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A recent series of drugs tests that have taken place in haulage businesses have shown that many drivers resort to drugs in order to maintain their alertness on long truck journeys. These drugs include speed, cocaine and even ecstasy. The results of these studies have shown that around one in every 10 drivers from a haulage company might test positive for illegal drugs. Despite these recently released figures Mike Penning, the Road Safety Minister, has stated that the roads in the UK are still some of the safest in the world. However, there was one incident recently where a driver drove his truck into vehicles that were parked on the side of the motorway conducting maintenance. The driver was tested for alcohol but was found not to be under the influence, instead, he was being influenced by drugs. Drivers are often going for distances that are beyond the safety recommendations and they do this by manipulating the system which ensures they do not drive too much. Often it is the case that drivers are switching round cards which measure how long they are travelling for and are lying to their employers about the use of illegal drugs. The company who released these figures has not been identified as they do not want lose potential business. However, they have said that it is a problem that is prevalent across the industry and is not limited to just one company. Despite drug testing, the drivers have not lost their jobs Cycling is a sport that is growing in popularity but unfortunately many people are not fully aware of the high risk of being injured on the road. A recent study has shown that in the UK, people are 20 times more likely to be hurt on the roads if they are on a bicycle as they are to be if they were in a car or other motor vehicle. Even though this figure is quite alarming, it compares rather favourably compared with Australia, where cyclists are nearly 35 times more likely to be injured on a bicycle then in a car. Motorcycling is an activity that is known to be dangerous and those who ride a motorcycle are still the highest risk group. They are only slightly more likely to die than an Australian cyclist, but when compared to the UK figure for cyclists, motorcyclists are still at a significantly increased risk. One of the reasons why cyclists can become injured so easily is because they don’t wear a great deal of safety kit. Car drivers are protected in a large shell of metal, and motorcycle riders wear a lot of protective gear. Most cyclists will only wear helmets for protection, and not even this is a legal requirement. A cycling accident without a helmet present can be a serious risk and it is often the case that people suffer brain trauma. The statistics surrounding cycling are very interesting as cyclists do tend to live longer, especially if they cycle more and faster. This is because of the additional exercise they are getting, however, they are more likely to die on the road than a slower, infrequent cyclist. More cyclists on the road in recent years has meant that the number being injured every year has increased. The government has stated that car drivers have to be more vigilant for cyclists on the road as they can be easy to miss. Cyclists have also been urged to obey the rules of the road and are reminded that the rules also apply to them, although they are rarely enforced with penalties. It is only last year that the drink-driving laws in Ireland were given a complete overhaul when the Gardai were given the power to impose on-the-spot fines of 200 Euros and 3 penalty points to drivers caught slightly over the limit of 50mg of alcohol in the blood. Drivers could only have this penalty once in three years. If caught drink-driving for a second time in that period, they would have to attend court. Now the Government is considering a whole new range of proposals, not only for drink-drivers but for those repeatedly caught driving dangerously or speeding. It is hoped that the new options for Judges sentencing culprits will be in place by next year. One proposal is that if drink-drivers do a training course, paid for by them, then they could get their driving ban reduced by up to a quarter. Based on the system in use in the UK, they will still be fined and receive penalty points but their ban will be reduced if they finish the course. The course will cost drivers about 300 Euros and will be run by RSA approved agencies. It will be up to the Judge to decide if an offender should go on the course. At present there are over 21 thousand up in court on drink-driving charges every year. Anyone found to have more than 80mg of alcohol in their blood will be banned for at least 6 months and fined up to 5000 Euros. Other proposals include drivers being made to take lessons and sit their driving test again, “speed awareness courses”, curfews, bans on carrying passengers and breathalysers built into the car which they must pass before the car will start. The RSA say the proposals will be put before the Government soon.
In Sweden, there are strict rules about trailers, which are not really seen in the UK. Unlike a car, trailers and not subject to the same scrutiny that the cars are through the annual MOT test. In Sweden, all trailers need to pass a road-worthiness test before they are allowed on the road, this often means that people who’ve rebuilds trailers themselves, or made repairs, are not going to be good enough to go on Sweden’s roads. Trailers are something that are essential for many businesses in the UK. Builders are known to use trailers if they are unable to fit everything they need in their vans, and it is thought that if testing comes to these trailers then the cost for builders is going to be significantly increased. A building contractor from Cardiff, Clive Davies has commented, “This is just another way that the government want to introduce more health and safety legislation and it is simply an over the top measure. Before I attach the trailer to my car of course I make sure that everything is in good condition, if it’s not, I will make repairs, but I will be sure that the trailer is safe when I’m on the roads.Every year I have to put my van through an MOT test and this process is stressful enough. I don’t want to be hit with additional bills because my trailer is not up to scratch.” However, some driving bodies are welcoming the idea that some form of road-worthiness testing for trailers should be introduced. New trailers that are being produced have to conform to standards that are being set by the European Union but these are not currently applicable to trailers that have already been purchased. It is currently unknown whether the government will decide to pursue a more rigorous testing process for trailers. It was in 1961 when the first automated car parking machine was revealed in London. This structure was capable of housing over 250 cars and involves a complex system of levers, pulleys and conveyor belts. At the time it was a remarkable invention and many people regarded it as one of the most impressive features of the modern age. The building was opened by Princess Margaret, the younger sister of the Queen, and when she first pressed the button to load the first car into the device, it failed and the car got stuck. A year later, the machine was still having many problems and it was not nearly as convenient as people thought. The building was demolished and very little was said about it in the future. This meant that the idea of having an automated car park died for a long time, but it is still something that people have been dreaming about. Many people see this sort of system as something that can solve the congestion problem that many major cities have. Manufacturers have been drafting automated car parking systems for some time and the ones today are much more technologically advanced than the first one that opened in the 1960s. Abu Dhabi is a city that is known for being particularly challenging to park in and for this reason this has been the focus of many big contracts for automated car parking systems. One of the companies that is developing a system for the country is the Swiss company Skyline Parking. The head of the company has recently commented that they have managed to develop an automatic car parking system that is both efficient and functional. It is expected that these car parks are going to be installed in the United Arab Emirates in the next few years. IAM, the road safety charity, has recently started offering motoring tips in order to help people drive better on rural roads, which are some of the most dangerous in the country. This article is going to look at some of the best that are being offered from the most advanced driver in the country, Peter Rodger. First off, it is very important to be aware of the fact that there are often vulnerable road users on the smaller roads. This will include cyclists and horses and you should travel slowly and make sure that you pass them with plenty of space. If it is not safe to pass, wait until it is safe to do so. It is also important that you slow down before going round a bend. As the roads are narrow, you risk hitting a car that you cannot see if you go around the bend too fast. Once you can see right through the bend, you should increase your acceleration before you’ve finished the corner. If you are in an isolated area, but see houses, you should be extra careful as it is possible people will be coming in and out of these houses and will not expect traffic. You should also be aware that on these isolated roads, there tend to be more farm vehicles so you should watch out for these coming out of hidden driveways and entrances. You should also make sure that you keep control of your vehicle if an animal runs out in front of you on a country road. If you swerve out of the way you are far more likely to have a serious accident. You should not stop, as it is far better to have a broken fog light from hitting the animal, then it is to have a broken car from hitting the bank.
The right policy There is no right or wrong when it comes to car insurance. At the very core of the matter is your vehicle itself, and how much it is worth. A more expensive car will be suited for a typical third party fire and theft policy. The cost of the vehicle itself should more than out weight the cost of the insurance. This way, you’ll still save money should anything happen. Likewise, owners of cheaper vehicles may want to consider avoiding fully comprehensive policies. Whilst these are suitable, and car insurance quotes can be found, it does not make the most financial sense if the cost of the insurance is more than the cost of the vehicle. In short, it would theoretically be easier to just replace the car. Of course, this choice comes down to you, your vehicle and how valuable it is to you. If it is proving too expensive then you could opt for temporary car insurance. Additional Services Depending on your life style, additional insurance options may be worth investigating. A good insurance company will have a choice of affordable insurance options to utilise. If you drive out of the country a lot, for instance, then you may want a policy that covers the car in the EU. A courtesy car is also another example, and highly important if your car is you main source of transport to and from work. In short, you want to find a deal that saves you money if something goes wrong. These additional options should reflect what you do with your vehicle. It is obviously always important that you compare car insurance. The more often you do something that isn’t covered in the standard policy, the more likely something can happen; this is where the extra layer of security can help. Adding it up In short, these are the most important aspects to finding reliable car insurance. Other factors are always important, but it helps to nail down what it is you actually need. The transport minister for Scotland has recently met with various safety campaigners in order to discuss the high number of cyclist deaths that have been occurring in Edinburgh in recent years. Just last year alone four cyclists in the city died after being struck by vehicles. The campaigners have been pushing the government to introduce more safety measures for cyclists to ensure they are better off on the roads of Edinburgh. The government is being put under a great deal of pressure from grassroots safety organisations and they have planned a protest next month in the city in order to pressure the government into introducing regulations. The government are very much behind the promotion of cycling and they have recently said that they want to see one in every 10 journeys made in Scotland being done on a bicycle by 2020. Campaigners have been very critical of the government however because they have set these high targets, but have done very little in order to facilitate reaching them. The Scottish Green party have recently put forward a proposition that the government run a survey of the 50 most dangerous junctions in the country. This would allow them to make improvements to these junctions so cyclists can use them safely. A safety campaign, Pedal on Parliament, is having a protest next month but they have also created a manifesto and presented it to the government. The manifesto shows how the group want to see the same safety protocols that are seen in England put into effect in Scotland. The campaign was started by David Brennan, a keen cyclist, who has been encouraging people to cycle in the city for a long time. He has also organised the protest which is going to see people cycling around the Scottish Parliament building on 28 April. Nick de Bois, the member of Parliament, recently made himself heard in a Parliamentary debate that took place last Thursday. He has urged the government to push through legislation that will close a loophole that means that drivers without a driving licence will be unable to drive on the roads so easily. Mr de Bois is a conservative MP for Enfield North and he has stated that the fact that unlicensed drivers are able to buy motor insurance is enabling people without a licence to drive on the roads. He described the problem is a serious threat to the safety of people living in the country. He did say that the checks that are currently in place to make sure people have a driving licence are good, but this is just a loophole the needs to be closed in order to make Britain’s roads safer. People driving without a licence is something that is very dangerous and it is responsible for several deaths every year. Mike Penning, the shadow transport secretary was also involved in the debate and he agreed with Mr de Bois saying that the government should allow insurance companies to check the DVLA database to make sure that the person who is buying insurance does have a valid licence. This is something that should also be extended to the road tax system, so the people are unable to put a tax on a vehicle without having a licence. The reason people can drive the car undetected without a licence is because speed cameras only scan license plates and check them against the insurance database. There is no way for them to run plates against people to see whether they have a driving licence or not. Mr de Bois has been working to push forward legislation after a 20-year-old man died after being hit by an unlicenced driver. |
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