The RAC attended 7,904 breakdowns in the first quarter of 2024 due to bad road surfaces, up 53% on the last three months of 2023, a clear sign that the UK is suffering a pothole epidemic as roads continue to crumble. Analysis from the driving services company shows it’s been far from a smooth start to the year for the nation’s drivers, with pothole-related breakdown numbers up by 10% in the last … [Read more...]
Premiums jump 46% year to date for drivers
The cost of car insurance has increased by 46% year on year, according to new Premium Drivers research from Compare the Market, and young drivers are seeing the biggest jump. The typical premium stands at £892 in February 2024, after rising by £279 over the previous 12 months. The substantial increase in the cost of car insurance may in part be due to a rise in the cost of claims for … [Read more...]
Thousands of drivers ignorant of revised Highway Code
More than half (55%) of UK drivers have not read the Highway Code since passing their driving test, a new survey has revealed, although it has been revised 24 times in the last nine years alone, says Go.Compare. The majority (83%) of respondents passed their driving test over a decade ago, making this a major concern for the nation’s road safety. The Highway Code has been updated on 24 separate … [Read more...]
20mph limit opposed outside Wales
Seven out of 10 motorists say that the 20mph speed limit imposed in Wales in September shouldn’t spread across the rest of the UK. Research from Startline’s November Used Car Tracker shows that 20% think that it is “just too slow” while 15% also say that too few drivers would stick to the new limit. Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “It’s fair to say that there is relatively … [Read more...]
Last ditch attempt to block incoming 20mph speed limit
A last ditch attempt to block the controversial 20mph default speed limit in Wales coming into effect on Sunday will be made on Wednesday by Welsh Conservatives. The Welsh Conservatives have tabled a motion in the Senedd on Wednesday calling for The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 to be repealed. Blanket 20mph speed limits in Wales will cost at least £33 million to … [Read more...]
Premiums catching up with repair costs
The recent surge of 21% in annual car insurance premiums does not come as a shock, said the National Body Repair Association. Wayne Mason-Drust (below) NBRA board member, explained this development, “For almost a decade, the cost of repairing a car following an accident has increased far below inflation. "Car insurers have tightly controlled repair costs by giving car repairers minimal annual … [Read more...]
20 is plenty Welsh map published
Thousands of miles of roads in Wales will be covered by a new default 20mph limit from Sunday 17 September and Welsh Government has published a comprehensive map of the new limits It also covers roads where the new limit will not apply and councils may apply to retain the current 30mph restriction, but only after they have removed the current 30mph and put up the 20mph signs before reintroducing … [Read more...]
Drink-driving is rising again
There were 260 deaths on Britain’s roads in 2021 where a motorist was over the drink drive limit – an alarming increase of 18% over the previous year and the highest since 2009. Drunk drivers accounted for 17% of all road deaths. The year-on-year rise reflects the impact of the pandemic lockdown taking many cars off the roads and reducing mileages of those who still drove, but the results also … [Read more...]
Rural accidents risk rise as harvest begins
As farmers begin the harvest season and agricultural traffic increases, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual is urging all rural road users to take extra care over the coming months. The harvest season is already underway in many places, with livestock farmers making their vital first cut of silage to build stores to feed cattle through next winter. Silage cutting is followed by hay making, generally … [Read more...]
Smart motorways – what’s next?
Following a report in the i newpaper that suggests the Government may no longer build all-lane running smart motorways in the future, the RAC has expressed its concerns.. RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said, “If Ministers are giving serious consideration to completely scrapping new all-lane-running smart motorways, then this is an admission that the Government no longer has faith in these … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 7
- Next Page »
