Road safety has moved up a gear, say accident assessors and investigators at Thatcham Research As the number of new car registered this month continues an upward trend of record sales based on figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Thatcham predict an additional 27,000 new cars with standard fit autonomous emergency braking to hit UK roads this month, making the total … [Read more...]
Features
Cars excite more than partners, survey suggests
A new study carried out by raccars.co.uk reveals that more people get excited about their first car than meeting their first partner. That’s particularly the case for women as two-thirds (66%) admit they were thrilled by their first motor, but less (60%) enthused by their first man. Similarly, 57% of men were excited about buying their first car, but less (55%) were excited about their first … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Down memory green lane with last of Defenders
The current iconic and legendary Defender is in its last year of production which will end in December and eventually a new generation of models – as yet unnamed will take their place. But until the end of 2015 Land Rover are holding a year-long celebration for Defender with special events and by introducing three limited editions of Defender; Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography. There are … [Read more...]
Driving determines car-isma for the opposite sex
How you drive determines if you have car-isma to the opposite sex, says the IAM. Bad driving significantly reduces levels of attractiveness in potential partners, with women finding it particularly off-putting, found the first scientific study into driving skills and desirability conducted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists. Finally answering the long-debated question about whether poor … [Read more...]
Nearly 6 million drivers risk paying too much for insurance
Gocompare.com's Car Insurance Auto-Renewal Survey reveals that 5.8 million motorists a year fall into the auto-renewal trap by simply allowing their car insurance to automatically renew without checking other quotes first. September is traditionally one of the busiest months for car insurance renewals due to the high volume of new car sales. However, the new survey shows that many drivers are … [Read more...]
Be on your guard against the new breed of highwaymen, says the IAM
Road rage and crash for cash scams are an ever present danger to careful drivers, and the IAM’s top instructor has some ideas on how to keep out of trouble. IAM’s head of driving standards Peter Rodger said that staged road accidents force insurance companies to pay out high claims and this knocks on throughout the market. Here are Peter’s top tips to help you stay clear of these … [Read more...]
Off-the-shelf hazard of routine medicine
The hazards of drink-driving, as well as drug-driving have been well documented, but an expert has warned that many drivers are unaware of the potential dangers of prescribed and over-the-counter medicines when it comes to driving. In March 2015 the UK drug driving law changed meaning it is now an offence to drive with certain drugs above a specified level being present in the … [Read more...]
Be wise before the event and driving abroad
Drivers seeking a break from the unpredictable eccentricities of the Great British weather might like to consider taking their cars across to the continent. But driving abroad can be a tricky business - and making sure you are fully covered by the right insurance is crucial. The good news is that all British motor insurance policies automatically provide the minimum level of cover required … [Read more...]
Language worries biggest concern of holiday motorists
We may be a nation of car lovers but when it comes to driving abroad, it’s less “j’adore” and more “my lingo is poor”. Just under six million of us are expected to take our own cars to Europe this year so it may be surprising to learn that more than half (56%) of motorists surveyed by RAC European Breakdown have reservations about driving abroad, and not being able to talk the talk is their … [Read more...]
Landmark atlas opened by AA
For the past 30 years the motorists of Great Britain have been finding their way around the nation with the help of the AA’s Road Atlas Britain. The 2016 editions of the AA’s range of Road Atlases for Britain includes over 136,000 miles of UK roads mapped out in each atlas as well as over 31,000 cities, towns and villages helping motorists find not only their destination but also a plethora of … [Read more...]