The price of petrol has gone up more than 3p a litre in the last three weeks while diesel has increased by 4p, the RAC has revealed. Worryingly for drivers, unleaded has risen by 3.2p from 140p on 29 January to 143.4p on 18 February and diesel has shot up from 148p to 152p in the same period, adding around £2 to filling up a family car. RAC Fuel Watch data shows petrol had been on a welcome … [Read more...]
Highway Code changes doubts remain
Half of drivers still feel unsure whether changes to the Highway Code made two years ago today have made the roads safer for pedestrians, shows RAC research. One of the most notable changes advises drivers turning into or out of a junction to give way to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders who are either crossing or are waiting to cross the road. This rule was part of a new hierarchy of road … [Read more...]
Crash, bang, wallop – it’s National Pothole Day
To mark National Pothole Day, Go.Compare Car Insurance can reveal the top ten counties in England and Wales whose roads are most peppered with potholes today. Topping the peak pothole list was Derbyshire County Council, which reported 215,787 potholes over three years between January 2020 and December 2022. Two more northern counties took the 2nd and 3rd place spots, with Durham and Lancashire … [Read more...]
Bad weather can improve your driving skill, says PassMeFast
With snow and sleet showers forecasted in parts of the UK this week, roads will become slippery and much harder to navigate. The drop in temperature and weather warning comes shortly after the disruption from storm Henk, with roads expected to be impacted as a result. BREAKING NEWS: With cool conditions in charge and the potential for snow and ice for some from Sunday onwards, travel … [Read more...]
The dark side of headlight glare brings call for safety study
The RAC is calling on the Government to commission an independent study into the issue of headlight glare after new research found 85% of those affected believe the problem is getting worse. An RAC survey of 2,000 drivers found a huge nine-in-10 (89%) think at least some headlights on cars on the road today are too bright, of which three-in-10 (28%) – a higher proportion than ever – think most … [Read more...]
Fuel prices fall could be greater, says RAC
The average price of petrol across the UK reduced by 6p a litre in December to under 147p (146.69p), making for two consecutive monthly falls, shows data from RAC Fuel Watch. The drop means a full 55-litre tank now costs £77.32, down £3.40 in the month. Diesel also came down by 5p to 149.18p, saving almost £3 (£2.86) on a fill-up (£82.05). Unleaded is now back to a price last seen in early … [Read more...]
Tradelines 3 January
The RAC is giving drivers the chance to protect themselves against unexpected repair bills by launching a new online-only warranty product. The 12-month warranty has a £2,000 total claim limit which covers the cost of labour and parts needed to fix mechanical or electrical failures at a cost of £300 and it works through approved RAC workshops and the company's mobile mechanics in some … [Read more...]
2023 was the year of the rat for motorists
Everyone knows a car breakdown can mean a nasty repair bill, but new data from the RAC reveals that it’s not always a head gasket or a catastrophic engine failure that can cost you hundreds of pounds. Strangely, it can sometimes be very small creatures that cause very big problems. The RAC has seen record numbers of mice, rats and foxes ‘surprising’ customers in 2023 and causing serious … [Read more...]
Avoid a flat start to 2024, say RAC
The RAC is warning drivers to plan ahead to avoid an unwelcome post-holiday tradition: ‘the flat battery blues’. Typically, the first working day after the festive break is one of the busiest of the year for RAC breakdown patrols, due to thousands of cars being left idle over the holidays. Coupled with cold, damp weather, this period of inactivity drains car batteries and leaves thousands at risk … [Read more...]
Charging into the great getaway this week
With the annual Chrismas getaway approaching, many drivers and families may be doing their first long run in a new electric car. Just as with a traditional petrol or diesel car you have to prepare your vehicle and yourself for the journey. The electric era is well and truly with us and we are likely to be getting close to a million evs on UK roads by the end of this year and users are doubtless … [Read more...]