Following campaigning from Logistics UK the government confirmed that the safest vehicles will be exempt from HGV tests for up to 12 months. James Firth, Head of Road Freight Regulation at Logistics UK explained, “The government’s decision to listen to the advice of Logistics UK and grant HGV testing exemptions to the lowest risk vehicles – those categorised as ‘upper green’, with Earned … [Read more...]
News
Taking a shine to good and bad cars
Every driver has their own likes and dislikes when it comes to how a car should look. Maybe you prefer black paint to red, small alloys to large ones, or tinted vs un-tinted windows. Whatever you like, there are no right and wrongs when it comes to cars, and an almost limitless number of ways you can make your car your own, says Simoniz. But while there’s no harm in making changes to a car, a … [Read more...]
Newslines 11 August
Tough labour laws in France mean that Ineos stands to pick up an idling Daimler plant in Hamach in a distressed sale for €500 Million to build its forthcoming Grenadier 4x4 after suspending plans for a new factory outside Bridgend. If the sale falls through, Ineos may return to South Wales but there is another option on a struggling Nissan site in Spain as well. The Proton brand could resurface … [Read more...]
Newslines 10 August
Drivers are planning on making an estimated 45m daytrips* in August, according to a survey conducted by RAC Breakdown, with more than a quarter (28%) saying they will be taking more outings than last year – perhaps indicating the extent of the COVID-19 staycation. While these figures do not include overnight stays which are likely to increase traffic volumes still further, they show half of all … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Ford Kuga ST-Line X 2.5 PHEV
After the Coronavirus lockdown Ford is in full delivery mode with the all-new third generation Kuga SUV 5-door range, writes David Miles. That’s good timing as pent-up demand by UK customers saw overall new car sales increase by 11% in July but sadly remain nearly 42% down for the year-to-date. The Kuga is crucial in Ford’s sales performance as it is their third best selling model range … [Read more...]
Behind the Wheel: Driving towards a cliff
Tens of thousands of more jobs are likely to disappear from the UK automotive sector before the end of the year, writes Robin Roberts. Some 11,349 jobs so far axed following lockdown will grow and despite this week’s 11% rise in new car registrations the outlook is bleak. That’s because the first upturn in showroom sales came at the end of three months when all showrooms were in … [Read more...]
Beware of holiday ‘hang ons’ with car hire
Holidaymakers planning to hire a car in the UK this summer should check the price of the car hire ‘extras’ they need, as the cost at the rental desk can differ by hundreds of pounds. That’s according to a study of Sixt, Europcar, Enterprise and Hertz in eight UK cities includding Swansea by iCarhireinsurance.com, provider of stand-alone car hire excess insurance. The cheapest place to hire a … [Read more...]
A drive can reduce stress, pollsters told
A survey of 2,023 UK drivers reveals 1 in 3 adults feel the effects of stress on a regular basis, if not more - indeed 11% of these say they feel constantly under stress. Over the course of a week, the average person claims to spend 12 hours 35 minutes feeling stressed, which equates to a staggering 655 hours over a year, or approximately 27 days. Looking at the top causes of stress in modern … [Read more...]
Newslines 7 August
An estimated four million drivers have missed vital eye-tests during lockdown and may be illegally driving as they cannot meet standards, says Feel Good Contacts. It also highlights issues with drivers wearing face masks and warm breath fogging their spectacles, judging by searches on websites. … [Read more...]
Wales leads UK car sales recovery with Vauxhall Corsa
New car sales in Wales have recovered better than the rest of the UK. Welsh figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show a 39.22 % rise in July compared to the same month last year and brings the running total for this year to just 34.55% below the first seven months of 2019, also better than other regions. Dealers in Wales recorded 7,728 new car sales in July … [Read more...]