New research has shown that just over a third of young adults in the UK have never cleaned their own car, citing the effort it takes and being unable to do a ‘good job’ as the top reasons why. Furthermore it was found that those that do pay to have their car cleaned usually shell out £16 each time. This means that many in this demographic will spend £192 each year to have their cars cleaned ‘professionally’.
New research shows that, while British motorists try to avoid the stresses that can be attributed to long drives by planning their journey ahead of time, most don’t do proper vehicle checks.
The research of 1,000 British motorists finds that over a quarter (26%) of drivers prefer to map out the route and just under a fifth (18%) like to check they have the right insurance cover before setting off. And only 1% of motorists admitted they don’t plan at all.
TyreSafe has relaunched its Tyre Safety Companion smartphone app. Named one of the best motoring apps in 2015 by leading motoring magazine Auto Express, the app offers Britain’s drivers a range of essential tyre safety guidance. Key advice includes details of how to undertake regular maintenance checks, what to do at the roadside in the event of a puncture or incident and the use of temporary spares.
British motorists made almost six million overseas trips by car last year, according to new analysis by Sainsbury’s Bank car insurance.
The supermarket bank, which provides comprehensive cover in Europe, is urging motorists to brush up on the local motoring laws of any countries they are visiting if they plan to drive, as these can differ significantly from UK road regulations.
The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) has issued a call to arms for all drivers, saying it is celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta with a 21st century mobility charter. This summer, millions of Britain’s drivers will likely crawl to their holidays on a crumbling road network, congested with road works, the Alliance argues. Yet according to a survey carried out for the ABD last year, some two-thirds of drivers are unaware that they pay roughly five times over for the service they get.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Motor Codes, has launched a Vehicle Safety Recall search tool, which operates using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The idea is that car owners and buyers can check if their vehicle is subject to an outstanding safety recall.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has discovered four people have been captured at speeds in excess of 120mph on roads in Wales in 2014 – with one being caught at 136mph.
UK voters with cars and other vehicles pay more in fuel duty (£26.9bn) alone than UK firms and companies pay in business rates (£26.8bn) and the equivalent of 97.5 per cent of what is received through council tax (£27.5bn). Other motoring taxes raise another £6.1bn in vehicle excise duties, and a further £25bn from VAT […]
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has lifted the lid on the worst examples of excessive speeding caught on safety cameras across England and Wales in 2014. Britain’s two worst speeders were caught at 146mph, both by Kent Police on the M25. One was travelling anti-clockwise at Junction 5 at Clacket Lane Services, the other going clockwise at Swanley.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has called for companies to step up their commitment to safer business driving on UK roads, by recommending organisations they employ or hire carry the ISO 39001 accreditation – which shows their drivers have met some of the highest safety standards.
The Tyre Safety Companion, a recently-launched app for Android and Apple devices, has been named one of the best motoring apps for 2015 by Auto Express magazine. Stuart Jackson, chairman of Tyre Safe, the organisation behind the Tyre Safety Companion, calls the app’s naming as one of Auto Express’ Best Apps for 2015 a “fantastic accolade,” adding: “It’s important that drivers have easy access to accurate tyre safety advice while they’re out and about, so we’re delighted that this latest innovation has already been identified as a potential life saver.”
Motorists in Italy have until 15 May to change their winter for summer tyres – and some face hefty fines if they fail to do so. Under a new regulation introduced by the country’s Ministry of Transport, M+S and snowflake marked tyres that bear a slower speed rating than the car’s maximum speed must be removed for the summer season. Failure to do so by the 15 May deadline may result in a fine of at least €419 and up to €1,682, and the vehicle needing to undergo a roadworthiness inspection.
Chancellor George Osborne confirmed at the Budget that he would maintain the freeze on fuel duty – yet drivers still see the cost of fuel as their biggest motoring worry according to new data from leading vehicle remarketing company, British Car Auctions (BCA). Research amongst motorists at the start of 2014 revealed that over 70 per cent of motorists worry most about the price of fuel – the same as 2013.
Today marks the start of New Zealand’s inaugural Tyre Awareness Week. The initiative is driven by government agencies, tyre makers and industry bodies and aims to encourage motorists to check tread depth and condition, and to maintain tyres at the correct pressure. NZ Tyre Awareness Week is supported by a dedicated website, www.tyresafety.org.nz.
While much attention has been placed on road rage and its causes, one factor has been overlooked – until now. A newly-released report has found a remarkable correlation between road rage incidents and choice of tyre. Aggressive tread patterns do, it seems, make for aggressive drivers.