Despite the roads-of-life starting to reopen with shops, businesses, car manufacturers and dealerships getting the wheels of business moving again, I’m still sifting through automotive news you might have missed until my first new model road test car arrives at the end of this week, says a hopeful David Miles. But for the foreseeable future the availability of new model lest cars will be very … [Read more...]
“Totally inadequate” M4 plans criticised
Proposals to ease jams on the M4 around Newport have been extensively criticised by lorry and logistics companies. Following South East Wales Transport Commission’s recommendations to introduce several congestion relieving measures on the M4, announced before Christmas, FTA’s Head of Welsh Policy, Sally Gilson said it they were “totally inadequate” “The initial recommendations made by the … [Read more...]
Opinion: Size matters in congestion & emissions battle
The motor industry is facing doom and gloom or opportunity and expansion, depending on your viewpoint, writes Robin Roberts. Whatever happens with Brexit at the end of this month and its implications for Britain, a bigger sea change for the industry has been underway for some time. Environmental issues have driven the move towards electrification of vehicles and for the bigger stuff it’s … [Read more...]
Wales transport links will suffer without Brexit deal
Almost immediately a no deal Brexit could cause severe disruption to the transport network and connected services within Wales. Ken Skates, Minister for Economy and Transport said, “We are already seeing this impact as we have to make decisions on the assumption that we will crash out of the EU without a deal at the end of October. “Whilst emergency works cannot be discounted if necessary, … [Read more...]
Easter getaway begins today for some
This year’s Easter getaway will start two weeks early as millions of families take to the road when many English schools break up at the end of this week. Figures from the RAC suggest some 14m leisure trips will be taken by car between this Friday – the day when most schools finish for Easter – and the end of the weekend. Friday itself is expected to be busiest with some 5.3m individual … [Read more...]
Commuting is killing couples’ relationships
Commuting pressures are leading to separations and divorces. About 2.5M have daily commutes over two hours and it's getting worse. New research by Revolution.Aero discussion group reveals that 2.5 million Britons claim that their commute to work takes over two hours every day, and over 640,000 say it takes longer than three hours. Its findings reveal that 12% of people claim their … [Read more...]
Congestion is threat to business growth
Congestion is increasingly becoming a critical business issue according to the latest research from the Mercedes-Benz Vans Business Barometer. Delivery drivers say that, on average, 16% of their working day is lost due to congestion, which means, based on a (very conservative) 8 hour working day this equates to 1 hour 17 minutes a day, or more than 6 hours across a typical working week, adding … [Read more...]
Join the queue in 14 million trips this Bank Holiday
With much of Britain basking in heat this bank holiday weekend, the RAC suggests at least 14m individual leisure trips on major roads will be taken between today and Monday. American Express calculates Brits will spend about £8.6 Billion on breaks, at home and abroad at an average of £407 per trip. The RAC research of 2,500 motorists’ plans found that the Friday before the bank holiday 25 May is … [Read more...]
Welsh traffic plan risks increasing pollution, warning
Welsh Government plans to reduce vehicle emissions and pollution actually risk making it worse, motoring organisations warned today. Welsh Government and councils are taking a shortsighted approach to tackling airborne pollution with the proposed new lower M4 speed limit and toxic-tax for urban areas. That’s the view of AA President Edmund King who said,“ In all our surveys more than 80% of … [Read more...]
Newslines 2 January
There were 30,500 traffic jams on Welsh roads in 2017 which cost drivers and the Welsh economy almost £278m, traffic analysts at Inrix reported. Wales' longest sustained traffic jam of 2017 was a seven-hour, 10-mile queue on the M4 motorway on 27 October and the westbound M4 before Brynglass Tunnel is the worst costing £14m in lost time. When it comes to the UK’s motorists setting their New … [Read more...]