Drivers in Wales are being warned they are around two and a half times more likely to be breath tested this December than any other month. Analysis of Home Office data by personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense shows that in December last year, Welsh Police stopped 3,344 motorists suspected of drink driving. That compared with 1,375 in an average month. South Wales led the way with 1,165 tests, … [Read more...]
Short-circuiting some charging myths on EVs
There are estimated to be over half a million battery-electric cars on the roads in the UK, which isn’t including the 405,000 plug-in hybrids that are also registered. And with plans from the British government to stop the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, it’s likely we’ll see the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road continue to climb. Petrol and diesel cars have been … [Read more...]
Weathering perfect economic storm
Automotive suppliers’ business sentiment reached an all-time low in the CLEPA McKinsey September 2022 Pulse Check. About 70% of suppliers saw their profitability drop to levels that could already start undermining their ability to invest in R&D, the workforce and new business activities. Three consecutive years of crisis have eroded the financial health of around one in two suppliers. … [Read more...]
Newcomer: Lexus flagship refined
Lexus’s flagship LS limousine will deliver an even more refined experience in an updated model range from March 2023. The principal change is the adoption of the new Lexus Link Pro multimedia system, with additional functions and seamless connectivity. Fitted as standard to all LS versions, it allows everyone on board to interact with the system through a central 12.3-inch high-definition … [Read more...]
Ford Fiesta is good second hand buy if you’re careful
After 47 years, Ford has announced it will stop manufacturing its iconic Fiesta model in June 2023 despite being Britain’s most-owned car and the most desirable for new drivers. That’s because the company is focused on its electric future and meeting the demand for its SUV models. The Fiesta is also a firm favourite among first-time drivers, thanks to its cost efficiency, compact size and easy … [Read more...]
Newslines 28 November
Government plans that could see novice drivers being allowed to automatically drive lorries have been condemned by the UK’s leading independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart. A recent government consultation suggested that drivers who possess a category B car licence should be instantly entitled to a category C1 licence, which allows motorists to drive vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tonnes … [Read more...]
‘Wrong’ lights motorists face £1,000 fine
Since 2011 all new cars in the UK are legally required to have ‘daytime running lights’, or DRLs, that come on automatically when the engine is started. These low-wattage lamps are designed to increase visibility and reduce vehicle accidents during the day but in many cases the DRL system does not automatically illuminate rear lights. If you’re relying on DRLs on winter roads with poor … [Read more...]
Welsh Tories call-out Labour’s new speed limits
The Welsh Conservatives challenged the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay over plans to impose a default 20mph speed limit in Wales and expand the number of 50mph zones. Shadow Transport Minister Natasha Asghar MS took Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, to task following an interview he did on ITV’s Sharp End last week, when he criticised the “remarkably narrow sighted view” of Cardiff … [Read more...]
Graham’s cosy car guide to surviving winter
With rain lashing down and gales blowing Britain’s classic car owners are putting their cherished vehicles away for winter; but what are the pitfalls to avoid which can lead to heartbreak and big bills when you come to retrieve it next Spring? The man charged with overseeing Toyota and Lexus UK’s press and heritage fleets has put together his top tips for how to do it right, and the mistakes to … [Read more...]
Newslines 25 November
The government’s decision to introduce VED on electric cars from April 2025 has ‘polarised’ car buyers considering an EV as their next purchase, reports CarDealer. eBay Motors Group quizzed 2,000 in-market car buyers and found that nearly half (45 per cent) were not put off by the move but 37 per cent said the announcement is either making them reconsider or drop their plans to go … [Read more...]