China's Nio car company, which mostly makes crossover electric models from US design and engineering centres' input, plans to launch its range in Europe in 2021. The company is also heavily involved in battery to grid systems to maximise income and technology. McLaren Automotive will introduce a new, flexible, lightweight vehicle tub for its next generation of electrified supercars. The new … [Read more...]
Features
Big ‘staycation’ getaway expected this week
An estimated 18m leisure trips will be taken by car this weekend, 1.8m more than last year as drivers seek to make the most of what is the last bank holiday before Christmas in most of the UK, says RAC Breakdown. Despite the summery weather taking a leave of absence, the figures suggest traffic could be bumper-to-bumper on some popular routes as families and friends embark on long weekends, bank … [Read more...]
BREAKING NEWS: Floods close railway line and campsites
A number of properties have been flooded in Neath, Whitland, Tonyrefail and Llanelli. Roads have been closed and some trains disrupted after part of the South Wales mainline was left underwater at Neath and campers were this morning evacuated by fire service personnel at St Clears while another site at Newport, Pembs was also affected. … [Read more...]
Lessons in safely living on the roads
With fortunate students about to embark on their university courses, some will be facing their first autumn and winter behind the wheel and it’s worth repeating some good advice from Richard Gladman, IAM RoadSmart’s Head of Driving and Riding Standards. “Our driving habits start being set from the moment we venture out alone after passing our driving test, try to retain the good ones that your … [Read more...]
What drivers hate doing
Over a third (37%) of UK drivers avoid driving on motorways (men 29% and women 45%), over half (52%) avoid city centres and 50% avoid parallel parking and parking on a hill. A Censuswide survey for InsuretheGap.com, an independent provider of Guaranteed Asset Protection car insurance, of over 1,500 UK drivers identifies the top situations that drivers avoid. Older drivers are much more likely to … [Read more...]
65,000 learners have penalty points before test
More than 65,000 learners have points on their licence even before passing their test. A staggering 10,639 learner drivers have 7-9 points on their provisional licence, while 1,803 have 10 or more. This means a total of 12,442 learners could have their licence cancelled immediately after passing the test, as provisional points are carried over to the full licence. If you get more than six … [Read more...]
Auto-renew at your own peril
With the September peak of car insurance renewals, GoCompare is warning about letting a policy auto-renew without checking for a better deal. One in five motorists allowed their insurer to auto-renew their policy without seeing if they could get the same cover for less money compared with 15% in February 2020. Number of drivers auto-renewing is worth £6.7 Million, its highest level since … [Read more...]
Ultimate road trip snacks
There are many elements that make a long car journey more endurable and enjoyable. The right playlist and company, decent service stations, but at the heart of all the best car trips sit the snacks. The right blend of car snacks can make or break a trip, and with 52% of Brits opting for a UK holiday this year and averaging 310 miles per trip, there’s never been a more important time to ace … [Read more...]
Speeding rose three-fold during lockdown
Motorists were speeding three times more frequently during lockdown compared to normal, according to AX. The study of telematics data by the vehicle protection and management technology provider suggests motorists were making the most of unusually low traffic levels, giving drivers the opportunity to speed in otherwise normally congested areas. Serious speeding events – the most … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 August
Ford has commissioned custom tyres that can leave key water safety messages imprinted on stretches of sand as part of a new initiative with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The custom tyres have been designed to leave 3 key water safety messages in the sand, including ‘float to live’, ‘no inflatables’, and ‘emergency? call 999’. Each year Brits spend over five and a half million hours … [Read more...]