Drivers are putting their lives at risk – as well as those of their passengers and other road users – by not strapping their dogs into their cars. Experts say if a car crashes at a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph), an unrestrained dog can develop projection forces 40 times that of its weight. At higher speed it will be still greater, possibly injuring or killing the dog or a human it hits. A poll … [Read more...]
BMW drivers are UK’s worst, says insurer
GoCompare Car Insurance says BMW drivers are the worst in the UK. They are most likely to speed, run a red light or make an at-fault claim, according to data held by the insurer. A study by GoCompare Car Insurance has found that BMW drivers are the most likely to be convicted of an offence and cause a collision on the road. More than one in six BMW 4 series drivers (17.1%) have at least … [Read more...]
Newslines 27 November
Commuters face three weeks of travel chaos on Wales' rail network just weeks after it was taken over by Welsh Government's Transport for Wales. The effect of storms on ageing trains means an "unprecedented" third of the fleet of 127 are damaged, so many will not run or be replaced by buses and Transport for Wales said they are trying to "share the pain" by diverting trains from quieter to more … [Read more...]
Faulty brakes causing more accidents
Analysis of the latest Government data has revealed the number of road accidents caused by defective brakes. Kwik Fit, the UK’s largest independent automotive servicing and repair company, analysed the data which has just been published for the most recent full year, and in an indication that roads are getting safer, found that the overall number of road accidents fell by 7.1% between … [Read more...]
Call for Government to update all motoring law
Safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging a thorough and comprehensive review of road traffic offences to ensure consistency in dealing with all road users who flout the rules. The Government this week proposed a death by dangerous cycling law after 44-year-old mother-of-two Kim Briggs was knocked over and killed by a bicycle courier. GEM road safety officer Neil Worth … [Read more...]
Newslines 17 August
Jaguar Land Rover will add three new models over the next five years and gradually switch most of its vehicles to a new modular platform. The first model will be a new-generation Land Rover Defender, arriving in the 2020-21 financial year, JLR said in a June 22 presentation to investors and two more vehicles will be launched between 2021 and 2024, with reports of a new entry level Land Rover and … [Read more...]
Five simple ways to improve your driving safety
Schools are out, kids are out and families are out, so the last thought on most minds is they don't want to end up inside a hospital. With 37.9 million licensed vehicles on the roads in Great Britain, it’s important to take the time to make sure you’re driving safely and confidently. For National Road Victim Awareness Month, Euro Car Parts has put together a checklist of precautions to … [Read more...]
White van man is becoming a myth
IAM RoadSmart has discovered that the myth of ‘white van man’ recklessly tearing his way up and down the country may be just an urban myth after all. In spite of vans being the fastest growing type of vehicle on UK roads in terms of miles travelled, serious and fatal crashes involving them are falling. Vans and light good vehicles now travel 49 billion miles a year on our roads according to the … [Read more...]
Driver training overlooked in new EU safety plan
A new package of EU transport proposals misses enhancements to driver training, says IAM RoadSmart. The Third Mobility Package was put forward by the European Commission includes proposals for new safety features to be fitted on all new cars sold. It has been suggested these changes could have as drastic an impact on road injuries and fatalities as the compulsory wearing of seat belts … [Read more...]
Automated vehicles will reduce and alter crashes
Serious crashes on inter-urban roads may be slashed by a quarter over the next 30-40 years with the introduction of automated vehicles. But the ride may be far from smooth, with a mixed fleet transition and vital need for roads that cars can read, according to a EuroRAP report. The report, the third in the “Roads that Cars Can Read” series, examines the relationship between road … [Read more...]
