Browsing Archive: July, 2012
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 31, 2012,
RENAULT is already planning next-generation battery technology in conjunction with the company that makes batteries for the Twizy. The French manufacturer, which by the end of this year will have a full range of ‘Z.E.’ electric vehicles (EVs) from the Twizy and supermini Zoe up to the Fluence compact family car and the Kangoo MPV, is planning a new factory in partnership with LG Chem, which also produces batteries for the Zoe. The French government is also involved through the CEA (Alternat... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 31, 2012,
London taxi drivers have brought forward a protest over a ban on using Olympic traffic lanes after police imposed restrictions on the demonstration. The drivers were due to start their protest at Hyde Park Corner at 5pm, just a few hours before the official opening of the Games, but it will now be held at 2pm. The cabbies have already held two demonstrations, including one which brought traffic to a halt outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. They argue that they should be able to use ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 30, 2012,
THE STRENGTHENING of the pound against the euro is giving Britons driving abroad more petrol pump power. Those holidaying on European roads are saving an average of 4.2p a litre on petrol and 21p a litre on diesel compared to costs at home, a survey by the AA showed. The weaker euro is providing UK drivers on continental breaks a level of fuel saving last seen in 2008, with petrol now an average of nearly 6p a litre cheaper than in July last year. The biggest savings come from driving in France,... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 30, 2012,
In :
Car reviews
THE SEAT Exeo is now available under the Ecomotive umbrella, with up to 62.8mpg and 117g/km CO2 emissions. Two Ecomotive models have been announced, with the same efficiency stats but different power outputs. Both the 141bhp and the 118bhp versions are available in estate (ST) and saloon body styles, with the full range of trim choices. For the first time the car drops into road tax (VED) band C, attracting just £30 per year road tax under current rules. A number of additions including stop-sta... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 29, 2012,
VOLKSWAGEN has announced two new engines for the Beetle range, one of which brings special equipment and chassis technology with it. A 2.0-litre 138bhp TDI, available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed DSG automatic, gives the Bug potential for mid-50s miles per gallon, while achieving the 0-62mph dash in a conservative claim of 9.5 seconds. The second engine is a 197bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI petrol, which is yours with the same choice of gearboxes, but not the same choi... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 29, 2012,
Japanese cars are the most reliable, according to a survey. Honda, Toyota and Lexus cars took the first three places in a used car reliability table compiled by warranty supply company Warranty Direct and What Car?. Based on cars between three and 10 years old, the survey showed that Hondas have only a 10% chance of breaking down in any given 12-month period. The rate for Toyota was 17% and for Lexus 18%, with Japanese models dominating the top 10 in the reliability table. In contrast, Land Rover... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 28, 2012,
THE FIRST day of Olympics-only traffic Games Lanes caused congestion for rush-hour drivers today. There were jams on a number of roads including the A4 and A40 in west London, Hyde Park Corner and Euston Road. A total of 30 miles of Games Lanes have been introduced as part of the 109-mile Olympic Route Network (ORN) around London. The lanes, in operation from 6am to midnight throughout the Olympics, run alongside existing lanes and are clearly marked. Any "ordinary" motorist going into the Games ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 28, 2012,
KIA IS to unveil its new Carens at the Paris Motor Show in September, and has released a design teaser to hint at it car’s finished look. The Korean firm says the new model will have “a completely fresh, sleek, cab-forward design, lower roofline, longer wheelbase, larger wheels and chrome beltline accent,” having been penned around the idea of ‘dynamic space’. “The new Carens will combine striking looks with spacious functionality and an emotional appeal that has become a standard f... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 27, 2012,
THE NEW Mazda 6 is to make its first public appearance at the Moscow Motor Show at the end of August. The model is the second to embody the company’s new Kodo (Soul of Motion) design theme, and it will adopt Mazda’s full range of Skyactiv fuel-saving advances. Skyactiv represents Mazda’s desire to develop the efficiency of internal combustion as far as physically possible before turning to electric propulsion systems or other alternative power sources. As the firm’s new flagship model, t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 27, 2012,
JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) is to create more than 1,100 new jobs, it was announced today.Jaguar Land Rover is expanding further, thanks to well-received new models like the XF Sportbrake (Picture: PA … The expansion of the workforce at its Castle Bromwich plant in the West Midlands will support the launch of new Jaguar models, including the XF Sportbrake. Business Secretary Vince Cable hailed the expansion as "fantastic news for Castle Bromwich, while JLR said this was "a very exciting time for ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 26, 2012,
MOTORISTS faced long queues on routes where pre-Olympics modifications have been made to road layouts in London. There were delays of up to an hour on the A13 between the Canning Town Flyover and the A1261 East India Dock Link Tunnel junction in east London. There were also jams on the A12 southbound in Leyton in east London while there were 45-minute hold-ups on the A40 Western Avenue in west London. The delays were less severe at these spots than they had been on Monday, suggesting that driver... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 26, 2012,
DRIVERS want much tougher penalties to be applied to people caught drink-driving, according to a survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Four out of five think cars whose drivers persistently reoffend this way should be seized and sold or crushed. Around half also think the same should happen to drivers who are several times over the limit. The survey, carried out via the organisation’s website, also revealed that 60% support a reduction in the drink-drive limit to put it in line... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 25, 2012,
FIAT is to update the 500 range with six bold new colours, revised interior trim, new wheels and a neater aerial design. The order books are open now for the new Countrypolitan Yellow (pictured) and New Age Cream solid finishes, and Groove Metal Grey, Epic Blue, Chillout Purple and Idol Pink metallics. Inside, a Chocolate Brown/Ivory fabric colour pairing joins a grey/black option. Two-tone leather trim choices will be made available by the end of the year for the 2013 model. A new 15-inch alloy... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 25, 2012,
TOMTOM sat-nav users in London will have help in avoiding the worst of the Olympic Games disruption following an extension of the company’s Map Share service. The company has created a ‘map task force’ to process map changes related to temporary road closures, changes in traffic flow and additional turn restrictions as they happen across the capital. TomTom will make these dynamic map changes available to its customers via Map Share on a daily basis, free of charge. TomTom has worked close... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 24, 2012,
The F40 was the first production car capable of 200mph when it was launched in 1987. And to celebrate the iconic machine's 25th birthday, 60 owners from around the world descended on Silverstone for an anniversary parade. Nigel Chiltern-Hunt, who spent two-years organising the event, arrived in the 1990 Ferrari F40 he has owned for ten years. He said: "We set the previous record in 2007 when 44 owners arrived in their F40s but 60 is amazing. "Owners travelled from as far as Switzerland, Sweden an... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 24, 2012,
The DSA has published a new video explaining how to prepare for the theory test, what to expect on the day and what you need to do to pass. The new video for car and motorcycle theory tests explains: what the ‘source material’ for the test is that the revision questions in learning materials aren’t the the actual questions in the test how the multiple-choice and hazard perception parts work and what the pass marks are for each part Watch the video Put the video on your website You can put ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 24, 2012,
The Stationery Office (TSO) is offering the Official Highway Code iPhone app at £2.99 for this week only. The app, which usually costs £3.99, is for all road users. Features Here are 6 reasons to get the app: Read – read and search the complete contents of The Official Highway Code Learn – track your progress as you read, and check what you’ve learnt with a quick test at the end of each section Traffic signs – browse signs or use the interactive sign matcher to find signs and road mar... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 23, 2012,
In :
Learning
YOUNG drivers are most at risk of crashing in the first few months after passing their test, according to an AA/Populus survey.
Of drivers who have had an accident, 23% of 18 to 24-year-olds crashed within six months of passing their test.
The survey, of more than 14,000 drivers who have had a car crash,
formed the basis of a report from the AA Charitable Trust and the Make
Roads Safe campaign.
Entitled Young Drivers at Risk, the report was launched today by former motor racing champion Nig...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 22, 2012,
WHILE Britain welcomes Olympics arrivals, around two million people will be heading abroad at the start of the school holidays this weekend. And for those taking breaks in the UK, there was a promise of better weather, with conditions expected to be warmer, drier and sunnier. The AA warned that major road routes were likely to be busy from mid-afternoon today. Those staying at home, who have had to endure one of the UK's coldest, wettest and dullest summers ever, can at least look forward to som... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 22, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
LAST month's Jubilee double bank holiday put the brake on car production, official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed today. A total of 119,193 cars were manufactured in the UK in June 2012 - a 0.7% dip on the June 2011 figure. Commercial vehicle (CV) production last month was also affected by the June 4 and 5 bank holidays, dropping 19.7% to 8,367 vehicles. Engine production in June 2012 also fell - going down 15.1% to 203,188. Despite the slight fall last ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 21, 2012,
In :
Motoring news
The price of petrol at the pumps is rising again after weeks of falls. The average cost of a litre of petrol is now 132.18p, with diesel at 137.26p, the AA said. Average petrol prices peaked at 142.48p a litre in mid-April and were as low as 130.81p at the beginning of this month, before going up again. But the AA said that had the fall in the north west European wholesale price of petrol been fully passed on to consumers, motorists would have been paying even less for fuel than they were at the... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 21, 2012,
THE GOVERNMENT needs "stronger leadership and a clearer vision" on road safety, a report by MPs said today. Ministers should provide an explanation for the increase in road deaths recorded last year, the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee said. This was the first annual increase since 2003 and the Government should give reassurances "that this does not mark the beginning of a worrying trend in road deaths", the report added. The committee said road accidents were the leading ca... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 20, 2012,
LONDON taxi drivers brought Westminster to a standstill today in a protest over their ban from dedicated Olympics traffic lanes. More than 200 black cabs arrived in Parliament Square just before 2pm blaring their horns to tourists' bemusement. Their demonstration is targeted at Games' organisers who developed the so-called Zil lanes available only to Olympics officials, athletes and other approved vehicles. Jonathan Myers, of the United Cabbies group union, said: "There will be no access to thes... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 20, 2012,
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It's essential reading for everyone. Here's a reminder about lines and lane markings on the road. Rule 128 Double white lines where the line nearest to you is broken. This means you may cross the lines to overtake if it is safe, provided you can complete the manoeuvre before reaching a solid white line on your side. White direction arrows on the road indicate that you need to get back onto your side of the road. Rule 129 Double white lines... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 19, 2012,
F YOU think learning to drive in Britain is tough, thank your lucky stars you don’t have to learn in Colombia. The South American country has one of the most stringent and lengthy driving test processes in the world, according to research conducted by RED Driving School. RED looked at the three most populous countries, or states in North America, on each of the world’s inhabited continents. Their driving test was then compared to the UK’s to see if it was easier or harder. Surprisingly for... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 19, 2012,
THE FIRST of the Olympic Games Lanes has come into operation - on the M4, which has only just reopened following repairs. Delays caused by accidents on the M4 in Berkshire affected traffic heading towards the Games Lane in west London. But a Highways Agency spokesman denied reports that there had been "32-mile queues". He went on: "The delays were a long way from west London and traffic in the area of the Games Lane was no worse than it is on any normal Monday morning." There were fears that wor... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 18, 2012,
SEAT has released pictures of the all-new Leon, which the company hopes will take the fight to its fast-advancing rivals. At 5cm shorter than the outgoing model but with a wheelbase almost 6cm longer, the wheels are noticeably closer to the corners of the car to provide a more purposeful stance. The architecture is the Volkswagen Group’s lightweight MQB platform. It shares the frontal design of the reshaped Ibiza that was released some moths ago, but the Seat badge is new and the third-genera... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 18, 2012,
COMEDIAN Steve Coogan, from Brighton, will stand trial over a speeding charge which could see him banned from the road. The 46-year-old is accused of failing to tell police who was driving his car when it was caught doing more than 30mph in Kingsway, Hove, East Sussex, on October 12 last year. In May, Coogan, who lives in Ovingdean, entered not guilty pleas through his solicitor Andrew Bishop to speeding and failing to notify police who was driving his Range Rover. If convicted, he could receive... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 18, 2012,
ALMOST three in four motorists have run into difficulty driving abroad, according to a survey. As many as 16% have driven on the wrong side of the road while on a foreign trip, the poll by insurance company Aviva found. And 5% have had an accident either driving overseas or while on a holiday in the UK. Based on responses from 1,000 drivers intending to drive in the UK or abroad this summer, the survey also revealed that 28% have misread or misunderstood foreign road signs. The biggest concern fo... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 17, 2012,
THE ALFA Romeo MiTo is now available with the two-cylinder TwinAir engine first seen in the Fiat 500. The turbocharged 875cc engine has been added to the range as a town-biased powerplant option, with up to 67.3mpg and 98g/km of CO2 emissions. It’s the first in a series of forthcoming two-cylinder petrol engines that the Fiat Group will unveil over the coming months. With up to 25% more torque than the MiTo’s existing petrols, the TwinAir promises more oomph around town, along with a more ch... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 17, 2012,
The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. It's essential reading for everyone. Here's a reminder about rules for cyclists. Rule 67 You should look all around before moving away from the kerb, turning or manoeuvring, to make sure it is safe to do so. Give a clear signal to show other road users what you intend to do (see 'Signals to other road users') look well ahead for obstructions in the road, such as drains, pot-holes and parked vehicles so that you do not have to swerve suddenl... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 16, 2012,
THE number of motorists driving with defective tyres remains at a dangerous and worrying level. That’s the warning from TyreSafe, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of correct tyre maintenance, following figures recently released by the Ministry of Justice. The statistics reveal that the number of people successfully convicted in England and Wales in 2011 at a Magistrates court for driving with dangerous or defective tyres was 9,639. According to... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 16, 2012,
THE M4 motorway in west London has remained closed with officials admitting delayed repair works on a damaged flyover could continue into the weekend. The works, which are taking place on the Boston Manor Viaduct, just west of M4 junction two, were due to be completed on Thursday morning. But the Highways Agency said the final repairs had reached a "critical stage" and "due to the complexity of the operation more time than originally envisaged is required to complete the work safely". It said th... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 15, 2012,
GOV.UK is a trial of a new home for government information and services - content and tools for approved driving instructors (ADIs) have now been added to it. GOV.UK is designed to make things simpler, clearer and faster for you. It's designed to meet your needs. In some cases there are text-based guides to explain how a test works, eg the ADI check test. Sometimes you just need to get to the answer quickly, eg find out ADI fees – GOV.UK will help you to do that. There’s also a tool to he... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 15, 2012,
Updated speed limit guidance to help local authorities improve safety on their roads has been published for consultation by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning. The guidance provides up-to-date advice to aid greater consistency of speed limits on local roads across England. It incorporates recent changes that have increased flexibility for local authorities to implement 20mph limits and zones where it can be shown that they benefit road safety and quality of life. It also gives authorities more ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 14, 2012,
Congratulations to Eva for passing yesterday at Southmead test centre with just 5 minors. Well done Eva, see you on the road. Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 14, 2012,
Wheel clamping without lawful authority will be banned in England and Wales from 1 October 2012, with anyone breaking the law facing criminal charges and a fine. Ban on wheel clamping without lawful authority Once the ban comes into force on 1 October 2012, it will be illegal to clamp, tow away or immobilise a vehicle without lawful authority to do so. Anyone who breaks the law will face criminal charges and a fine if convicted. In effect, this will ban most clamping and towing by anyone other ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 13, 2012,
ROADS in England are in a "shocking" state, with almost a third needing repairs, according to a new study. The GMB union said the Isle of Wight had the worst roads, with over half in need of attention, followed by those in North Lincolnshire, the City of London and Nottingham. Around 5% of roads in England had shown "considerable deterioration" in the past year, the union said. National officer Brian Strutton said: "It is clear from the official data that our roads are in a shocking state with ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 13, 2012,
The DSA is urging all driving test candidates booked to take a test on the afternoon of Friday 13 July to attend as usual, despite the potential for strike action by driving examiners who are members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union. The DSA’s chief executive Rosemary Thew said: “Not all examiners are members of the PCS union and even if they are, we can’t be sure that they’ll support the strike. So we’re asking candidates to come for their test as normal so it can ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 12, 2012,
MORE THAN half of fathers said they were sleep-deprived when they drove their newborn baby home and a third said they had not felt safe, according to a new survey. Almost six out of 10 (58%) of new fathers said they had slept for fewer than five hours in the 48 hours before driving their baby home. A further one in 10 said they had slept for an hour or less. More than a third (36%) of fathers admitted they did not feel safe driving the baby home and a quarter (26%) said they could not even reme... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 12, 2012,
WELL-OFF motorists tend to drive around in dirtier cars, according to an AA/Populus survey. Only 6% of car owners from professional and managerial backgrounds wash their vehicle once a week, compared with 8.5% for lower-income owners. The gap widens among those who clean their car twice a week, with 16% of lower-income owners washing their vehicle fortnightly, but only 11.5% of wealthier owners doing so. A total of 3% of the 18,080 AA members surveyed washed their car once a year or not at all. ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 11, 2012,
MOTORISTS are still having to contend with thousands of speed camera sites despite funding cutbacks. There are actually more fixed speed camera sites in England now than there were in 2010, according to statistics gathered by the RAC Foundation from a Freedom of Information request. But the number of cameras that actually take pictures has fallen from 529 in 2010 to 487 in 2012. Of the 32 administrative bodies that used fixed speed cameras and who responded to the request, 10 said they had made... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 11, 2012,
Driving tests could soon be available from branches of Halfords under plans announced today (10 July) by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning. As well as using traditional driving test centres, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is looking at working with public and private sector partners to provide driving test premises in selected areas that don’t already have a local test centre. New approach to test delivery The DSA has selected Halfords plc as a preferred partner, and is also exploring par... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 10, 2012,
THE M4 motorway in west London has been reopened in both directions between junctions 1 and 2, the Highways Agency said. The motorway, which is the main route from London to Heathrow Airport and the West of England, was closed between junctions 1 and 3 on Friday night for ongoing repair works to the Boston Manor Viaduct, just west of M4 junction 2. The motorway remains shut in both directions between junctions 2 and 3, and is expected to be closed for the next three days. Drivers travelling into... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 10, 2012,
BMW is to invest a further £250 million in its three Mini factories in the UK, safeguarding thousands of jobs, the firm announced today. The money will be invested in manufacturing operations by the end of 2015 at the German car maker's plant in Oxford, steel body pressings operation at Swindon and engine plant at Hams Hall near Birmingham. The company also announced further volume growth with up to 10 different Mini models, with the potential for additional production capacity at Oxford. Today... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 9, 2012,
This is the moment 24 classic Ferraris worth an estimated £500million assembled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the world's most expensive car. The legendary Ferrari 250 GTO is the most sought after sports car with one model recently selling for a record-breaking £22.4million. And to mark its 50th birthday 24 wealthy owners from across the globe assembled in France for an exclusive party. As part of the five-day tour, the enthusiasts drove the iconic Gueux racing circuit in Reims before v... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 9, 2012,
ENTRY to the Nissan PlayStation GT Academy 2012 qualifying closed last week after more than 830,000 people from the participating European countries had downloaded and played the online qualifying demo. The demo, based on the hugely popular Gran Turismo 5 game for PlayStation 3, attracted the most entries from the UK (over 161,000) closely followed by France and Spain. The qualifying demo made use of an array of virtual Nissan cars on a variety of circuits before culminating in a one lap time ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 8, 2012,
HONDA'S Jazz supermini is now available in limited edition Si form, bringing a dash of sportiness to the range. Based on the 1.4 ES model, the Si adds sportier front and rear bumpers, side skirts and unique 16-inch alloy wheels. Privacy glass and front fog lights are also standard, with a discreet 'Si' badge on the bootlid. The Si is more than just about looks however, as it gains new dampers and a larger front anti-roll bar for greater stability and reduced body roll. The power steering system... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 8, 2012,
MORE THAN a third of young people have admitted to driving home from a festival when they knew it was not safe to do so, a survey has found. The survey, commissioned by National Express, revealed that 38% of festival-goers aged 18-34 had driven despite knowing it was dangerous because they had drunk too much, slept too little or had too many people in the car. One in 10 admitted driving while unfit because of alcohol. The survey also found that 14% of festival-goers would be willing to travel w... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 7, 2012,
NEW CAR sales rose again last month, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show. There were 189,514 new registrations in June 2012 - a 3.49% increase on the June 2011 total. Last month's purchases took year-so-far sales to 1,057,680 - a 2.72% rise on January-June 2011. Private sales did well last month, rising 9.8% compared with June 2011, and are up 8.7% for the first half of this year. Total new car sales for the April-June 2012 period have risen 4.8% and the SMMT r... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Saturday, July 7, 2012,
VOLKSWAGEN has said it is on track to finalise the full takeover of sports car manufacturer Porsche by the end of the month. The German car firm said Porsche AG would become another fully-integrated brand of the Volkswagen group as of August 1st. The Wolfsburg-based group, Europe's biggest car maker, includes brands such as Audi, Volkswagen, Seat, Bugatti, Bentley and truck makers MAN and Scania. The deal is also set to restructure the companies' complicated ownership ties. Volkswagen says the mi... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 6, 2012,
A FORMULA One test driver has been seriously injured in a testing accident in Cambridgeshire ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix. The driver involved is thought to be Marussia's Maria De Villota, who was undergoing testing at Duxford Airfield this morning. Cambridgeshire Police said they were called to the airfield, home of the Duxford Imperial War Museum, at 9.26am to reports of a crash between a Formula One-style car and a lorry. Gary Sanderson, spokesman for the East of England Ambulan... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Friday, July 6, 2012,
FORMER world champion racing driver Damon Hill has spoken out against Government proposals to increase the motorway speed limit to 80mph. Hill, who won 22 Grand Prix and a Formula One world championship, said that he hardly ever drives above 70mph because "it's too stressful". The Government is consulting on raising the speed limit from 70mph to 80mph on English and Welsh motorways. Hill, who retired in 1999, told the Radio Times: "Most people aren't safe to drive over 55. "Honestly, the speed li... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 5, 2012,
THE TURNOVER from UK motor industry manufacturing rose last year, with record levels expected to be reached by 2015, it was announced today. Automotive manufacturing turnover for 2011 was £55 billion - a 12% increase on 2010, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Combined car and commercial vehicle production last year reached 1.46 million which was a 5.1% rise on the 2010 total. The SMMT said today that independent forecasts suggested the figure could reach an all-time hi... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Thursday, July 5, 2012,
BUYERS can now choose smaller wheels on Citroen’s high-end DS5 models as a no-cost option, or choose one of two new styling option packs. Fleet buyers in particular have been very keen on being able to specify the DS5 with the smaller wheels in order to chop 8g/km of CO2 off the emissions statistics and 2% off the Benefit in Kind tax rate, as well as dropping the high-spec Hybrid4 diesel-electric hybrid models below the 100g/km threshold for free road tax. Previously, only the entry-level Hyb... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 4, 2012,
FOREIGN road signs are causing British drivers headaches and yet many still don’t do any research before setting off for the Continent. Research collected by Confused.com shows that 30% of people who have driven abroad claim to have had their trip ruined by getting lost, with 17% unable to decipher bizarre road signs. There seems to be little respite in technology either, with one in ten sat-navs having let Brits abroad down, failing to plan an accurate route through the road network. However,... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Wednesday, July 4, 2012,
MORE than half of British drivers would prefer the UK to switch to left-hand-drive, according to a survey released today. Confusion with foreign road rules, and even accidentally driving on the wrong side of the road, is causing UK motorists too many problems according to the data released by insurance comparison website Confused.com. Almost three quarters of survey respondents (73%) said they ‘dread’ driving abroad because of the potential confusion of local road signage and driving on the... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 3, 2012,
MANY young motorists suffer "driving dread" with some never having parked their own car or used a motorway, according to a survey. A total of 5% of 18-24 year old drivers are so unconfident they plan their route to avoid right turns at major junctions, the poll by The Co-operative insurance company found. Snow and ice on the roads was the top "dread" for young drivers, followed by fear of travelling on unfamiliar routes. Based on responses from 1,500 fully-licensed drivers aged 18 to 24, the sur... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Tuesday, July 3, 2012,
NEW MOTORING laws have come into force in France making it compulsory for drivers to carry breathalyser kits in their vehicles. As of July 1, motorists and motorcyclists will face an on-the-spot fine unless they travel with two single-use devices as part of a government drive to reduce the number of drink-drive related deaths. The new regulations, which excludes mopeds, will be fully enforced and include foreigner drivers from November 1 following a four-month period of grace. Anyone failing to... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 2, 2012,
SILVERSTONE is offering its ‘Thrill’ driving experiences for a special price of £60 as part of National Motorsport Week -up to 50% off the normal price. Provided drivers fall within the rules for maximum height and weight, they can pick a drive at the reduced rate in cars from Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lotus, Mercedes, Audi and Nissan. Drivers will get a full safety briefing before heading out on track in their chosen car, and since the normal price for the three-lap driving experiences can b... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Monday, July 2, 2012,
MORE THAN 66% of people have seen a dog locked in a car on a sunny day yet over a third did nothing about it, according to a survey. The Dogs Trust, which carried out the study, has joined forces with the AA and the National Trust to target motorists and visitors with a new campaign warning that "Hot Cars Can Kill Dogs". Over the last year AA patrols have rescued 832 pets locked in cars and in recent years there have been several high-profile cases of dog deaths. Dogs Trust veterinary director P... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 1, 2012,
PRICES and special offers have been confirmed for the updated Fiat Punto, with higher levels of standard spec and a four-figure price drop. Easy, GBT and TwinAir versions have been reduced by £1,000 and the new Brio pack is standard fit. It includes rear parking sensors, adaptive cornering fog lights, cruise control, climate control and voice-operated Blue & Me connectivity – basically encompassing the Punto’s most popular options. The offers mean a Punto Easy is available on a PCP scheme ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Will Dracott on Sunday, July 1, 2012,
THE NUMBER of people killed on the roads rose last year for the first time since 2003. There were 1,901 people killed in British road accidents reported to the police - a 3% increase on 2010. The number of deaths and serious injuries last year reached 25,023 - 2% up on 2010 and the first increase in those killed or seriously injured (KSI) since 1994. Safety groups and motoring organisation expressed disappointment at the figures. The total number of casualties (slight injuries, serious injuries a... Continue reading ...
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Will Dracott
| A-Class Driving School |
| Bristol |
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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