There is a world of safety difference between e-scooter rental schemes and the use of private e-scooters, says the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS). Any evaluation of rental trials cannot and should not be automatically applied to regulations for private e-scooters. The safety of private e-scooters in the UK, an interim report from PACTS shows, that … [Read more...]
Education
Safety ratings for new Ford, Hyundai and Toyota models
Ford’s new all-electric crossover SUV, the Mustang Mach-E, bears little resemblance to the 5-litre muscle car with which it shares its name. While its sports-car stablemate struggled to gain three stars in 2017, the Mustang Mach-E firmly secures a top five-star rating against the latest test requirements in the EuoNCAP programme. The car comes equipped with a centre airbag, deployable bonnet … [Read more...]
Super-high mileage models still going strong
There are thousands of super high mileage vehicles on UK roads, according to data analysed by car leasing comparison website LeaseLoco. Odometer data provided by the DVSA, shows there are currently 2,676 vehicles on UK roads with more than 500,000 miles on the odometer, and 5,897 motors with over 400,000 miles. Even more remarkable; hundreds of cars are still going strong despite having … [Read more...]
Cycling gaining popularity and routes
Over half (53%) of UK cyclists have taken it up in the last 18 months, with nearly six in ten (58%) frequent cyclists purchasing a new bike during the same period. The way people commute is changing, with three in ten (31%) saying they always choose to cycle over other forms of transport and the trend will grow, with 61% saying they will cycle more in the future. Cities across the UK, … [Read more...]
Newslines 22 October
The arrival of the October half term will spark an ‘autumn rush’ on the roads with drivers taking an estimated 19.4m separate leisure trips between Friday and Sunday, according to RAC Breakdown. The survey of 1,400 drivers suggests that Saturday will be the most popular day on the roads with drivers planning an estimated 5.6m ‘getaway’ journeys, followed by Sunday (4.6m) and Friday (4.3m) with … [Read more...]
Apprentices programme relaunched by car makers
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Charitable Trust Fund has re-launched the SMMT Apprentice Support Programme, designed to help safeguard the jobs of apprentices currently working within the automotive industry. The scheme comes following the conclusion of the government-funded furlough scheme. The SMMT Apprentice Support Programme earmarks £100,000 to cover all or part of the … [Read more...]
Tradelines 20 October
There was no substantial jump in the number of fleet MOT tests undertaken during September, despite warnings that deferrals made during the pandemic could lead to massive demand, new figures from epyx show. Using an analysis of information held on its 1link Service Network platform, the company says that there were almost 52,000 MOT tests carried out during the month. This is close to the just … [Read more...]
Look Once, Look Twice, Think Bike, say Gwent police
By distance travelled, motorcyclists have the highest rate of death or serious injury of all road users. Gwent Police is launching a campaign emphasising the need for car drivers to take a second look for motorcycles, and for bikers to take personal responsibility for riding safely. The campaign is reminding drivers that under the crash helmet is a real person with a job, commitments, … [Read more...]
Young applying brakes to driving
Passing your driving test was once seen as a rite of passage for most youngsters, but times are changing. The number of young people getting behind the wheel now declining, research conducted by the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has indicated why many young people aged 17-24 have put the brakes on learning to drive. Of 1,000 young drivers … [Read more...]
GoCompare say motoring costs are falling for new drivers
The overall cost of getting on the road has dropped from £6,846 in 2019 to £5,703 in 2021. A new report out today from GoCompare Car Insurance has revealed that the cost of getting a young driver on the road has fallen to a three-year low of £5,703, down from £6,071.00 in 2020 and £6,846 in 2019, representing a 20% fall over three years. The combined cost of a new motorist learning to drive, … [Read more...]