Insurers have agreed to be clearer and have fairer pricing of monthly premiums as policyholders struggle with the cost of living. The Association of British Insurers say the Government could also help by reducing insurance premium tax. The average cost of petrol is now over £1.50 a litre for the first time since November, says RAC Fuel Watch. In motorway services it can be £170.80ppl while … [Read more...]
Education: Road Safety
Touchscreens are fingers of complaint
Eight out of 10 motorists say they would rather have buttons for major controls in their cars rather than a big central touchscreen, new research shows. April’s Startline Used Car Tracker also reveals that only 51% think that having controls on a touchscreen is safe and 64% say it makes them take their eyes off the road more often. Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said, “It’s become … [Read more...]
RAC report over 50% jump in potholes damage
The RAC attended 7,904 breakdowns in the first quarter of 2024 due to bad road surfaces, up 53% on the last three months of 2023, a clear sign that the UK is suffering a pothole epidemic as roads continue to crumble. Analysis from the driving services company shows it’s been far from a smooth start to the year for the nation’s drivers, with pothole-related breakdown numbers up by 10% in the last … [Read more...]
Used cars with hidden hit histories
UK drivers are at risk of making a huge mistake when buying used cars, as seven in 10 admit to not knowing what it means when a car has a category S or N insurance classification against it. This means the vehicle was ‘written off’ after being involved in an incident that resulted in an insurance claim. Being unable to identify these categories could mean many used car buyers are purchasing … [Read more...]
Newslines 19 April
The RAC predicts petrol could hit 150pp litre and diesel 160pp litre as tensions rise in the Middle East over coming weeks. The motoring body said retailers had pushed up profits since January and this added £5.00 to fill up a typical car. Labour and Plaid Cymru have voted against a Welsh Conservatives' motion in the Senedd to roll back the controversial 20mph default speed limit and end the ban … [Read more...]
Wales must “future-proof” transport, says independent report
Wales needs a future-proof transport system to face up to the realities of climate change, but ambitious policies have yet to be matched in the scale and pace of delivery, reports the Institute of Welsh Affairs. A new report from the IWA says that Welsh Government is faced with a complex set of challenges, including encouraging take-up of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, … [Read more...]
Zero Servicing suggestion is non-starter, says FleetCheck
Working towards towards “zero servicing” – with vehicles never having to visit workshops unless a fault was detected – presents huge dangers for vehicle operators, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding, managing director, was responding to recent news that Tesla is recruiting staff for a project called “Zero Service” under the banner, “At Tesla, we believe that the best service is no service.” He went … [Read more...]
Tyre companies must pay for recycling, says expert
Business Waste is advocating for a change in the UK's tyre disposal and recycling regulations. As one of the UK’s leading waste management companies, it says Britain produces over 50 million used tyres every year, which is currently costing the population over £270 million to recycle. Current industry laws mandate responsible tyre disposal to prevent environmental harm, but BusinessWaste.co.uk is … [Read more...]
Welsh anti-motorist agenda ‘not fit for purpose’
Labour’s anti-motorist agenda and lacklustre transport policies are not fit for purpose and holding Wales back, claim Welsh Conservatives. In the Senedd this afternoon, the Welsh Conservatives are bringing forward a Senedd motion regarding Labour’s failed transport policies, and will call on the Labour Government to scrap their road building ban, and scrap 20mph speed limits. Commenting ahead of … [Read more...]
Motorway breakdowns need new strategy, says RAC
A year after banning future 'smart motorways' it is time to develop a clear policy for dealing with breakdowns, says the RAC. RAC head of policy Simon Williams said, “It’s incredible to think that a decade has gone by since the first all-lane-running stretch of smart motorway opened on the M25 in Hertfordshire, and that it’s a year to the day since the Prime Minister cancelled all 14 future … [Read more...]