Motoring News

Women are better at parking than men

Alan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:19:13 +0000

The story goes that women are not as good at parking as men, perhaps because they lack spatial awareness. However, covert surveillance in Britain’s car parks found that women are a little slower to park than their male counterparts but that their positioning within the space is much better.

The average British motorist parks a car just over 1000 times in their life. This equates to 9 days worth of parking for men and 12 days of parking for women. Looking at 7 components of parking, researchers from Germany found that women score 13.4 points on average, while men get 12.3 points out of the available 20.

Men are more skilled for driving forward into spaces, whereas women are more likely to use driving instructors’ preferred technique of reversing into parking bays. Women are better at locating available spaces, whereas impatient men miss free spaces by driving too quickly.

Women also seem to be better at lining their car up prior to starting to park with 75% get into a good position whereas just 50% of men do so. While professional instructors teach that bay parking should be done in reverse, just 28% of men did so compared to 39% of women.

Men are quicker at getting their car parked, taking just 16 seconds to do so, where women took 21 seconds on average to complete the manoeuvre. Perhaps this is why women are able to get their car parked in the middle of a space twice as often as men, with 52% of women managing a central park. Men are generally happier with their speedy park, with far fewer deciding to reposition their car after they have got it into the bay.

This research by Neil Beeson contradicts the figures from the Driving Standards Agency which said that last year thousands more women fail driving tests on parking errors than men.

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New cars now to be MoT tested after 3 years

Alan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:10:47 +0000

The Transport Secretary Justine Greening announced this week that all cars will now need to be tested after their first three years on the road and then afterwards on an annual basis in a move that surprised many.

This is just one of the many reverse transport announcements that have come about over the last few months as it seems the Government is a bit bi-polar when it comes to its policies. Other announcements that have been surprising have been that pupils under five do not need milk in school and that they will sell off public forest areas.

Prior to the announcement it was understood that ministers were thinking about waiting four years before an initial MoT inspection would be required of new cars and then making the test a bi-annual requirement. The idea was to help clear red tape after so many regulations were erected over the economic period of uncertainty.

At the time it seemed logical as cars are now more reliable and better constructed then in the past. However, Greening chose to toss the plans of Phillip Hammond in favor of evidence that she reviewed from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

The study revealed that over a quarter of the MoT tests over the last year missed defects and passed thousands of cars that should not have been deemed roadworthy. Motoring groups were in support of the results claiming that if the tests were not as frequent then more unsafe cars would continue to slip through the cracks placing many people’s safety on the roads at risk. In response to the poor MoT results, the Government plans to carry out a variation of the ‘mystery shopper’ experience at its own testing centres to see where the problems are.

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Should I make a whiplash claim?

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:17:28 +0000

With all the talk of fraudulent road traffic accident claims and rising insurance premiums as a result, it is no wonder that many motorists hurt in an incident on the roads will not even think about putting in a claim for compensation.

But those who have genuinely been injured in an accident that was not their fault should not be afraid of making a whiplash claim.

Head, neck and shoulder injuries are common in car crashes, and even in low-speed collisions the effects can be very painful and impact everyday life.

Whiplash is a general term for these sorts of injuries and covers all sorts of symptoms. The damage arises when the head and neck are jolted around and sufferers can experience aches and pains for a long time after the accident, making it difficult to function as normal.

“No one should be afraid of making a whiplash claim if they have been injured in an accident that was not their fault,” explains Matthew Briggs, CEO of www.claims.com.

“Everyone has a right to justice if another person has caused them harm, and motorists should not be put-off by talk of the blame culture or feel they are taking advantage of the system.

“Whiplash injuries can be very serious and you are right to seek compensation to help pay for treatment.”

As with all RTA claims, a successful whiplash case will depend on proving wrongdoing or negligence on the part of the other road user. This means that their behaviour behind the wheel must be shown to be illegal or irresponsible and have directly caused the accident.

The problem with fraudulent whiplash claims arises because such cases are usually one person’s word against another’s and it can be difficult to establish what happened, especially when fake witnesses are produced or no one saw the accident.

This means it is vital that if you were involved in a collision on the roads that you make notes on what happened, take photographs wherever possible and ensure you have the details of any witnesses. Reporting the accident to the police will also help to ensure the circumstances are thoroughly recorded.

Enlisting the help of a specialist personal injury solicitor will ensure you get the best possible advice based on your situation and that your claim is handled quickly and professionally. Only a qualified expert can make sure you get the best possible outcome and are awarded the whiplash compensation you deserve to help you get on with your life.

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Drug diving testing

Alan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:11:55 +0000

Over the past few years there has been a great deal of research conducted on the problem of UK motorists driving under the influence of drugs. Since the introduction of the breathalyzer, testing for alcohol is a fairly quick and accurate procedure, but drugs are a different matter.

Currently, when a motorist is stopped by police on suspicion of driving while impaired, the field impairment test (FIT) is standard practice; it usually involves standing on one foot and/or walking a straight line etc., and if the driver fails that test they get a breathalyzer. If they pass that, they’re more than likely to drive away without further ado.

Recent studies have revealed that more than 10% of drivers in the 17 to 24 age group admitted they had driven while under the influence of drugs, a considerable increase over the percentage four years ago. Road safety organisations have been lobbying for more effective drug testing, and now a plan is in the works to do some serious up-dating.

The government is setting up a panel to explore the options and try to come up with a feasible method of drug testing and make it available to police stations country-wise. The panel’s findings will be the basis for new legislation that would make driving under the influence of drugs prosecutable in the same way drink driving is now.

The saliva test, already in use by Australian police, is limited and relatively time-consuming. That test involves using different cellulose strips for different drugs; it takes a while and can’t cover every possibility anyway. New developments in testing devices will make it possible to detect even a slight amount of some drugs in just a few seconds, but that leaves other dilemmas.

There is no clearly defined ‘legal limit’ for the level of any specific drug in a driver’s system, and the differentiation between a ‘legal high’ from prescribed medicine and an ‘illegal high’ from anything else poses a huge complication for law-makers.

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Police focus an teens behind the wheel

Alan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:09:22 +0000

The Norfolk Police and Norfolk County Council have joined together for a promotion titled ‘Tread Says’ which is a new initiative aimed at preventing and reducing the amount of serious and fatal road accidents that occur when teens are behind the wheel.

Over the past three years the amount of crashes on the roads in Norfolk has decreased, but out of the collisions that do occur, over 35% of them involve a teen driver according to figures compiled from the Casualty Reduction Partnership. The news led officials to meet in the area to discuss how the scheme can help keep youngsters safe.

A course has been created at Tibenham Airfield close to Diss to help educate youngsters about the hidden dangers of driving and features a ski avoidance exercise that takes place in a Ford Focus that has been adapted to drive as if the road is icy.

The exercise will hopefully help teach teenagers about over-steering and under-steering and help make them more aware of what to do when the roads are bad and they slip in their cars. The practicum session is followed by six additional workshops for those who participate that focus on car modifications, winter driving, changing tyres, and additional safety tips.

Chairman of the Casualty Reduction Partnership and county councilor Alex Byrne stated that the scheme is designed for 17 to 25 year old driers and is hopefully a better way than an accident to learn the proper ways to stay on the road.

He explained that with 300 crashes over the last three years that resulted in serious injuries or deaths it is important to educate young drivers on the safest way to approach the roads. However, Byrne added that most teens do not want to hear another lecture which is why the interactive workshop setting is a better choice.

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Mini recalling nearly 240,000 cars

Alan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:45:21 +0000

Mini have announced that they are going to be recalling nearly 240,000 cars because of a fault that can potentially cause vehicles to catch fire. The company said that there are around 30,000 cars in the UK that have this fault. The company has been receiving complaints for many months from drivers saying that cars have caught fire when they have been unattended.

Others have said that the problem has occurred when they are driving and they will suddenly see smoke rising from underneath the bonnet. The manufacturer of Minis, BMW, has, up until now, stated that there was no problem with the cars. In an about turn, the company has just stated that they are investigating a problem with the cars and it appears that the fault is affecting models built between 2006 and 2011.

It is believed that the malfunction is because of a circuit board which controls the cooling system. If this circuit board fails then the water pump is unable to cool the car and this can cause the engine to catch fire. Several incidents have been reported in the UK but only two are being investigated by authorities. In the United States there are 12 incidents currently under investigation.

It is expected within the next few weeks that owners are going to be given a recall notice. A spokesperson for the manufacturer has stated that the chance of something actually happening to your car is very low and they have urged people to continue using the vehicles.

He specifically pointed out that there have been no injuries or deaths because of the fault. He stated, “Vehicle owners are going to have to go to the dealership and have a new water pump installed, this is all that is required. It should be a relatively simple and easy problem to fix.”

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Is it time for a drug-driving law?

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:58:04 +0000

Safety expert endorses idea of roadside drugalyser test and says too many drug-drivers are getting away with it

Roads Minister Mike Penning: considering new drug-driving law change. Picture by Highways Agency

A current UK television advert tells of the consequences of driving while under the influence of drugs. The advert uses alarming imagery to show a group of young people cruising in a car at night; all of their eyes, including those of the driver, are twice their normal size.

A hushed voice-over tells TV drivers: “Drugs have an involuntary effect on the eyes that you can’t control – the police can spot this”.

However, many road safety groups think that this in a overly simplified message as “the police can’t always spot this and find it even harder to prove”. The penalties for drug-driving and drink-driving are the same but the police often find it harder to prove the guilt of a motorist suspected of convicting a drug-driving offence.

Breakdown cover company GEM Motoring Assist are just one of the road safety organisations who are keen to eliminate the threat of drug-driving. David Williams MBE, chief executive officer of GEM, said: “It is vital that the government does more to send out a message that drugs and driving should never be mixed together.”

Panel of experts

It is with such a concern in mind that the government has appointed a panel of ten scientists to examine the technical aspects of introducing a new offence of “driving with an illegal drug in your body”.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “The panel will look at how such an offence could be defined as well as considering whether it is possible to set levels for the impairing effects of specific drugs.”

New drug classifications

Drugs such as cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and opiates are certain to be discussed by the experts. A Department for Transport (DfT) statement noted: “It is likely that the panel will consider whether it is possible to identify, for average members of the adult population, the levels of drugs that have an impairing effect broadly equivalent to the current blood-alcohol limit.”

The panel will be comprised of academic and scientific experts in the field of alcohol and drug misuse and their work is expected to start in the spring.

These experts will have much to discuss. DfT figures reveal that in 2010 drug driving was cited by police as a contributory factor in 51 fatal accidents (compared to 250 fatal accidents linked to drink-driving).

However, experts think that this figure could just be the tip of the iceberg as ‘drugalysers’ are not available to UK police forces – meaning that roadside tests cannot be conducted.

Commenting on this situation, David Williams of car breakdown cover company GEM said: “Very often the police suspect that a drunk motorist might also have taken drugs but, not having the technology to prove this, have to content themselves with subjecting drivers to a breathalyser test. Many motorists who are convicted of drink-driving have probably been lucky to escape drug-driving charges.”

Mr Williams added: “I fully support the idea of introducing roadside drugalyser tests. Other countries use this technology so why can’t we?”

Current methods of detection

Police instead have to rely on a field impairment test if they suspect a driver has taken drugs before getting behind the wheel. The test involves:

Using a ‘pupil measure’ to record the size of the driver’s eye pupils – enlarged pupils can be an indication of drug use
Asking the subject to close their eyes and estimate the passage of 30 seconds
Walking ‘heel-to-toe’ in a straight line
Standing on one leg while counting out loud
The driver touching the tip of their nose with the tip of their finger with their eyes closed

The results of the tests determine whether a motorist should be taken back to a police station for a blood test. By the time a driver submits to a blood test the drugs can have left their system.

Currently, police have to prove that a driver’s actions have been impaired by drug use to bring charges – a painstaking process. Creating a new drug-driving offence could simplify this process.

The panel’s agenda

However, the panel will have some complex issues to discuss before the government can make an informed choice about introducing a clearer definition of drug-driving. For instance, the experts’ remit includes examining “whether impairment levels could be exceeded through prescribed or otherwise legally obtained drugs”.

Consideration will also be given to how taking a combination of drugs and alcohol (and combinations of different drugs) can effect a motorist’s driving ability.

David Williams of GEM believes that it is very unwise for drivers to mix alchol with prescribed drugs – the combination, he says, can be a “lethal cocktail” and one which compromises motorists’ judgement and reaction times.

Perhaps in a few years time the police will have more technology at their disposal to test whether drivers have taken prescribed – or recreational – drugs before getting behind the wheel.

With the Home Office having already conducted trials with drug-screening equipment in police stations, the prospect of roadside drugalyser tests seems closer than ever. Could it be that a police officer’s request to “breathe into this please” is set to take on a new meaning?

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Flu can be a serious driving hazard

Alan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:37:48 +0000

Those motorists suffering from a heavy cold or the flu suffer from a major loss of concentration when they are driving, thus putting both themselves and other motorists at risk, according to new research. Road safety experts have found a dramatic increase in the rates of poor driving when those with cold underwent scientific tests.

Their reaction times dropped significantly, and they braked suddenly much more frequently, and as the motorist was a lot less aware of the traffic surrounding them, their cornering was also more erratic.

The study also found that their overall driving ability dropped by over 50%, the approximate equivalent of downing more that 4 double whiskies. This is a level of ability to drive that insurance companies expect to lead to accidents. The research was carried out by the insurance company Young Marmalade, in association with Halfords, and used a black telematics box to record a driver’s braking, cornering and speed.

Nigel Lacy is the co-founder of Young Marmalade, and as said that although this is a trial on a small scale, it should act as a warning for motorists. He added that heavy colds also impaired the concentration, judgment and overall mood of drivers.

There aren’t official figures for accidents caused by sneezing, colds and flu symptoms but the insurance industry suspect motorists are responsible for a thousands of prangs when they are under the weather.

The findings back up work done by Cardiff University Common Cold Unit** which showed that those with colds and flu suffered from poor reaction times and alertness and were a third more likely to hit the roadside kerb.

Halfords Winter Driving Expert Mark Dolphin said: “We want our customers to stay safe. You shouldn’t drive if you are not feeling well. The best place to be when you have flu or a heavy cold is at home, but if you really must go out, get someone else to take you and avoid driving.

“Other drivers should be aware of those around them.”

Added to this Police warn that drivers getting behind the wheel while suffering from a heavy cold could be prosecuted.

PC Steve Rounds, of the Central Motorway Police Group said: “Sneezing can be very violent, especially with a severe cold and causes the sufferer to close their eyes temporarily.

“Commencing a journey in such a state would certainly be irresponsible and could be held as an aggravating factor in any accident that lead to a death or serious injury, turning a careless act into a dangerous one and thereby exposing the driver to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Police also warn that some over the counter medications can cause drowsiness and hamper driving ability. If a person is rendered unfit to drive because they have taken medication, then they commit the same offence as if they had taken illegal drugs such as cocaine.

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Scooters becoming ever more popular

Alan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:54:09 +0000

Recent figures have been released by the DVLA which have shown that the number of scooters being registered has increased by over 10 percent during the last year. It is expected that this growth was because of the increasing rise of transport costs in the UK. Scooters are much more fuel-efficient vehicles and offer a cheaper way to get around than cars or even public transport.

There was an even larger rise in the number of small motorcycles registered, with around a 20 percent increase last year. A major manufacturer of scooters, Peugeot, has said that in 2011 there was nearly a 50 percent increase in scooter sales across the UK and this figure was greatest in London. Honda, who make small motorcycles, have also seen a significant sales increase on previous years figures.

While the number of small and efficient two wheeled vehicles has increased, the sales of larger motorbikes have decreased significantly, with some motorcycle sellers reporting sales drops of nearly 10 percent.

Gary Thomas from Scootering magazine has commented, “It is clear that these figures are due to the increased cost of travel. We expect that many of these sales are from people who are trading in one of their cars for a more efficient vehicle. Families which had two cars previously are now going to have one car and a scooter for one of the parents which they will ride into work.”

A representative from Peugeot has stated, “Scooters are around twice as efficient as a car so you can halve your motoring costs by driving one. They are also cheaper to park and this is another way that buyers can save money.” It is not just the price of parking that is a problem, and many stations do not have adequate spaces, having a scooter can alleviate this problem.

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Two year MOT will cost drivers more

Alan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:23:34 +0000

The plan to reduce the regularity of MOT’s is expected to actually cost drivers more according to experts. It is expected that more costs will be associated with insuring and repairing a car that is maintained less often. It is also expected that there will be around 40,000 job losses in the car maintenance industry.

The new system is going to mean the cars don’t have to have an MOT test for four years after being purchased new, and after that they only have to have an MOT every other year. The changes are being considered by the government so the U.K.’s MOT testing system is similar to that of Europe.

A consortium of motoring groups, safety organisations, and retailers have come together to oppose the change. They have recently issued a report that shows the extra financial burden that is going to be placed on motorists.

The government have said that they expect people to save nearly £25 because of the change but this group estimates there will be extra costs to motorists in the range of around £80. This figure has been calculated by working out the additional costs of fuel usage, insurance premiums and additional repairs.

Furthermore, the group highlights the additional risks to peoples safety associated with having less well maintained vehicles on the road. They estimated the cost to the UK economy will be over £1.4 billion because of the additional serious injuries and deaths that will occur on the roads, as well as the revenues that will be lost through the expected job losses.

The report states, “The UK has some of the safest roads in the world and this is because of our rigorous testing regime. If we start lowering the standards then more people are going to be injured on the roads and this is going to cost the taxpayer a lot more in the long run.”

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