The growing prospect of driverless cars being allowed on UK roads has raised a number of questions over safety and law, and how other drivers interact with them. New consultation on driverless vehicles announced last week gives fleets the opportunity to raise practical safety concerns surrounding the new technology, says FleetCheck, and some of the points … [Read more...]
Council cost cuts deepening potholes
The RAC and the Road Surface Treatments Association have written to the Minister for the Future of Roads Lilian Greenwood calling for the Government to introduce mandatory training for councils who carry out little or no maintenance to prevent potholes forming. At the start of Pothole Prevention Week (8-14 September), the two organisations have joined … [Read more...]
JLR worst for reliability
British brands Jaguar and Land Rover are the worst cars you can buy for reliability and high average servicing costs, according to Warranty Solutions Group which provides after-care maintenance insurance. Claims details from over 10,000 owners covering 22 brands put the JLR models at the bottom with issues over electric windows, pollution filters and also … [Read more...]
Lessons for taking a car to college
With the ‘Class of 2025’ achieving outstanding grades and an estimated 665,000 new students due to start university or college next month and over 2.3 million people studying full-time, UK breakdown provider Start Rescue is offering advice on how to get cars ready for college life. “Not everyone takes a car or motorcycle to college, but September sees big … [Read more...]
Pothole problems getting deeper
Pothole-related breakdowns hit an unseasonable high in the second quarter of 2025 with RAC patrols attending 9% more than they did in April to June last year, according to the RAC’s Pothole Index. In total, the RAC dealt with 6,575 call-outs for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels – the breakdowns most likely to be caused … [Read more...]
17.6m leisure journeys this weekend
A massive 17.6m leisure journeys are expected to take place by car this August bank holiday with drivers in England and Wales eager to enjoy the last long weekend before Christmas. The RAC expects traffic to build from Friday to Saturday with 3m getaway trips likely to take place this Friday 22 August, rising to 3.4m on Saturday 23 August. A further 2.4m … [Read more...]
Buyers opting to extend warranties
More than one in three (35%) people buying a car from the RAC Dealer Network are opting to extend the standard warranty, new data from JudgeService shows. The results, compiled from more than 17,000 customer surveys completed across the 1,400 dealers who are part of the network, also shows that 57% say that the presence of the RAC brand had a positive … [Read more...]
Call for battery health-check standard on used-cars
Electric used-car buyers need an industry-wide scheme for battery health tests. Nine out of 10 dealers (90%) say the used electric car sector needs this to build up public confidence in buying them. August’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows 78% believe battery health is an essential consideration for most electric car buyers. However, there is some … [Read more...]
Fines and points soaring for unroadworthy vehicles – RAC
The number of people receiving penalty points on licences for driving unroadworthy vehicles has jumped 52% over just 12 months, reveals new data analysed by the RAC’s mobile servicing and repairs division. Following a Freedom of Information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the RAC found that a total of 13,109 penalty point endorsements … [Read more...]
Lifestyle leaves no time for car maintenance, says Uswitch
Busy lifestyles are forcing many UK drivers to overlook routine car maintenance, reveals new research from temporary car insurance experts Uswitch. Between juggling work, family, and everyday demands, drivers are delaying services and putting off repairs, often prioritising time over money when it comes to looking after their vehicles. In the past 12 … [Read more...]