As many as 25% phone and drive at least once a week, with 44% of young motorists and 27% of older ones admitting to texting while driving. Also, 41% of young drivers owned up to using hand-held phones compared with 30% of older drivers. Overall, men (50%) were... Continue reading ...
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Will Dracott
| A-Class Driving School |
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This blog is for everyone and anyone who has an interest in driving. We have all the latest from the DSA, High Way Code news, Motoring Headlines and Car Reviews. If you're a learner, motorist or driving instructor, we welcome your input in the topics we bring you.
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