Six out of 10 people believe that drivers of 4x4s and other large cars should pay more to park in city centres, according to research. April’s Startline Used Car Tracker also shows that 37% say such vehicles are too big for city streets and the same percentage that they are too polluting. And just over a fifth (22%) think that charging more money will help to dissuade drivers from bringing these … [Read more...]
International Driving Permit changes as Post Office lose business
The provider of international driving permits is changing and the Post Office has lost the contract. From 1 April 2024, IDPs will be exclusively available from participating PayPoint stores across the UK. An IDP is not usually required for the majority of popular holiday destinations abroad. However, there are over 140 countries, including Turkey, Mexico, Canada and Australia, where an IDP is … [Read more...]
Bigger and heavier lorries needed to meet EV technology
The parts industry want to increase vehicle sizes and weights to compensate for heavy batteries required to move lorries and goods. The topic is under discussion with EU legislators and now CLEPA has come up with these proposals as the industry moves towards a 2050 deadline. The international transport, trade and manufacturing of vehicles and movement of goods means if these proposals are … [Read more...]
Welsh Labour Government move to restrict private cars
The Welsh Labour Government want to discourage all private car use and encourage voters to jump on buses and trains. Deputy minister for climate change Lee Waters has written to opposition leader Andrew R T Davies who questioned the stated policy on new road building in the controversial Welsh Roads Review and told him, "We confirmed that we will continue to consider investment in roads 'to … [Read more...]
Commuters to be priced out of Cardiff
Commuters will be priced off Cardiff streets under radical plans being considered this month. The City Council wants to force drivers who travel into the capital to use park and ride schemes from the outskirts or public transport. This will reduce congestion and pollution while raising revenue for the council and will help residents with cars to park closer to their homes, but they will have to … [Read more...]
Public transport is failing Cardiff, says expert
Cardiff's very high levels of congestion is much more than an inconvenience for commuters – it is causing lasting harm to the city as a whole, according to Victoria Winckler, Director The Bevan Foundation. Commenting on a research paper by the Centre for Cities think tank, she said the underlying causes of traffic queues in Cardiff are different to other cities in Wales, the UK and Europe. The … [Read more...]
Newslines 3 November
Mid and West Wales has the lowest ratio of car thefts to population in Britain, said Go.Compare. Its analysis of crime data reveals Dyfed-Powys police marked up just 0.49 thefts per 1,000 registered cars compared to the highest of 12.67 per thousand in Cleveland, with the Ford Fiesta the most stolen model. Around 60,000 vehicle owners a day are paying the £12.50 fee for entering London’s … [Read more...]
Abnormal loads reduced to an app in your hand
New app tools designed to enable easy checking of abnormal loads have been immediately adopted by a quarter of the UK’s police forces. The enhancements – made to FleetCheck’s Driver app – are already in use by Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG), Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Gwent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Staffordshire forces. The tools are … [Read more...]
TfL chasing thousands of innocent drivers
Hundreds of drivers are being hit with charges and fines in error while driving in London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, car experts have warned. Over the last three months, VRM Swansea’s Plates4Less team have been inundated with questions after many drivers have been issued fines in error and have been working hard to help clients challenge and overturn ULEZ charges that they should never have … [Read more...]
RAC alert to extended foreign emissions laws
Get an emissions sticker or risk a fine driving abroad this summer, warn the RAC. With UK travellers embarking on millions of trips by sea and Channel Tunnel this summer, the RAC is warning drivers taking their own cars abroad to be aware of local air quality regulations, and if needed buy the correct windscreen sticker before they go – or risk a nasty fine of up to €180 (£154). In France, the … [Read more...]