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By Alan, on March 28th, 2012
A recent review of the safety of people driving under the influence of drugs has shown that those who smoke cannabis before driving are twice as likely to have a serious accident. The study showed that those who consume the illegal drug three hours or less before driving are twice as likely to be involved in a crash.
The research has come out of a university in Canada and it is only focused on the increased risk of major accidents and has not looked at the drugs effect on minor road incidents. There is increasing amount of concern over people using drugs and then getting in a vehicle in the UK, and it is a problem that is particularly known to affect young drivers.
The country is currently considering the introduction of a system which will analyse people for drug use on the roadside, much like a breathalyser for alcohol does. Much campaigning has been done by the family of a young child who was killed by a driver who was under the influence of cannabis.
John Page was the motorist who killed the child and he was subjected to a drug test nine hours after having the accident. He tested positive for cannabis, but because the drug test was conducted so late, it was impossible to get a conviction for driving while under the influence of drugs, which would have carried a more severe penalty. Instead of a long prison sentence, he was banned from driving for two years and only spent two months in prison.
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has voiced his support for people having illegal drugs tests at the roadside and he has commented that drugs clearly affect people’s motor skills which are absolutely essential for safe driving.
The study, which has been conducted in Canada, is the first that has looked solely at the effect on peoples driving under the influence of cannabis. Previous statistical analyses have shown that people are more dangerous under influence of drugs, but the studies have always looked for cases where people have been influenced by alcohol as well.
The study looked at all types of vehicle and it concluded, “Recent data has shown that while the number of people drink-driving is declining, the number of people who take drugs and then drive a car is increasing. Those under the influence of drugs, such as cannabis, are a danger on the road and they are more likely to injure themselves and other road users.”
During 2008 around 70,000 people in Britain were convicted of drink-driving offences, where is only 1500 people were convicted of driving under the influence of drugs. Mike Penning is the Road safety Minister and he has commented, “We want to introduce a new offence of drug driving and start using drug screening equipment on the road. This will make it easier for police to crack down on the small minority of people who are taking drugs and then driving their vehicles.
“We are currently collecting data for ourselves about what the increased risks are of driving under the influence of drugs, but we are certain they do play a part of road accidents. Despite the fact that the UK has some of the world’s safest roads we are not complacent and are determined to crack down on those who do not respect motoring laws.”
By Alan, on March 28th, 2012
The first strike action taken by fuel tanker drivers for over a decade could be about to take place. The drivers have been complaining about safety standards for a long time and very little action has been taken by companies in order to improve the situation. 2000 members of the trade union, Unite, have said that they are considering a national strike campaign.
Around 90 percent of tanker drivers in the UK are part of the Unite union and it is estimated that a strike by these workers could affect around 8000 petrol stations across the UK. It is widely expected that the drivers will return the vote that says yes to strikes, but Unite have said they will not be making any announcements about strike dates until they have spoken to their local representatives across the country.
Francis Maude a Cabinet office minister has commented, “We have learnt lessons from the past about how to deal with fuel strikes and we are ready to deal with the problem if it goes ahead. We are confident that negotiations will be able to go forward and a solution will be reached. A fuel strike would affect petrol forecourts across the country and cause a significant amount of disruption.”
John Trickett is the shadow minister and he has commented, “The government need to insist that both sides start immediate negotiations. Every moment of delay is a significant waste of time that could ultimately lead to a great deal of disruption in the country.
The government’s highest priority should be that this petrol strike is avoided and it is essential that they understand the gravity of the situation.” The Unite union have stressed that the strike action will not be about pay but is against the fragmented and unstable situation of the fuel distribution industry in the UK.
By Alan, on March 27th, 2012
At some point an old car stops being dependable and starts being a waste of money due to the fact that they require more money to fix than a down payment on a new car would cost. Once you start paying money on a monthly or bi-monthly basis for repairs and maintenance you should start thinking about actually getting a new car and just trashing the old one. After all, why continue to throw your money away when you could be using the money to invest in a new vehicle? Simply add up the amount that you have spent in repairs over the last year and if the amount astounds you then it is probably time to go with a new car.
Of course, before you actually head to the lot to purchase a new vehicle you will want to think about trading in your old vehicle or if it is no longer drivable, at least taking some time to find out it’s junk value. Many people are surprised to learn that when they type in something as simple as My Junk car Value they can actually get real estimates on how much their vehicle is worth. Of course, you want to make sure that you choose a reputable website when it comes to looking for a quote, because you want a fair valuation to make sure that you approach the sale the correct way.
Many people write off junk cars because they are not drivable and neglect to even take a look at the Kelley Blue Book value. The truth is that if there are only a few repairs that need done you can knock some off the price tag and still make a profit on the car as-is. Some of the online quote sites can be very helpful with this since you can see the fair value of what a car is worth without the repairs and then judge appropriately.
In these cases, you will usually do better with a private buyer over a dealer since the dealer will attempt to convince you that the car is just a junk car that should be written off. They also could offer you a better trade-in for the junk car, but then offer you a much lower discount on a new car in order to make up for the difference so you end up coming out behind anyways.
Guest blogger Alan
By Alan, on March 26th, 2012
A new move has been made by the government which is going to enforce a fine on drivers if any rubbish is thrown out of the windows of their cars. This fine is not going to just apply to the driver of the vehicle, but it is also going to make them responsible for any rubbish that the passenger throws out of the window. Fines are going to be set at around £100 and will apply even if the driver is not in the vehicle at the time.
The government has said that the matter is likely to remain the responsibility of local authorities to enforce, and it is expected that much of the enforcement will be done through CCTV. The Environment Sercretary, Caroline Spelman, has stated that this law will come into effect in London this month and will see officers start fining people for littering.
The government have said that they want to see the scheme rolled out across the rest of the country in the near future. Littering is currently a criminal offence and if a person is taken to a magistrates court they can face fines of up to £2500 for it. It is also possible for police officers to enforce anti-littering by handing out penalty notices of £80 to anyone seen dropping rubbish in public.
Unfortunately, tackling littering in cars is more challenging and the Highways Agency have estimated that enough rubbish is thrown onto the roads in the UK to fill nearly 750,000 bin bags every single year.
Mrs Spelman stated, “It can be very challenging to catch people who are littering from their cars and this provides an extra challenge for enforcement officers. Therefore, we are going to be monitoring how the scheme takes off in London very carefully before we consider rolling it out to the rest of the UK.”
Littering is a significant problem in the UK and it is something that governments have been trying to tackle for a very long time. One of the first initiatives was under Margaret Thatcher who appointed Richard Branson as the country’s litter tsar. The changes that are proposed by the government have been welcomed by various environmental groups from across the country.
David Parsons is the chairman of the Government Association Environment Board and he has stated, “People who are littering from their cars are damaging the countryside and unfortunately they are usually getting away with this offence because of legal loopholes. This is unacceptable and the taxpayer is having to meet cleanup costs of millions of pounds because of litterers antisocial behaviour.”
The AA have also released a statement in support of the scheme, “The vast majority of our members believe that litter on the UK rates is a significant problem and we are very supportive of the scheme that is going to cut down this amount of litter. However, we want the law to punish whoever is driving the car, not whoever owns the vehicle. Members also think that as well as fines, points should be put on licenses for people who litter from their vehicles.”
A spokesperson from the Campaign to Protect Rural England has commented, “We think it is a good idea that the driver of the vehicle is responsible for making sure that the passengers do not litter.
However, we think that points on their licence would be a punishment that is too severe. The government should see how the fine system works out before they consider introducing any more serious punishments.” Around one in every four motorists have admitted to dropping litter out of the car windows at some point.
By Alan, on March 26th, 2012
Keeping our cars on the road is becoming more and more of a struggle, what with the prices of petrol, road tax and insurance rising seemingly weekly. It is no surprise then to find that the new car market is in somewhat of a slump, as those that need cars are tending to look for second hand cars for sale rather than taking a trip to dealerships to check out new ones.
How and where to look very much depends on the kind of car you are looking for, what age you want it to be, and how much you are prepared to pay. The internet should always be your first point of call, as good local garages and dealers in your area will be listed on there, and the majority now have websites and update their stock daily, so if you see what you like, you can make a quick phone call to confirm it is still there, then go check it out.
If you are looking for a relatively new car, or a specific model, there are nationwide chains of car dealerships that carry large stocks at great prices. So if you went to a search engine and typed in used BMW 1 series for sale in Newcastle, you would get a whole plethora of results up which will aid you in your search. These dealerships tend to offer good deals on part exchanges too, and often have good deals on finance too.
While we would all love to be able to pay cash for our new, second hand car, with there being a lot less disposable income around, and people tending to want higher end, younger cars that will last them a fair few years, finance is often the only option. While you may be loath to go into debt for that car you want, if it an essential item then needs must, especially if you need a reliable vehicle to commute to and from work.
The large dealerships will have all their finance options on their websites, so once you have tracked down the car you want at an outlet near you, you can apply for the finance there and then if you want to. The better companies throw in such things as flexible payments, one year warranties and roadside assistance, and go out of their way to fix you up with your dream car and make it as affordable as possible.
By Alan, on March 18th, 2012
Using a GPS jammer is illegal in the UK, but a recent study has revealed that many people who are having their whereabouts tracked are using the devices. A study which was conducted by Sentinel found that in the last six months over 60 incidents of GPS jamming occurred. The results of the study were presented to the Present Danger conference which was held at the National Physics Laboratory recently.
The project gathered its results by using 20 jamming monitors that were located at different locations across the country. It is expected that there system for research is going to be developed into a product that can be used as a deterrent for people using the jamming devices.
Charles Curry from Chronos Technology has stated, “We believe there are about 50 to 450 uses of GPS jammers every day in the UK. That said, these are early results and we are still analysing the data.” Most of the devices which are used for GPS jamming our very small but still have an effective radius of about 300 metres.
The study was funded by the Technology Strategy Board and is backed by numerous partners. The research also led to the confiscation of one jammer by the police. About the confiscation Mr Curry commented, “We were examining the data and we saw that there was a repeating pattern, we informed the police and they were able to wait at the location until the jammer past, then they were able to move in and confiscate it.
It is easily possible to buy one of these devices on the internet and many in law enforcement believe that the law around the devices needs to be stricter. It is important that it is possible for those using one of these devices to be detected and the driver can be identified. This is the next stage in the project and a system is currently being developed.
Logistics companies often use GPS trackers so they know where the vehicles are. They are particularly useful for vehicles that are carrying particularly valuable cargo. From the Royal Institute of Navigation is Professor David Last and he has commented, “The actual power being emitted from a GPS satellite is tiny and therefore even a very low power jammer is capable of drowning out a GPS signal that it is tuned to the same radio frequency. GPS is an incredibly valuable service and the use of jammers is problematic.”
By Alan, on March 17th, 2012
A recent study that has been conducted by the RAC has shown that sending e-mails and text messages while driving is significantly more distracting than being intoxicated. The survey showed that those who were text messaging showed much more impairment with reaction time being slowed around 33 percent. Furthermore steering ability was reduced in 90 percent of the drivers.
Previous studies have highlighted this problem as well, and it goes to show how much of a significant problem using a mobile phone while driving is. The study by RAC also showed that around one quarter of people send text messages while driving. The figures are very similar to studies that have been conducted in other European countries about the use of mobile phones when driving.
The study highlights that using a mobile phone while driving is very negligent and drivers who do it are putting their own lives, as well as the lives of others in danger. In women who are under 35, the leading cause of death is road accidents, something that could be cut down if people did not text while driving.
By Alan, on March 9th, 2012
Motorcycle theft has always been a problem in the UK, but in recent years the increase of motorbikes being stolen has risen at an alarming rate. Anyone who has suffered the theft of a motorbike will know just what a huge hole it leaves in your live, not to mention the inconvenience.
It can be a lengthy process from making the initial theft report to the police to actually claiming on your insurance, and many bikes are simply never recovered. Recent research has shown that the value of motorbikes stolen on the streets of the UK adds up to about £3m every month but thankfully MotorCycle Direct has stepped in to give bikers tips on how to keep their treasured vehicles safe.
• 80% of bikes are stolen from rider’s homes, so if you have a garage, lock your bike away. Not only will it reduce your Motorbike insurance premiums but your bike will also be hidden from view.
• Make sure you use a good quality lock and chain to secure your bike to a ground anchor. When you are parking at your house you could take extra precaution of parking a car in front of your bike so thieves find it difficult to access and remove.
• If you have to park on your drive, again, secure your bike to a ground anchor and consider fitting CCTV. If you can’t afford real CCTV, a false camera can be a handy deterrent.
• If you are parking on the road, try to use a designated motorcycle parking space where ground anchors are found and take your helmet and other possessions with you.
• Wherever you park, it’s worth investing in a bike alarm and immobiliser and having these fitted by a trained technician. Most insurers will offer you a cheaper premium if you have a Thatcham-approved category one or two immobiliser and alarm system.
• Security marking your bike will make it harder for thieves to break up your bike and sell it as parts, so try and do this in as many places as possible. It also means it has more chance of being recovered if it were stolen. The Alpha Dot can be painted on or you can use a UV marker to mark your bike with its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
• Never leave your keys in your bike and always keep them safe and out of view when you’re out and about or at home.
• If you need a cheap and easy way to deter ‘ride away’ thieves, simply remove the spark plug or the HT cap.
Follow these tips from MotorCycle Direct, and although they do not guarantee your bike to be safe, it will make it that much harder for a thief to be able to get their hands on your bike.
By Alan, on March 7th, 2012
 A recent study has suggested that too many people on the UK roads are putting themselves, and others, at risk because they are driving when their eyesight is not good enough.
The only legal requirement on the UK roads is that drivers are able to read a license plate from 20 metres away.
At the driving test, around 2000 people fail simply because they are unable to do this, but this figure could be dramatically below the number of people who are driving unsafely on the UK roads. Estimates have said that around 4 million people could be driving with bad eyesight in the UK.
Julie Townsend, from the motoring organisation Brake has stated, “The government is currently considering reducing the requirements for eyesight on the UK roads and this is something we are very concerned about. Rather than reducing the requirements, the government should be increasing them and enforcing the more strictly.”
The survey conducted by Specsavers, highlighted that the vast majority of people think that people should have their eyes tested before they can drive. Currently, once you have passed the initial eye test, when taking your driving test, there are no further testing requirements. Even when you reapply for a licence when you are much older, you only have to tick a box to say that your vision is still fine.
Lee Hammond is a training directorate at Peak Performance and he has commented, “Some people are driving with dangerously bad eyesight. A driving trainer once reported to me that one man he was training was unable to read the license plate, even from half the required distance.
The fact that he was driving around on the roads is simply unsafe and we need to see the government create a policy that is going to demand people drive with glasses if necessary.”
By Alan, on March 7th, 2012
 A group of charities has recently issued a warning that some motorists in Wales are having to take on debt in order to keep their vehicles on the road.
A recent estimate has shown that people in the area are having to spend around a 10th of their incomes on running their vehicles.
Unfortunately, the alternatives in many parts of Wales are not acceptable and people are forced to run vehicles so they can get to work. People also always have to travel by car if they want to reach nearby amenities, such as shops, because the public transport situation in the country is so bad.
Lee Waters works at Sustrans Cymru and he is commented, “It is terrible that in this country if you don’t have a car your life is going to be limited. It is simply not the case that everyone is capable of affording a vehicle and if Wales wants to seriously deal with the issue of unemployment and poverty, then they need to improve the public transport system. People who cannot afford vehicles need to be able to get around as well and not having the facilities for doing this is unacceptable.”
Many of the policies created in Wales focus on the fact that everyone has a car, but this is simply not the case. Around 25 percent of the Welsh population do not have their own vehicle, which means that attempts to make transport cheaper by cutting road tax, are not effective. In order to improve people’s mobility situation in the country, the government need to focus spending on public transportation.
A national transport plan for Wales was initiated last December and a spokesperson from this plan has stated, “We are working very hard on creating more accessible, and affordable, public transportation. Furthermore we are working on creating ways for people to get around more easily by cycling or by walking.”
The government for the UK however seems completely focused on cutting the cost of fuel having recently stated, “We are putting aside £4 billion in order to make motoring more affordable.”
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