Browsing Archive: January, 2012
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 31, 2012,
Motorists face a huge hike in speeding fines to as much as £100 to help fill a funding gap for victims of crime, Kenneth Clarke has disclosed. Kenneth Clarke hopes the expansion of the surcharge scheme will raise an extra £50 million a year Drivers could see standard £60 fines increase by almost 70 per cent, even though there is no direct victim in many motoring offences. Those who go to court to challenge speeding tickets or for more serious driving offences could pay up to £120 in to... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 31, 2012,
Ford’s ultra-efficient 1.0-litre Focus goes on sale next month, priced from £16,245. Ford will take the concept of downsizing to a new level next month when it launches a new 1.0-litre version of the Focus family hatchback. The 123bhp, three-cylinder petrol engine has been developed at Ford’s Dunton and Dagenham plants and uses a combination of direct fuel injection and a turbocharger to offer the performance of a 1.6-litre unit with the economy and cost benefits of a 1.0-litre. Ford... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 30, 2012,
It is a cliché almost as old as the motor car itself, and the subject of many a sexist joke. But the idea that women cannot park is simply untrue, according to research indicating that female drivers are more adept than men at manoeuvring into a space. Covert surveillance of car parks across Britain has shown that while women may take longer to park, they are more likely to leave their vehicles in the middle of a bay. The study is one of the most comprehensive ever conducted on gender dr... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 30, 2012,
ONLY NINE out of the 31 car brands available in Europe are on course to achieve 2012 EU average emissions targets of 130g/km, but it’s unlikely that the other 22 will be fined. Several loopholes mean that the often-quoted target figure actually means very little. Firstly, for this year only the least-polluting 65% of a manufacturer’s cars will be taken into account against the 130g/km target. The full range will be included from 2015. Secondly, manufacturers of ‘heavy’ cars, like Merced... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 29, 2012,
COUNCILS will be able to charge utility companies up to £2,500 per day to dig up the busiest roads, according to plans announced today by Transport Minister Norman Baker. The move is meant to encourage utility companies to either complete their works more quickly or to carry them out at off-peak times when the charges would not apply, including, where appropriate, overnight. The Department for Transport has put into place a set of guidelines for local councils to act upon if they want to impos... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 29, 2012,
AN 85-year-old woman had a lucky escape today after driving down a high-speed railway line for 80 yards after taking a wrong turn at a level crossing. The woman had a 20-year-old man in her car as she drove towards Brockenhurst station in Hampshire's New Forest. She turned on to the main line between Bournemouth and London Waterloo and drove for 80 yards on the tracks before her car came to a halt. A British Transport Police spokesman said: "BTP and Hampshire Police officers attended the line ne... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 28, 2012,
Lower insurance for young drivers Meghan Standeven's premium is reduced each month as her careful driving is scrutinised As I check my mirrors and release the handbrake, I'm conscious that I need to pull out of the parking space carefully and smoothly. I'm being spied on, you see. There's a little gadget hidden in my car that's capturing live data on my every move – every turn of the steering wheel and change of gear – and sending it to a third party to be evaluated. It's all very B... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 28, 2012,
The famous sports car maker is entering two cars in this year's British Touring Car Championship. The competition cars are based on the MG6 GT, the first all-new MG in 16 years MG Motor UK has announced that it will enter the 2012 British Touring Car Championship, the premier domestic racing series. A brace of MG6 GT cars will run in the all-new MG KX Momentum Racing team, driven by double BTCC champion Jason Plato and rising star Andy Neate. The cars will be prepared by Triple Eight Race... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 27, 2012,
MOTORISTS with a fondness for our Great British fish and chips will have the chance to buy their perfect number plate on Wednesday February 1. ‘CH11 PPY’ is one of many personalised registrations being auctioned by the DVLA next week, and will surely draw interest from chip shop magnates, if they exist. Otherwise a person with a taste for traditional fast food might snap it up at its reserve of £1,500. There will also be ‘TOW 111E’ for fans of the TV show The Only Way Is Essex, with a ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 27, 2012,
ALL FOREIGN lorry drivers could be charged as much as £10 per day to use Britain's roads, under new Government proposals revealed today. The move is designed to ensure foreign haulage companies, which currently use the UK road network for free, contribute to maintenance costs as well as British taxpayers and businesses. It is also hoped the planned system of HGV road charging will boost competitiveness for UK hauliers, who will be charged the daily fee but allowed to claim it back. Britain is c... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 26, 2012,
THE DRIVING theory test will pose more of a challenge from today because of changes designed to prevent candidates learning answers by heart. The change will mean that learner drivers will not be able to study and memorise answers from pre-published official study material. These changes come as the AA publishes a survey which reveals that one in four drivers do not know who has priority when traffic lights are not working. The AA/Populus poll of 11,361 drivers showed that 23% thought traffic g... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 26, 2012,
AN AMAZING collection of classic collectors’ cars are set to go under the hammer, some over 100 years old and others with celebrity connections. The Artcurial Motorcars auction in Paris is headlined by a stunning Ferrari 250 GT California that was bought new by Roger Vadim, the celebrated French screen writer, director, producer and actor, and the man who discovered (and later married) Brigitte Bardot. Apparently in immaculate condition, the California is the very stuff that St Tropez is made... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 25, 2012,
SAFETY campaigners said today that warnings over drink-driving were failing as new figures showed young drivers are still the worst offenders. More than 7,200 people were arrested during the Christmas and New Year crackdown, the Association of Chief Police Officers said. About 157,000 drivers were stopped and tested over that same time in England and Wales. Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), said it was worrying that young drivers continue to have a higher rate of offendin... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 25, 2012,
MORE THAN three quarters of motorists are loyal to one garage for their servicing and maintenance, and almost a third would never swap even if another garage was cheaper. The research by Kwik Fit was intended to discover whether price was more important than quality of service. It showed that in different parts of the country, drivers showed varying levels of loyalty to any single garage. On average, 78% said they were loyal to one garage, with 30% saying they wouldn’t change at any cost. Almo... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 24, 2012,
THE TYPICAL comprehensive car insurance quote for a consumer who shops around has risen by £50 in just three months as cheaper deals are disappearing, the AA warned today. The "shop around" price for annual comprehensive cover stands at £971.40, a 5.4% increase from £921.38 in October 2011, according to the body's British Insurance Premium Index. The figure takes the average of the three cheapest quotes from a range of insurers, brokers and schemes represents a 15.3% increase on a year ago. B... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 24, 2012,
THE NUMBER of cars built in the UK increased by 5.8% to more than 1.3 million last year, with record exports driving the growth, new figures showed today. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said engine production also rose, by 4.9% to 2.5 million, despite a "modest" fall in December. Chief executive Paul Everitt said: "In 2011, vehicle manufacturers renewed their commitment to the UK, securing new model programmes, facilities and jobs for the long term. "It is essential that ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 23, 2012,
A PROJECT to ensure the UK is well-positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles was launched by the Government today. The new programme - UKH2Mobility - brings together three Government departments and industrial participants from the utility, gas, infrastructure and global car manufacturing sectors. The group will evaluate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for ultra-low carbon vehicles in the UK before developing an action plan for an anticipated roll-out t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 23, 2012,
THE OPENING of the Olympic Games and the summer holiday getaway could create "the perfect traffic storm", a roads' information company said today. Londoners will face increased traffic congestion of 33% during the Games, predicted the Inrix company. Traffic on main routes will slow to just 12mph in late July and early August.It said the first three days of the Olympics posed the greatest risk of traffic troubles. But Transport for London (TfL) dismissed Inrix's findings as "without foundation" a... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 22, 2012,
Two Welsh motorists are refusing to pay parking fines because the tickets issued by a private contractor were written only in English. Noel Jones is a resident of Gwynned, where 67 per cent of the population are Welsh speaking Photo: CASCADE NEWS Noel Jones, 54, and his daughter, Bethan, 26, were both issued with “parking charge notices” for using a car park in Penrhyndeudraeth, on the edge of the Snowdownia National Park. The tickets were issued by Flashpark, a London-based company, wh... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 22, 2012,
Following ongoing public objections, planned late-night and weekend parking charges are to be quashed. Westminster Council had claimed the charges would ease congestion in the area. Photo: Alamy Colin Barrow, the outgoing leader of Westminster Council who announced last week that he would be quitting the post, will today ask the Chief Executive of Westminster Council to prepare a report rescinding the proposed introduction of evening and weekend parking charges, a council spokesperson said.... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 21, 2012,
Motorists face police tests to assess whether they have taken illegal drugs under plans for a new law against “drug driving”. David Cameron is taking a “personal interest” in the reforms, which safety campaigners believe will make it far easier to prosecute drivers who are found to be under the influence of illegal substances. A new offence of “drug driving” is likely to be included in a Justice Bill which is expected to be announced in the Queen’s Speech in the spring, Downi... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 21, 2012,
British sports car maker Lotus could be sold after a new owner took control of its Malaysian parent company. Struggling Proton acquired Lotus in 1996 but the British car company has failed to make a profit. Conglomerate DRB-Hicom Berhad said it is "open to options" about the future of Norfolk-based Lotus after investing in parent company Proton. DRB-Hicom has paid $400m (£260m) for a 43pc stake in Proton. The stake was previously held by Malaysia's state investment arm, which is scaling b... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 20, 2012,
The BBC is refusing to apologise for broadcasting a Top Gear special over Christmas which was widely criticised for offending India. Clarkson said the Isle of Sheppey was a caravan site whose residents had arrived illegally Photo: PA Top Gear bosses rejected claims that the show’s India special was insulting - and said it was instead a “warts and all” portrayal of the country. The Daily Telegraph disclosed last week how the Indian High Commission had formally complained about the prog... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 20, 2012,
Alexei Sayle tries out the new electric Citroën C-Zero, and tests his own ability to keep it running . While the car may have been an enjoyable drive, it's the charging that caused Alexei Sayle the biggest problems Photo: MARTIN POPE On the kerb outside my front door there is a big, square, black-painted box. It is a machine that issues tickets for the pay and display parking spaces situated on both sides of the road. When I look out on to the street I am constantly amazed by the number an... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 19, 2012,
NEARLY 30,000 Minis are to be recalled in Britain after makers detected an electrical fault which could lead cars to catch fire. German car maker BMW said the recall concerns 235,000 vehicles worldwide. Safety checks revealed a problem which can cause the water pump to fail, potentially causing the car to overheat. Manufacturers are investigating one case in Britain where a fire is being linked to the water pump, a spokesman said.The recall relates to two models - the Mini Cooper S and the Mini ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 19, 2012,
BMW IS to complete the engine line-up for the 1 Series five-door hatchback, with three new powerplants arriving within months. The 116d EfficientDynamics will be BMW’s most efficient model ever, dipping to the magic 99g/km marker and achieving 74.3mpg in EU tests. The engine is a 1.6-litre turbodiesel that allows the car to reach 62mph in 10.5 seconds. All the stops have been pulled out to make the new 116d EfficientDynamics as frugal as possible. Low rolling resistance tyres, taller gearing ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 18, 2012,
Congratulations to Jack for passing first time yesterday over at Southmead driving test centre. Jack passed with just 5 minors. That's two passes this week and a 100% pass rate in 2012 for A-Class Driving School. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 18, 2012,
Congratulations to Adam for passing his driving test with Dave yesterday. See you on the road! Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 17, 2012,
The winner of this year's European GT Academy has gone from playing computer games to scoring a podium at one of the world's toughest 24-hour races.
ONE OF the replica 1967 ‘Eleanor’ Mustang GT500s used in the 2000 film Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicholas Cage is to be auctioned at the Autosport International show in Birmingham, complete with nitrous oxide ‘GO BABY GO’ button.
The auction will take place on Saturday January 14, courtesy of COYS auctioneers, with Eleanor expected to reach around £100,000. The car, in reali...
Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 12, 2012,
GENERAL MOTORS has announced a series of enhancements to the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in the Chevrolet Volt to further protect the battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash.
The improvements have been made as a response to findings from the US-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
NHTSA opened a Preliminary Evaluation on November 25, 2011 following a s...
Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 11, 2012,
Red Bull leads celebration of a new Formula One season at Autosport International show.
Fresh from retaining the F1 world titles for drivers and manufacturers last
year, Red Bull Racing will be showing its championship-winning ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 11, 2012,
Plans to make MOTs every two years rather than annual will actually costs
motorists £57 in higher insurance and repair costs, motoring experts claim.
Up to 40,000 jobs will be lost, insurance premium...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 10, 2012,
Motorists are facing record diesel prices at the pumps after instability in
the Persian Gulf led to an unprecedented rise in wholesale costs.
The average price of diesel on UK forecourts hit 141p a litre over the
weekend.
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 10, 2012,
New car sales fell 4.4pc in the UK in 2011 as instability in
the eurozone and a squeeze on consumer spending shrank the market. This
also influenced the most sought after models. Here are the rankings of
the bestselling cars last month. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 9, 2012,
Increasing the motorway speed limit by 10mph will raise death rates, obesity
and asthma levels, outweighing the economic benefits, experts have warned.
An editorial in the British Medical Journal by researchers from the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine criticises government proposals to
raise the limit on all motorways in England and Wales from 70mph to 80mph by
2013.
The Government argues that deaths on roads... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 9, 2012,
With hard-pressed British commuters paying Europe's highest transport fares,
it's hard to fathom why the Government continues to push further increases,
writes Stephen Joseph, the Campaign for Better Transport’s chief executive.
... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 8, 2012,
PEUGEOT
has released details of its revised 107 city car, which in manual guise
now escapes road tax in the UK, and is congestion charge exempt.
The three-cylinder, 68bhp petrol engine has been updated with the
latest efficiency technology to allow it to dip below the threshold for
free road tax, and extra equipment has been added to the range.
The front end has been redesigned to make it more modern, stylish and
desirable. Three trim levels will be ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, January 8, 2012,
STRONG
winds returned to Britain today following a brief respite from storms
which resulted in two deaths and closures on many major transport
routes.
Gusts of up to 87mph were recorded at Capel Curig in Wales at 2am,
and speeds of between 50mph and 70mph are forecast throughout the
country.
North Yorkshire Police urged motorists last night to make only
essential journeys as the whole county experienced "severe" weathe...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 7, 2012,
DACIA
is set to release a new MPV to its line-up in the boxy and upright
shape of the Lodgy, which will premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in
five- and seven-seat versions.
The Renault-owned company specialises in simple, cheap vehicles that
allow people to buy new with the benefit a full manufacturer’s warranty,
as well as knowing that the parts used in Dacias are tried-and-tested
Renault bits, so they’re actually pretty reliable.
The Lodgy, der...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, January 7, 2012,
AFTER
apparent success on other parts of the motorway network, the Government
has confirmed that new parts of the M6 will be turned into ‘managed
motorway’.
The M6 is currently managed between junctions 10A and 8, and
junctions 5 and 4. The measures in place include active overhead
signage, hard shoulder running at peak times and variable speed limits.
The latest announcement confirms that the gap between the existing
managed zones will be plugged with simi...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 6, 2012,
Fans of fast cars should head to Birmingham's NEC on January 14-15.
Running alongside the annual Autosport International show for the racing
fraternity, the Performance Car
Show centres on rapid road-going machinery from...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, January 6, 2012,
Head along to the Goodwood Motor Circuit in 2012 for a tasty breakfast and the
chance to talk cars.
Goodwood's
2012 season will kick off on Sunday March 4 with the first of its popular
Breakfast Club meetings.
Combining a Sunday morning drive to Goodwood in West Suss... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 5, 2012,
Britain's crumbling roads can cost owners a fortune in damage repairs. Here are 10 cars that are least likely to suffer.
Honda cars are the most resilient to pothole damage, saving drivers hundreds
of pounds in repairs each year, according to research by Potholes.co.uk.
The road maintenance campaign website analysed about 150,000 poli... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, January 5, 2012,
Drivers have been urged not to take to the road with heavy colds as tests show
their reaction speeds are worse than people who have downed four large
whiskies.
Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 4, 2012,
Britain has moved a step closer to adopting continental time by putting clocks
ahead by an hour after the Government performed a u-turn to back a Bill
paving the way for the change.
Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, January 4, 2012,
Poland's ambassador to Germany on Monday rejected responsibility
for a spate of car thefts on the border between the two countries,
suggesting it was "perhaps" too easy to steal cars in Germany.
Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 3, 2012,
The average British car driver travelled 165 miles fewer in 2011 than in the
previous year because of rising petrol prices.
According to findings by petrol station trade body RMI Petrol ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, January 3, 2012,
Del Boy Trotter's favourite is also transport for engineers and company directors
It can't just be endless repeats of the Only Fools And Horses Christmas
special, but there's definitely something special about the enduring appeal
of Reliant three-wheelers.
A decade after Reliant ceased production, new research reveals that its
three-wheelers are as popular as ever and could ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 2, 2012,
Sports clubs, churches and voluntary groups face a £100 a day bill for driving
older minibuses anywhere in Greater London from next week when tough new
emission standards come into force throughout the capital.
Owners of horseboxes, motor caravans, removal lorries and “white van man” will
also be hit by the changes which will apply to commercial vehicles
registered before October 2006.
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, January 2, 2012,
Happy New Year from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).
If you're looking to grow and improve your business this year, take a look at these top tips to help you get started.
1. Register for DSA’s online ‘find your nearest driving instructor’ service
If
you’re already registered, check that your details are up-to-date - if
the wrong details are showing, potential customers won’t be able to
contact you.
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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