New research reveals that of the 20 million drivers who regularly use their car for journeys of between one to two miles, some 6.9 million (34%) want to switch to other travel methods. Almost one in seven car owners (13%) said they want to cycle on more of these trips, while 6% want to make more use of an electric bike. The study has been carried out for Kwik Fit, which has launched a new … [Read more...]
At-work drivers slammed for drink and drug use
The UK’s leading road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has expressed concerns around the percentage of at-work drivers who believe it’s acceptable to drive under the influence of drink and drugs. Research carried out by IAM RoadSmart, which surveyed the safety attitudes and behaviours of 2,010 UK motorists, found 31 per cent of those driving for work believe driving after using Class A drugs such … [Read more...]
Crossing dangers not appreciated
Using a hidden camera in Cardiff, Admiral Car Insurance has revealed the dangers facing pedestrians after the latest provisional Government figures show more than 16 people are killed or seriously injured on UK Roads every day. Research from Admiral reveals that 68% of Welsh people (two thirds of Brits) admitted never hearing of the new Hierarchy of Road User rules which were introduced last year … [Read more...]
Veygo finds learners slow to drive
A new study analysing the latest DVLA data by Cardiff based learner driver insurance company Veygo shows more people are putting off learning to drive until later in life. It also reveals drivers under 30 are now less likely to get their full licence, despite provisional licence ownership growing since 2019. Learning to drive is a costly endeavour and the price of lessons, tests and insurance … [Read more...]
Britain’s EV charging network not fit for purpose
Britain’s EV charging network not fit for purpose, according to transport experts. The UK is way behind schedule in installing chargers and many regions in the country are being forgotten. Asif Ghafoor (below) is a veteran of infrastructure delivery and the co-founder and CEO of national charging network Be.EV and said,“The government’s target of ‘300,000 chargers by 2030’ has been plucked from … [Read more...]
Beware pitfalls of buying privately, warns Ombudsman
The Motor Ombudsman has warned motorists not to cut corners when buying their next used car. The cost-of-living crisis has led to an increase in first-time buyers considering cheaper options when the time comes to purchase their next vehicle. However, despite mounting costs elsewhere, the Motor Ombudsman says a used car is certainly not an area to look for quick shortcuts, … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: GWM Funky Cat 1st Edition
The UK’s electric car revolution is becoming a bloody affair. From initially resisting the new technology on cost grounds including writing off established investments in petrol and diesel engine technology and having to develop hybrid or pure electric powertrains, along with making tens of thousands of workers redundant, manufacturers have struggled to convince buyers into showrooms or on-line … [Read more...]
One-in-six new cars sold now electric
In March, electric cars accounted for 16.21% of all new car registrations in the UK, as the exponential growth in EV uptake seen in recent years begins to stabilise. While demand for electric vehicles is still high, it is likely that slower rates of growth will continue until the ZEV Mandate is implemented in 2024, and supply is able to consistently match consumer demand. Ben Nelmes, Chief … [Read more...]
Bamboo bikes have the right balance
It's the ultimate green machine - a bike which grows in trees. In an article published on Wheels-Alive on 6 January 2023 on Wheels-Alive I described how the Roots Bamboo Bikes which use sustainable bamboo – ethically-sourced and fairly-traded – for their frames were developed in Ghana and how they came to be sold in Lostwithiel. In that feature I mentioned that a future ‘road test’ might follow … [Read more...]
New car sales slowly rising
The first quarter of 2023 has been positive for UK new vehicle sales, said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association. “It is extremely encouraging to see sales figures starting to emulate pre-pandemic trends, particularly for the plate change month of march and consecutive months of optimism and growth,” she said, commenting on the latest SMMT’s new passenger … [Read more...]