January

Keep up-to-date with relevant news

• 31/01/2013 Car commuters told to cut spending Research reveals car commuters in the UK spend an average of £840 on petrol or diesel over a distance of 3,326 miles each year.
• 31/01/2013 OFT: Fuel market 'working well' Competition in the British road fuel market seems to be "working quite well", according to the Office for Fair Trading (OFT).
• 31/01/2013 Record sales for vehicle auctioneer A vehicle auctioneer recorded its best ever sales week in the UK in January.
• 31/01/2013 Toyotal recall hits more than 1m vehicles Japanese car giant Toyota is calling in over a million cars worldwide as a safety precaution. It is recalling 907,000 vehicles, mostly Corollas, for faulty airbags and a further 385,000 Lexus IS luxury models for defective wipers.
• 31/01/2013 Drivers reminded that 'belting up' saves lives British motorists and their passengers have been reminded to "belt up" as campaigners mark three decades of wearing seatbelts behind the wheel.
• 30/01/2013 Scholes car stolen in defrost drama Manchester United star Paul Scholes had his car stolen while he was in the process of defrosting the windscreen.
• 30/01/2013 Bellamy receives ban for speeding Cardiff City footballer Craig Bellamy has been banned from driving after being caught speeding on a motorway.
• 30/01/2013 Levy would charge foreign hauliers Plans which would see foreign lorries being charged up to £1,000 a year to use UK roads will help British hauliers compete, it is hoped.
• 30/01/2013 Greener cars to pay congestion fee Hybrid car drivers could soon be forced to pay London's congestion charge in full. Under plans by Transport for London, the proposals will also see small diesel cars forced pay the £10 daily fee to drive in the capital, along with the scrapping of the "greener vehicle discount".
• 30/01/2013 Calls for petrol market change Campaigners have urged the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to repair a petrol market which "has stayed so resistant to scrutiny for so long".
• 29/01/2013 Britons' financial debt increases The latest official figures have revealed that the overall financial debt of households across Britain has shot up to more than £90 billion.
• 29/01/2013 BA flight makes emergency landing Passengers flying from the US to London on a British Airways flight were delayed by several hours after the pilot made an emergency landing.
• 29/01/2013 Holidays 'help you live longer' People often feel invigorated after a couple of weeks in the sun - and now a new experiment appears to have lent some evidence to support the idea that holidays can make you healthier and perhaps even live longer.
• 29/01/2013 Firms work on zero emission cars Motorists may be able to drive a hydrogen-powered car by 2017, thanks to a collaboration between vehicle manufacturers.
• 29/01/2013 Wilkins must wait in driving case Former England captain Ray Wilkins must wait for his drink driving case to be heard after the trial was vacated for a second time.
• 28/01/2013 Energy efficiency scheme goes live A Government scheme intended to revolutionise the energy efficiency of UK homes has gone live.
• 28/01/2013 Melting snow brings more flooding Thawing snow and heavy downpours on Sunday night caused travel chaos and left communities across the UK facing the threat of further flooding.
• 28/01/2013 Tidal flooding 'still a big threat' Millions of homeowners in the UK are potentially at risk of coastal flooding, according to a hypothesis from the Environment Agency (EA).
• 28/01/2013 Toyota 'top car maker' with record sales Toyota is once more the top car maker, reporting a record 9.748 million vehicle sales worldwide, topping December's estimate of 9.7 million.
• 28/01/2013 Campaigners warn over link road Campaigners have stepped up their protests against a planned £93 million road between Hastings and Bexhill in East Sussex, claiming it will cause major harm to the environment.
• 25/01/2013 Coalition tackles flood insurance A minister has insisted the Government is at an "advanced stage" in talks over the future of flood insurance.
• 25/01/2013 Significant drop in overall crime rate The overall level of crime has contracted to its lowest level since the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) began in 1981.
• 25/01/2013 IAM hands out advice on towing British motorists who regularly tow caravans, horseboxes or other vehicles have been urged to be on their guard when travelling around the UK.
• 25/01/2013 UK drivers use heaters to defrost A new study has found that 80% of drivers in the UK often use their car engine to warm up the inside of their car in order to melt ice and snow on the outside.
• 25/01/2013 People who multitask often can't Stay clear of the motorists who talk on their mobile phone while behind the wheel.
• 24/01/2013 Electric car costs reduced by Nissan Nissan is making zero-emission mobility more affordable by lowering the cost of its pioneering electric vehicle.
• 24/01/2013 MP's energy efficiency law proposal Landlords might soon be legally required to improve the energy efficiency of a house that is shared by more than one tenant.
• 24/01/2013 Snowmen can save homes from flooding Building a snowman may be the activity of choice when wintry weather hits, but experts say it could also prevent homes from flooding.
• 24/01/2013 Digital radios popular with drivers An increasing amount of British motorists believe an in-car digital radio is the must-have gadget of the moment, according to a new study.
• 24/01/2013 Rugby agents 'ripping off fans' Agents who only sell tickets for rugby matches as part of a holiday package are ripping off fans, a consumer rights group has said.
• 23/01/2013 Wintry weather continues across UK The wintry weather continues to disrupt the transport network and schools around the UK.
• 23/01/2013 Academics call for pay as you drive Leading academics are urging the Transport Secretary to implement 'pay as you drive' road charging to help combat congestion and carbon emissions.
• 23/01/2013 New app launched for car crashes MA new app has been launched to help motorists with advice and the means to gather evidence in the event of a car accident.
• 23/01/2013 Thieves on the hunt for boilers Two homes in south Wales were left without heat as the cold snap hit Britain, after burglars stole their boilers.
• 22/01/2013 Snow and ice disrupting flights Wintry showers and sub-zero temperatures continued to disrupt travel arrangements on Monday as snow and ice continued to grip most of the UK.
• 22/01/2013 Councils given clarity on speeds Local authorities in England will have a clearer understanding of how to implement speed limits after road safety minister Stephen Hammond published new guidance.
• 22/01/2013 Drivers should clear car roof snow British motorists are risking a police fine and penalty points for failing to remove snow from the roof of their cars before setting off on a journey, according to new research.
• 22/01/2013 Higher death rate for obese drivers Clinically obese motorists are less likely to survive a car crash than their healthy bodied counterparts, according to a new American study.
• 22/01/2013 Winter weather disrupting transport The UK's transport network continues to struggle to operate in the winter weather.
• 21/01/2013 Cowell asks: Which cat has talent? Simon Cowell has revealed he hopes to find a dancing cat among the next crop of talented hopefuls.
• 21/01/2013 £20m paid out for pothole damage Potholes are proving a costly problem for councils as they forked out more than £20 million in compensation last year to drivers whose vehicles were damaged by them.
• 21/01/2013 World's first gallery in the air Virgin Atlantic has revealed that from next month, Upper Class passengers will be able to view an art gallery while travelling.
• 21/01/2013 Heathrow blasted over cancellations Heathrow bosses are facing criticism after 260 flights were cancelled at the airport on Sunday.
• 21/01/2013 More property for sale in January, study The number of people in England and Wales trying to sell their home in the new year is at its highest since the onset of the economic crisis in 2008, according to a property website.
• 18/01/2013 Costa del Sol won't cost a packet People who holiday on the Costa del Sol every year are well in pocket as the Spanish destination is one of the cheapest in the world for tourists.
• 18/01/2013 Hotel QE2 to receive glamour upgrade The QE2 has set sail for a new life as a luxury floating hotel.
• 18/01/2013 UK-made cars for export hit record The UK puts its foot down last year as manufacture of cars reached its best level since 2008.
• 18/01/2013 Driving licence rules to change Fresh rules on driving licences will come into play on Saturday in a bid to crack down on fraudulent activity.
• 18/01/2013 TomTom app logs trip distances A new app from sat-nav specialists TomTom will help drivers keep track of their mileage.
• 17/01/2013 Quadricycles to become legal in UK Driving a quadricycle on Britain's roads will be legal for 16-year-olds from January 19, giving teenagers more freedom on the roads.
• 17/01/2013 Young drivers told to focus on road Young motorists are easily distracted while behind the wheel and have a tendency to speed, according to fresh research by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
• 17/01/2013 Service station first for motorists Motorways in Northern Ireland are set to get their own service stations to make life easier for motorists looking to refuel.
• 17/01/2013 Poor vision big problem on UK roads One in three motorists fall short of the required standard of vision for driving, according to a study by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare.
• 17/01/2013 Language mix-up sees Tevez banned Premier League footballer Carlos Tevez has been banned from driving for six months because he didn't realise the word constabulary meant police, a court has heard.
• 16/01/2013 Britain braced for heavy snowfall Temperatures plummeted overnight leaving Britain readying itself for the biggest snowfall of the winter.
• 16/01/2013 Homeowners predict rising prices Two in three homeowners expect house prices to rise further in the first half of 2013 after a steady increase throughout last year.
• 16/01/2013 Driving licence rules tightened The Government has announced plans to close a loophole allowing non-EU drivers to receive a British licence without meeting UK standards.
• 16/01/2013 Warning issued on icy weather accidents Motorists are being warned they face a fivefold risk of road accidents due to the icy and snowy conditions hitting the UK this week.
• 16/01/2013 Law may get tough on new drivers A coroner is asking the Government to set a lower speed limit for new drivers.
• 15/01/2013 Young driver scheme relaunched A scheme to help young motorists will be relaunched at an open day run by British Touring Car Champion, John Cleland.
• 15/01/2013 South-West has best used car bargains The South-West is the place to pick up a used-car bargain but those in the North-East pay the most, new figures show.
• 15/01/2013 Police advice on gadget security A police force has issued advice on how to keep tablet computers safe as well as gadgets such as smartphones, laptops, bikes and other valuables.
• 15/01/2013 Experts warn about 'frost-jacking' Six cars were stolen in the space of just an hour and a half in Belfast as the vehicles' owners left their engines running while de-icing them.
• 15/01/2013 Heathrow's record passenger numbers Heathrow Airport has beaten the economic downturn for another year with a record number of passengers passing through its terminals.
• 14/01/2013 Sporting fixtures determine holiday plans, study shows When it comes to deciding when to go on holiday, making sure you don't miss that crucial sporting fixture is all important, a survey suggests.
• 14/01/2013 Drivers warned over heavy snow falls Heavy snow showers are expected to cause further chaos on Britain's roads this afternoon after many people woke up to light snow showers today.
• 14/01/2013 Motorists 'would pay more for greener car' A third of motorists across Europe would be happy to pay slightly more money for a car that is environmentally friendly, a new survey has shown.
• 14/01/2013 Luxury car graffiti case adjourned A court case involving a professor of urban studies who defaced luxury vehicles by etching polite graffiti on them, causing £18,000 in damage, will continue this week.
• 14/01/2013 Charity urges winter driving caution Motorists are being urged to get back to basics to avoid accidents and breakdowns during treacherous winter driving conditions.
• 11/01/2013 UK tourism rises as spending falls Britain recorded higher numbers of foreign tourists during November, although there was a small drop in spending.
• 11/01/2013 Sub-zero temperatures to hit the UK Plummeting temperatures could cause havoc on roads around the UK this weekend as Britain prepares for a cold snap.
• 11/01/2013 Cat burglar arrested by police A woman has been arrested after allegedly bundling a kitten into her handbag and stealing it from a pet shop in South Wales.
• 11/01/2013 Motorists misled over miles per gallon New car buyers who base their vehicle choice on official miles per gallon (MPG) figures may be being misled, according to an on-line motoring watchdog.
• 11/01/2013 Kitten swallows 6-inch TV aerial A feline television addict has miraculously survived eating a six-inch aerial.
• 10/01/2013 UK temperatures set to plummet The moderate climate experienced since the start of 2013 is due to be taken over by below zero temperatures and snow, weather forecaster said today.
• 10/01/2013 Toddlers 'on safari' in Africa An increase in family travel to Africa, particularly including young children, is one of the top African safari travel trends to look out for in 2013, according to Kent Redding.
• 10/01/2013 Audi wins car of the year award The Audi A3 Sportback has won the coveted What Car? car of the year award and was praised by judges for setting "a new benchmark" for others.
• 10/01/2013 Flood insurance crisis unresolved Negotiations with flood insurers are ongoing, the Prime Minister has announced, as he denied accusations plans to improve security for homeowners have been abandoned.
• 10/01/2013 New car finance on the increase The number of new cars purchased using car finance is on the rise and much of the growth is said to be due to attractive deals from lenders on offer in showrooms.
• 09/01/2013 Bad drivers to be nagged by robot 'Sybil' Car boffins have come up with a robotised Sybil Fawlty - an in-car safety system that nags you when your driving becomes dangerous.
• 09/01/2013 CCTV captures 'kitnapping' incident The alleged theft of a kitten from a pet shop in Cardiff has been caught on CCTV.
• 09/01/2013 Welsh politician reinstated after driving ban Welsh Assembly member Bethan Jenkins has been reinstated by her party after she was was convicted of drink-driving.
• 09/01/2013 Councils hit the parking jackpot Cash from council parking charges have soared by more than five times the current rate of inflation (2.7 per cent).
• 09/01/2013 Queen singer's Rolls to go on sale Queen legend Freddie Mercury's former Rolls-Royce is going up for sale this weekend and fans will be able to own a genuine relic of rock royalty when the 1974 Silver Shadow goes under the hammer.
• 08/01/2013 Penalty dodger handed jail term A prison sentence given to a motorist who searched on Facebook for someone to take up his speeding points should serve as a 'warning' to anyone tempted to do the same, road officials have announced.
• 08/01/2013 New car sales levels show increase Last year saw more than two million new cars sold in the UK - up 5.3% on 2011 and the highest rate since 2008.
• 08/01/2013 Union hits out at parking costs A union has criticised "scandalous" increases in car parking charges at railway stations.
• 08/01/2013 Top tips available over traffic appeals If you're heading for a traffic penalty tribunal, fear not - the body responsible has produced a series of "top tips" available based on issues normally raised in appeals.
• 08/01/2013 Driving tests in store at Halfords Motorists will be able to use Halfords to start and finish their driving test in the coming months, under a new initiative launched by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).
• 07/01/2013 Working drivers risking crashes New research has revealed that many people who drive as part of their job risk being involved in a crash by texting or even grooming at the wheel.
• 07/01/2013 Brits spend thousands on the job Workers are spending as much as £1,843 each year on their jobs, according to fresh research by Santander 123 World.
• 07/01/2013 London Fire Brigade urges safer fridges Calls have been made to make modern fridges and freezers safer.
• 07/01/2013 New Europe-wide driving licence A new standardised, Europe-wide driving licence model will be introduced this month in a bid to crack down on criminals producing counterfeit licences.
• 07/01/2013 Potholes send repair bills soaring The pockmarked state of Britain's roads is forcing drivers to shell out more than £1 billion per year in repair costs, according to a new study.
• 04/01/2013 Holiday bookings set to reach peak British Airways Holidays is forecasting that more summer holidays will be booked on Monday 7 January than on any other day this year.
• 04/01/2013 Wait continues for flood cover deal The Environment Secretary has revealed that households affected by flooding across the UK will have to wait for an agreement to be reached on affordable insurance cover.
• 04/01/2013 War hero, 91, targeted by thieves Thieves have burgled the home of a 91-year-old Second World War fighter pilot, in yet another case which highlights the importance of having home insurance.
• 04/01/2013 Young drivers warned over servicing Young motorists are more likely to ignore the need for basic vehicle maintenance, according to a poll conducted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
• 04/01/2013 Hard-up Brits struggle to pay debts More than 8% of the British population are struggling to maintain their mortgage payments or pay their rent, according to new research from Shelter.
• 03/01/2013 Councils create more 20mph zones Millions of motorists in England and Wales will be forced to slash their speed following local councils' plans to introduce lower limits.
• 03/01/2013 Car insurance quotes 'could increase' Motorists are being warned they could see car insurance quotes rise after insurance firms' own costs took a hit.
• 03/01/2013 Virgin to launch domestic flights Sir Richard Branson's airline Virgin Atlantic is to launch its first domestic flights in the UK this year.
• 03/01/2013 Majority unaware of new tyre labelling
• 03/01/2013 Yorkshire braced for more flooding Communities are facing the prospect of further flooding in Yorkshire as river levels continue to rise.
• 02/01/2013 Poor sight sees 6,000 lose licence Almost 6,000 motorists lost their driving licences in 2011 because they could not see clearly enough.
• 02/01/2013 Young drivers 'targeted' by SNP A Scottish National Party (SNP) politician has been criticised for suggesting drivers between the age of 17 and 25 should be banned from carrying passengers and driving late at night.
• 02/01/2013 Cost no deterrent for holidaymakers Many people heading on holiday in the new year will have come to terms with the increased expense of taking a break.
• 02/01/2013 Tyres key to self-drive snow breaks British skiers and snowboarders have been urged to perform safety checks before heading off on self-drive trips to European ski resorts.
• 02/01/2013 Villagers step up to stop speeding Residents wielding speed guns caught 35 motorists breaking the limit in the first few days of a campaign to slow traffic down on a busy route through their village.