Pothole pollution is getting worse on our roads. The quality of the UK’s roads may be worsening according to data from the RAC’s Pothole Index which shows there has been a 31% increase in pothole-related faults attended by its patrols in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year. Between April and June RAC patrols went to the rescue of 3,565 motorists whose … [Read more...]
Afternoon and night best times to travel
Well thanks to school holidays, you should avoid setting off on the 1 August if you want to steer clear of traffic hotspots, data shows. The 26 July, 1 August, and 22 August are the busiest for Wales with a tenth of one families each date heading away, and 8am is the worst time with 34% leaving at this time. Surveying parents across the nation, car part suppliers Euro Car Parts can reveal … [Read more...]
UK to ban conventional cars and vans by 2040
The Government has unveiled controversial plans to ban pure petrol and diesel engined vehicles from UK roads by 2040. It follows failure to meet European clean air legislation and a High Court decision that requires an environmental strategy to be put forward. The plan was discussed before the general election but publication was delayed because of fears it would affect voting by people in … [Read more...]
Severn Tolls reach the end of the road, but not yet
The Severn Bridge Tolls will end in 18 months after 52 years. The next anticipated price rise in January will be the last before costs are passed into the general motorway maintenance budget and Welsh Government is expected to have to pick up a proportion of that expenditure in some form. The legislation for the bridges’ construction and operation always included the reversal to public … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 July
Newport has the highest MoT failure rate in Wales and it’s tenth in the league of losers nationwide. Wipers and washers are the most common cause of MoT failures and can be easily avoided says a spokesman for the AA Garage Guide. Oxford is currently the favoured location for building an electric version of the Mini, two sources familiar with the company's thinking told Reuters. BMW has … [Read more...]
Run for the sun begins this weekend
The end of school term will spark the traditional Great British summer holiday getaway this weekend with 8.7m heading away from Friday through to Sunday. Data from RAC Traffic Watch shows the peak of the weekend’s travel will be on Saturday 22 July with 3.4m heavily laden vehicles making a dash for it. Friday will see 2.5m cars vie for road space with commuters while Sunday will have more … [Read more...]
Roads’ investment welcomed but still more needed
The Freight Transport Association says the Government’s new transport investment plan is good news for the sector but more investment is needed to upgrade the road network. The policy, announced yesterday, dedicates funds raised from Vehicle Excise Duty to road improvements. The money can be used for major local authority roads as well as the Strategic Road Network but FTA says it cannot … [Read more...]
Newslines 5 July
Road accidents where people suffered injuries in Wales dropped by 11% last year. There were 4,921 such crashes in 2016 - 622 fewer than 2015, according to the Welsh Government's annual report, but there was just a 1% drop in serious motorcycle accidents. Fuel prices have fallen by 2p a litre for the second month in a row, data from the latest RAC Fuel Watch report reveals, and is … [Read more...]
Government urged to honour pledge to remove Severn tolls
The Freight Transport Association wants the Government to guarantee its pre-election promise to remove all charges on the Severn Bridges. The two bridges spanning the Severn estuary on the M4 and M48 motorways in Wales have the highest toll charges on the entire UKroad network. This represents a massive burden on road haulage businesses who have seen year-on-year price increases, costing the … [Read more...]
M4 Tunnels closure
The M4 Newport tunnels will be routinely closed for maintenance over the coming months. To help plan trips look out for diversions as follows: Scheduled weekend closures for the Brynglas Tunnels on the M4: Westbound: 20:00 Saturday 1 July - 06:00 Monday 3 July 20:00 Saturday 15 July - 06:00 Monday 17 July Eastbound: 20:00 Saturday 16 September - 06:00 Monday 18 September … [Read more...]