Road engineers are calling it the perfect storm; road users are calling it gridlock Britain. New figures reveal that February has seen an unprecedented leap in the number of roadworks, due to bad weather, council deadlines and a backlog of work. According to research compiled by the Electronic Local Government Information Network (Elgin), this February has seen 10 times as many roadworks as the last, and more than three times as many as in January. The roadworks, defined as causing moderate or severe disruption, are likely to continue into March. Overall, Elgin found that the number of actual and planned roadworks taking place in the first three months of this year will exceed the total for the whole of 2009. The surge, set to cause misery for millions of motorists, is due to a number of factors, according to Elgin. Severe weather in November and December damaged roads and caused many councils to postpone planned roadworks for those months. To minimise disruption, councils are also rushing to spend their road repair budgets before the financial year ends in April and before the summer holiday season gets under way. Other factors include ongoing preparations for the 2012 Olympics, and hedge-trimming, which has to be done outside the bird-nesting season. Elgin, which examined figures for roughly half the councils in Britain, including those in London, Yorkshire and Humberside, the east Midlands, Wales, the east of England and the southwest, found that in the first three months of 2010 there would be 6,833 serious roadworks, 3,204 of those in February. That compares with a total of 6,290 for the whole of 2009. The company says those figures would be higher if all councils were included. More
(AD Suggests ~ Judging by the state of some of the roads, we could be in for some delays over the next few months, as repairs are carried out.)
A WOMAN driver was caught flossing her teeth at 70mph on a motorway, it was revealed yesterday. Stunned traffic police spotted the 36-year-old driver on the M4 using dental floss to clean her teeth in her rear view mirror. Her brush with the law cost her £60 after she was pulled over, lectured about careless driving and given a fixed penalty notice. Police say it is the latest example of people risking their lives for a moment of high-speed vanity. A spokesman said: “We’ve caught women applying lipstick, make-up and checking their hair in the mirror and even men using an electric razor on their way to work. But this is the first time we’ve seen someone flossing their teeth at the wheel. It was a quite bizarre sight. “It is particularly dangerous because you need to use both hands, which clearly should be used to drive the car.” Traffic officers often say some people’s driving is mental but one joked: “On this occasion it was dental.” The woman was caught by Gwent Police near junction 24 of the M4 at Coldra, Newport, during an eight-day clampdown. Officers in an unmarked car caught 57 drivers committing offences. More (AD Suggests ~ Strange what people will do, especially when travelling at such a high speed, with the potential for causing much danger to themselves and others.)
A mystery phenomenon that has left motorists in a popular tourist town unable to unlock their cars has been solved. For around 18 months, drivers parking up in one of the Lake District town’s busiest shopping areas have found their electric key-fobs will not work. Telecom watchdog OFCOM decided to investigate and sent field engineer Dave Thornber to Windermere with specilist scanning equipment. He discovered that motorists’ key fobs were being jammed because they were on the same wiresless frequency as the till in the nearby Lazy Daisy Lakeland Kitchen cafe. Mr Thornber said:”People thought it was a spook or some newly installed traffic lights but it is the till and the way waiting onstaff imput meal orders.” He added: ” We used what is called a spectrum analyser to make a sweep of the locality.” “The source of the interference was a wirless order taker in the cafe. “The device used the same frequency as modern car key fobs which operate central locking.” “The key fobs use a very low power source to protect the life of the batteries inside and so their use was drowned out by the power of Lazy Daisy.” More Previous
(AD Suggests ~ If residents have to go to such measures to help calm the traffic, perhaps the authorites should be taking the lead in improving road safety. This countrry seems to go overboard with petty health and safety issues, but doesn`t always takle the serious issues.)
A garage has closed off its own forecourt to prevent motorists falling victim to a team of clampers it hired itself. National Tyre and Autocentre took the action after receiving dozens of complaints about the behaviour of White’s Car Park Solution. But the clamping company has responded by threatening legal action for breach of contract, saying the garage is stopping them making money. It says it has a one-year contract to patrol the site and insists it will not walk away from the lucrative £150 pounds-a-time release fee. The dispute arose when visitors to a local takeaway, whom the garage owners allowed to park on the premises out of hours, left their cars on the forecourt overnight. A former manager asked WCPS to tow away the offending vehicles and signed a one year contract allowing them to manage the site in the city. Signs warning clamping is in operation were put up around the site and neighbouring businesses were issued with free parking permits to give to customers. But bosses at the National Tyre and Autocentre head office tried to terminate the contract when people reported being clamped before they had time to collect their permits. More
(AD Suggests ~ Sounds as though they are carrying out their contract very well. Doesn`t help the motorist, that there is no flexability or consideration, in the over zealous and lucrative application of the rules.)
Drinking and driving is one of the world’s most dangerous combinations. Some commentators liken drunk driving unto a driving accident just looking for somewhere to occur. As results, administrations of various countries have adapted various measures and rules in an attempt to stem the scourge of drunk driving. Now, these laws are affected by various issues such as culture, religion and the level of drunk driving. As a result, some of the laws adapted will vary from country to another with some even being unbelievable. More
(AD Suggests ~ Very harsh punishments in some countries. Presumably in those regimes, the offending rate is very small.)
Pioneering motorists will receive up to £5,000 to buy an ultra-low carbon car, and the roll-out of supporting infrastructure will begin in selected regions, the Government announced today. The Plug-in Car Grant will be distributed directly to the consumer at the point of purchase and will be available across the UK from January 2011, by which time a range of eligible vehicles is expected to be available. Also included in the Government’s plans is the roll-out of a £30m fund for a network of electric vehicle hubs – called Plugged-In Places – which will see charging infrastructure appearing in car parks, major supermarkets, leisure and retail centres, as well as on the street. The first Plugged-In Places were today named today as London, Milton Keynes and the North East; and between them they will be installing over 11,000 vehicle recharging points during the next three years. The initiatives are part of a £450 million Government strategy to support the creation of a flourishing early market for ultra-low carbon vehicles. The programme will help to meet the UK’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions from transport; as well as creating new business opportunities for UK-based companies in the automotive and charging infrastructure sectors. Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said: “Decarbonising transport isn’t an aspiration – it’s a reality. By this time next year, cutting edge motorists will be on the roads with these next generation cars they’ve purchased because of our help. “And thanks to the Plugged-In Places we will have in place infrastructure to support this growing early market. “Transport has a huge part to play in helping the UK meet its stringent emission reduction targets and today’s announcement is another step on the road to putting the UK at the global forefront of ultra-low carbon vehicle development, manufacture and use.” More
(AD Suggests ~ Incentives will help the start the process of changing to electric cars. When all the development of battery power storage is complete, the economy benefits of electric, will mean in a few years electric cars will be in the majority, rather than minority of new vehicles.)
Around 36,000 parents are breaking the law by naming sons and daughters as a ‘spouse’ or ‘partner’ on their car insurance policy, our own research has found. swiftcover.com contacted policyholders over concerns with their cover and found that one in four admitted to ‘fronting’ by not putting down their offspring as a ‘named driver’. We estimate that the number of parents taking this fraudulent action has almost doubled in the last two years, with as many as 36,000 mums and dads guilty of doing so. Robin Reames, our claims director, warned those who front that insurers are clamping down on such behaviour, which ultimately ends up costing those who abide by the law and purchase car insurance honestly. “Trying to buck the system by fronting is not only illegal, it actually ends up costing law-abiding motorists if they are involved in an accident with a fronted driver who is actually an underinsured driver,” he added. More (AD Suggests ~ Policy holders may think that saving a few pounds justifies a little bending of the truth, but the insurance companies will not pay put in the event of a claim, if the policy is not correct. Everyone must make sure that all details are correct, then there is no trouble in the future.)
Road safety charity Brake has renewed its call for a specific charge of drug-driving in the wake of the “shockingly low” conviction rates revealed in new crime figures. It is demanding that the Government makes it an offence to drive with illegal drugs in the body, allowing the police and the justice system to effectively target the “scourge” of drug-driving – something it says may now be as significant as alcohol-related motoring offences. According to the statistics from the Ministry of Justice there were 1,644 convictions in England and Wales for drug-related motoring offences in 2008. This compares to 71,449 for drink-related offences – the vast majority of which relate to the specific charge of ‘driving with alcohol in the blood above the prescribed limit’, for which there is no drug-driving equivalent. Although drug-driving is illegal, there are no prescribed ‘limits’, meaning the prosecution must prove that a motorist was ‘unfit to drive’ through the use of drugs. Brake argues that this is more difficult than being able to refer to the “simple statistical fact” that a test would offer. It says that the Government must approve kits that would enable police to carry out roadside tests on motorists suspected of drug-driving. More
(AD Suggests ~ We are all aware of the measures used to takle drink driving, now something needs to be put in place to educate against drug-driving. To back this up new laws/guidlines need to be put in place, and enforced, to make the roads a safer place)
Half of UK drivers have had a crash or a near-miss while swerving to avoid a pothole, according to a survey carried out by road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist. Committed to the safety of all road users, GEM developed the survey due to the huge rise in the number of potholes on UK roads since the bad weather and snow. However, despite the high percentage of drivers affected by potholes, GEM was shocked to find that almost 70pc of those surveyed had never reported a pothole in their area to the local council. Despite not taking the time to report dangerous potholes, nine out of 10 motorists believe that local councils were not doing enough to repair the damage to the roads. Reports show that there is already a huge backlog of repairs needed in all areas of the country and the widespread cold and frost has added to the problems. Certain estimates put the total cost of repairs at £100m. The survey shows that more than half of UK drivers have suffered damage to their cars from potholes but only 5pc have made a claim against the local council for the damage. This is largely due to ignorance as 88pc of motorists admitted they were unaware of the procedure to follow to make a claim if their vehicle was damaged as a result of a pothole. Some also did not know they could claim for this type of damage at all. More
(AD Suggests ~ This is a major problem, and is getting worse. Some of the hotholes are so deep, they are more like craters and can casue serious damage. We just need to be careful when avoiding the holes, and think of others on the road before taking action to steer round.)
Vandals will not stop the bird man of Newbottle and his battle against flying motorists. Bill Angus has repaired his “speed camera” bird box after it was damaged in a vandalism attack. As reported in the Echo, the 64-year-old’s cunningly-designed bird house in Sunderland Road, Newbottle, put speeding motorists in a flap as they caught sight of the device in his garden. The speed-trap lookalike won praise from neighbours and road safety chiefs, and it was even hailed by Radio 2′s Chris Evans. A weekend raid on the contraption left the plywood box with a hole in the side. But the hi-tech “bird hotel” is now back in action after a few repairs and wildlife-lover Bill has added a sign asking would-be vandals to think of his feathered friends before doing damage. “I’m really rather angry about it,” said the retired detective. More Previous post
(AD Suggests ~ Have people got nothing better to do than to wreck something, that helps the neighbourhood!)
A bird box resembling a traffic camera has put the brakes on speeding motorists racing through a village. Retired police officer Bill Angus placed the box on a pole at the edge of his property in order, he says, to offer a little help to the local birdlife. The birds may or may not be grateful – but his fellow villagers certainly are. Since the bright yellow box – pictured right – went up, the number of drivers doing 60mph through the 30mph zone has come down. Mr Angus insists – without so much as a hint of a smile – that the effect on speeders is no more than a happy coincidence. ‘Why does everyone think it’s a fake speed camera?’ he asked. ‘It’s a bird box and has been designed this way to stop people stealing it. It’s a bright colour, too, to attract the blue tits and finches. ‘Since I have put it up, the traffic is keeping to 30mph. If people want to think it is a camera, that is a matter for themselves.’ Mr Angus said villagers in Newbottle, near Houghton-le-Spring, Durham, have long campaigned for a speed camera, but were told it was not a priority site. More Update
(AD Suggests ~ If residents have to go to such measures to help calm the traffic, perhaps the authorites should be taking the lead in improving road safety. This countrry seems to go overboard with petty health and safety issues, but doesn`t always takle the serious issues.)
As cars are becoming safer and stronger, drivers’ views are becoming more restricted, says Which? Car as it reveals the best and worst car visibility scores. All-round visibility is generally worse than it was around 15 years ago. Car roof and door pillars have been strengthened and have grown from barely noticeable strips to thick chunks of metal. Our photos of a cyclist from the driver’s seat of the popular Vauxhall Astra, right, clearly show the problem. Vehicle blind spots account for around 1% of all accidents. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) calculates that eliminating them would prevent around 25 fatal accidents each year. More
(AD Suggests ~ This is very noticable if you spot older vehicles, with their larger back windows. Whilst the occupants in the vehicle are much safer, potential dangers for pedestrians cyclists are greatly increased.)
The government has today announced its latest Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA), unveiling plans to establish Wales as a major hub for the development of alternative fuel technologies and build so-called “hydrogen highway” along the M4 that will provide refueling infrastructure for zero emission vehicles. The award of the LCEA status is intended to establish Wales as the lead area in the UK for the development of alternative fuels and was kick started by the announcement that 15 hydrogen demonstration projects have been awarded a share of £7.2m from the Technology Strategy Board. In addition to new funding, the LCEA will also aim to bring together all the necessary infrastructure, skills development and incentive programmes necessary to accelerate the development of alternative fuel technologies in the region. An industry-led steering group will now begin work on driving specific projects forward, and the Welsh Assembly said that talks were already underway with carmakers, fleet and bus operators to encourage them to locate new R&D projects and vehicle trials in Wales. “Hydrogen presents exciting opportunities for low carbon energy and we want the UK to be at the forefront,” said Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. The Government is committed to encouraging and supporting growth through our low carbon industries, skills base and supply chain. That’s why we’re creating this Low Carbon Economic Area for hydrogen energy led by South Wales in close collaboration with the South West.” The new LCEA status has also been backed by the announcement of a flagship project to extend refueling infrastructure along the M4 corridor. Under the proposals, backed by a £500,000 government grant, electric car plug in facilities and hydrogen, compressed natural gas and bio methane refueling points will initially be installed along the Welsh section of the M4. More
(AD Suggests ~ Schemes like this are the way forward, but a mssive expense to roll out over the whole country.)
Well done on passing your driving test today, in Bedford, after taking your driving lessons in Bedford with ALPHA DRIVE.
Congratulations and best wishes from everyone at the driving school, as your look forward to many years of enjoyable and safe motoring.
For more information about the taking Driving Lessons contact ALPHA DRIVE on 0800 2118871. We also cover Sandy, St Neots and the local area for driving lessons.
If you’re worried about getting hit by an uninsured driver, you might want to avoid these places. Listed below are the ten areas with the highest proportion of uninsured driver convictions. With uninsured driver accidents becoming an increasingly big problem for both motorists and insurers, price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com analysed almost 3 million car insurance quotes over a year and identified the places with the highest convictions. It said that the Scottish town, Sanquhar, in Dumfriesshire tops the list, with male motorists between the age 22-25 the main culprits. Amazingly, almost 30% of searches for insurance there showed up a conviction. Hebden Bridge, in West Yorkshire, and Glasgow were placed second and third in the list. Once again males in their early twenties were the main offenders. In fact, in all of the top ten areas men were the main offenders, except Bedfordshire – the only area with a female profile in the top ten. A surprise addition was London’s posh W11 postcode, where offenders were also older than the norm. Steve Sweeney, head of car insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: ‘It seems men under 25 are not only the country’s ‘boy racers’ but also ‘law breakers’. With half of the top ten profiles for uninsured drivers being males under 25, they are more likely to flout the law by driving without car insurance. ‘Unfortunately, the high cost of car insurance, especially for younger drivers could be the overriding reason for this.’ See the table of results
(AD Suggests ~ Punishments for uninsured drivers need to tougher, and enforcement on the roads more visable and effective.)
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