Alcohol experts ‘astonished and frustrated’ at lack of movement in drink-drive law
Following the Department for Transport’s announcement that they have no immediate plans to lower the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to the same as Scotland’s, alcohol safety experts have responded to the news as “astonishing” and stated that the Department for Transport is ignoring the facts.
Continue ReadingIAAF: Kia guilty verdict a major victory for aftermarket’
Now the Supreme Court of Stockholm has dismissed Kia’s petition to appeal against conviction in December 2012 for breach of competition in the Swedish market on its 7 year new car warranty, the IAAF is suggesting the verdict is “a major victory for the aftermarket”. Under the EU Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation 461/2010, manufacturers have a duty to honour the vehicle’s warranty when it is serviced outside of the dealership, and non-OE parts being fitted onto a vehicle is an insufficient reason for the warranty to be declared invalid.
Continue ReadingCall for lower alcohol limit and French-style breathalyser law
Following the debate of a Private Members’ Bill in the House of Lords on Friday 29 January, which sought to lower the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to the same as Scotland, alcohol safety experts say more lives could be saved with the introduction of a breathalyser law.
Continue ReadingLegal changes mean independent will gain garage work from franchised dealers
Franchised dealers are vulnerable to losing service business to the independent garages as EU legislation levels out the playing field. According to the Independent Garage Association (IGA), recent surveys have shown independent garages taking an increasing market share of service work despite difficulty carrying out certain functions. This limitation will soon be removed, allowing independents to carry out every part of a service and repair for their customers.
Continue ReadingMRF Tyres launching European motorsport business at Autosport
Leading Indian tyre maker MRF Tyres is launching its MRF Motorsport Tyres Europe operation during Autosport International 2016. This means the Indian brand, which is well known on the sub-continent, but has yet to make such a big splash outside Asia, will now be available to UK and European customers.
Continue ReadingMotorists call for stricter penalties for using mobiles while driving
As the government announces plans for increased penalties for those using handheld mobile phones while driving, the UK and Europe’s largest used vehicle marketplace, BCA, reveals the growing frustration of UK motorists towards careless driving habits. Nearly 90 per cent of motorists who responded to a BCA survey of nearly 450 motorists said the use […]
Continue ReadingAll speed cameras ‘will be yellow within a year’ Government says
Every working speed camera on the strategic road network will be yellow within a year, the Government has announced. Ministers ordered a review of speed camera policy on motorways earlier this year and Highways England has today confirmed their plan to increase the visibility of all speed cameras on the network.
Continue ReadingIAAF backs ProMOTe campaign
The IAAF, as part of its membership of the Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group (AALG), has joined forces with the ProMOTe Campaign to fight the proposed changes to the MoT testing frequency.
Continue ReadingTyreSafe helps Britain’s largest motorway police group measure tread depth
TyreSafe has presented Central Motorways Police Group (CMPG) commanding officer, Superintendent Paul Keasey, with tread depth gauges to help it implement its tyre safety policy. The CMPG is responsible for over 400 miles of Britain’s busiest motorway network, reaching from the Welsh borders through to Cheshire and across to the East of Birmingham. Comprising specially trained officers from the West Midlands, West Mercia and Staffordshire police forces, CMPG is the largest single motorway police group in Britain.
Continue ReadingRMA asks government to address effects of low cost imports on retread industry
Several representatives of the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the tyre industry have met with Department for Business ministers to discuss the impact of low-cost new tyres on the UK and European retreading industry, and its direct implications for employment in the retread tyre industry, the tyre recovery programme and the environment. The association said it would “press for urgent measures” to address what it argues is evidence of ‘dumping’.
Continue ReadingMEPs urge EU Commission to get tough on emissions fraudsters
Emissions testing fraud should be investigated thoroughly and those responsible should face appropriate sanctions, said MEPs in a resolution passed on Tuesday 27 October. They said that the EU emissions testing system should be strengthened to ensure that EU emission limits are respected and that vehicles exceeding these limits are discovered quickly. They also recommended considering whether to establish an EU-level surveillance authority.
Continue ReadingResearch shows speed cameras responsible for bad driving
Using more than a billion miles of driving behaviour data, collected over three years (2011-2014), Wunelli, a LexisNexis company, has revealed the most frequent braking black spots across the UK created by speed cameras, based on motorists braking excessively just before speed cameras to avoid being caught. 80 per cent of all the UK speed cameras investigated had hard braking activity, with braking increasing six fold on average at these locations. Wunelli defines a hard braking event as a change in speed of 6.5+ mph over a one second time period, which is enough to propel a bag on the passenger seat into the footwell.
Continue ReadingVehicle Identity Check scheme to be abolished
The Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) scheme that is required before repaired write-offs are allowed back on the road is to be abolished from 26 October 2015.
Continue ReadingDfT: VCA to [re]investigate emissions in the UK
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced yesterday that the British government will set up its own inquiry into car emissions and testing. This will be done through the UK regulator Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), which is itself a division of the Department for Transport, and will work with OEMs.
Continue Reading6 part worn tyre retailers convicted in a week for sale of dangerous tyres
The sale of dangerous tyres to unsuspecting motorists has led to the conviction of six retailers of part worn tyres from the Brent and Harrow area of London within the space of a week. Top Tyres & Auto Parts Ltd (Wembley); Whitchurch Road Tyres (Harrow); Pinner Road Tyres Ltd (Harrow); Quick Car Repairs Ltd (Harrow); Mr Walazedeh trading as Harrow Tyres (Harrow); and 3D Tyres Ltd (Wembley) faced 36 charges of supplying unsafe tyres, not complying with the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994. All six pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay a total of £18,009.40 in fines, including individual penalties for company directors, costs and victim surcharges.
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