Changes To Driving Licences

Driving Licence Changes

As of the 19th January 2013 a European Directive will come into force in the UK, meaning that those who drive motorcycles, lorries, buses, minibuses and those who tow trailers will see their licenses change.

Dates and the way that new licenses are set out will be changed, to make it clearer what vehicles the holder can drive, and expiry date will be shown clearer. Also the expiry date of your license will be shown on the front of your license, and the expiry date of your entitlements will be shown on the back. (more…)

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A third of motorists use their mobile phone whilst behind the wheel!

The use of a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel in the UK was banned in December in 2003. If caught by the police, you can be charged up to a £60 fine, and receive a CU80 conviction code, which equates to 3 points on your license. Although the consequences are somewhat serious, people still break the law as over 1 million people have been caught since the law was introduced.

A study by insurance company Liverpool Victoria highlighted that over 20% of drivers think that driving whilst using a phone is acceptable, with many admitting to using their phones to check Facebook and twitter whilst driving.

Research has shown that using a mobile phone whilst driving is as dangerous as driving whilst under the influence of alcohol. The study that was conducted showed that those who were on their mobile phones whilst driving were just as likely to crash the vehicle as those who were under the influence. Of the three drivers that took part in the study, all of them crashed into the back of the test car, whilst talking on a mobile.

Technology is slowly helping to combat the problem of using your mobile phone whilst driving, with Bluetooth and Hands-free communication tools a popular choice for those with newer vehicles. Those with older vehicles do not have this option, or choose not to use it.

Even though this technology is trying to help those who still need to use a mobile phone whilst driving, it is yet to assist the police in catching offenders. Currently there is a device that is used by selected police forces, that uses laser technology to catch those in the act from up to half a mile away.

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Top Ten 4×4 Vehicles of 2012

The 4 x 4 is back in fashion, at the start of the last decade, buyers turned their backs on large four wheel drive cars and SUV’s due to the their reputations for using a lot of petrol. But over the past few years many of the car companies have made their cars more fuel efficient and friendlier to the environment. With a wide range of diesel engined vehicles and clever green technology you can be sure that you can get a four by four that is not going to take a huge chunk out of your finances in relation to fuel.

Many off road models are bought due to the styling which has been improved over the past few years. A good comparison would probably be from the Vauxhall Frontera to the Range Rover Evoque. 4×4 used to be the synonym for huge box shaped vehicles, however nowadays there are a large range of vehicles which have 4×4 capabilities without having the ugliness of a huge boxy vehicle. The fashionable type of vehicle nowadays seems to be the SUV or estate vehicle, many of which do have 4×4 capabilities, like the Toyota Rav 4 or the Audi A4 for example.

Many people tend to have a 4×4 as they give a great sense of security, with high driving positions, piece of mind with power going to all four wheels, an off road model has more than enough grip to keep moving through all kinds of terrain including snow, ice, rain or even hilly conditions. The most capable models have clever 4×4 technology that adjusts the suspension, engine and transmission settings to cope with the most extreme terrain, often at the touch of a button. The huge dimensions usually mean plenty of interior space, too, and some models make the most of their boot size with extra rear seats that fold up from the boot floor. The vast majority of cars sold in this class run on diesel and have considerable pulling power, so 4x4s are popular with caravan owners due to their huge towing capacity. Just bear in mind that towing will hamper fuel efficiency further.

From the prestige range of four by fours like the Range Rover to the rugged off roader like the Land Rover Defender, or the Jeep Grand Cherokee, here are some of the 10 best 4 X 4 vehicles:

  • Range Rover
  • Volvo XC60
  • Land Rover Discovery
  • Porsche Cayenne
  • Nissan X Trail
  • Skoda Yeti
  • Kia Sportage
  • Ford Kuga
  • Toyota Rav 4
  • Volvo XC90

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Habitual Drink Drivers Could Have Their Vehicles Seized

Repeat Drink Drivers in the UK could have their cars seized as the government announced new attempts to crack down on the problem of people getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. This move from the government follows the declaration that the amount of motorists being convicted more than once for drink driving charges had risen quite significantly.

Startling figures show that in the year 2000, 13,299 motorists received a second ban for drink driving. This figure had increased to 19,605 by 2009. During this period, those disqualified from driving at least the second time rose to 24% from 16%, the Daily Telegraph Reported.

This plan will be part of ministers’ aims to tighten up laws surrounding motorists and alcohol. This means that drivers could lose their right to a second blood test or urine test if drivers are found to be even fractionally over the limit when breathalyzed.

This move is meant to clamp down on a loophole that means people can sober up while they await their new test. In September nearly 1 in 10 motorists admitted, to the Crime Survey of England, that they had driven while over the legal limit. According to the Department of transport, last year over 280 people were killed in drink-drive related incidents, an increase of 30 from the previous year.

We always advise that you keep safe out there and do not consume any alcohol if you have plans to drive a vehicle. It is always better to be safe and sorry.

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New device can be fitted to cars to save young drivers insurance premiums

A black box fitted to cars to reduce young drivers insurance premiums cannot be a bad thing, can it?

Young motorists can now reduce their insurance premiums by installing black boxes in their vehicles, Vauxhall reported. These devices can be fitted to both new and used Vauxhalls and purchased through the dealer network and insured by Ingenie.

How does it work?

The black boxes work in a very similar way to the black boxes you would find on an aircraft. The boxes create driver profiles based on how the vehicles are being driven. Factors which can affect the cost of your insurance premiums include speed, cornering, acceleration and braking. Rather than looking at isolated incidents the boxes tend to pick up on trends of behaviour and driving style.

Ingenie then reviews this information every 3 months and then charges the drivers according to their behaviour whilst driving. Motorists can also monitor their progress online and by using a mobile phone application.

Can I qualify?

Drivers must be between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five.

Is it really worth it?

Vauxhall say that young drivers could save up to 10 per cent on their first year premiums by having these black boxes fitted. That is quite a considerable amount when you consider the amount that younger drivers generally pay for their insurance premiums. It is best not to assume that the long term cost are less than the normal policies, as this may not be the case. They might be however it is always worth double checking.

What are the benefits?

The main factor which should be taken into huge account is the way young people drive. Not all young drivers are the stereotypical ‘boy racers’, but yet the insurance companies still charge through the nose for their insurance premiums, generally just based on their age.

Well now with this new black box, this could really benefit the many young drivers out there that do drive safely and this in turn will obviously save them a sizeable amount when it comes to renewing their insurance policies.

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Can you still get tax discs from your Post Office?

Many of us are used the convenience of nipping down to our local Post Office branch and renewing our tax for our vehicles. This may not be an option anymore. In October the DVLA failed to confirm or deny whether the Post Office would continue to act as a portal for people to get their tax discs and their driving licences.

The institution of the post office along with the rival bidder and ‘internet payment service’ Paypoint must now wait until the end on November 2012 to see who has won then ten year contract which is worth six hundred million. Along with the foreclosures of many more local branches of the Post Office only some of the larger branches are staying open which would put the bid possibly in favour of the Paypoint bid.

George Thomson, General Secretary of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters revealed:

“The DVLA contract is essential to the future of our Post Offices. The ongoing delay in announcing a decision on the contract is having a highly unsettling effect on the national Post Office network and on individual sub postmasters’ ability to plan for the future”

He concluded:

“Certainly, if the contract isn’t awarded exclusively to the Post Office it would be catastrophic for the UK’s Post Offices – thousands of branches may be forced to close”

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Immobiliser Device Linked To Car Finance Payments

A new system is in place whereby vehicles that are purchased on finance can be disabled automatically if motorists miss any payments. This comes from a company in the US called Prompt Pay which offer a keypad operated immobiliser.

The way the immobiliser system works is as follows;

When the first payment is made for the vehicle on finance, then the driver is provided with a 6 digit code which is entered into the immobiliser and allows the car to operate normally. Three days before the next payment for the finance is due the immobiliser springs back into life. This will show a number 3 on the screen, indicating that there are three days until the next finance payment is due. This then counts down to 2 and then 1 depending on the number of days which remain before the next payment for the finance vehicle is payable. The message is reinforced by beeps alerting the driver to the countdown which has begun. If the payment is not made on the requested date then the immobiliser will initiate, preventing the car from starting and stopping the driver from using the car. When the next payment is made the driver is provided with another 6 digit code and is then able to be on their way again with the vehicle.

There are many different arguments to this new procedure. On the one hand, you could have motorists stuck without a vehicle especially with the issues of payments being delayed through banking errors etc. However on the other hand, car companies are not offering a free service, payment for a vehicle must be made if the vehicle is being used. Also it is handy to note that the system offers several advanced warnings before the vehicle is immobilised. Some may view this as a relatively harsh standpoint however it is a fair one if you look at the bigger picture.

What is your opinion on this?

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European Austerity Measures Causes 24 Hour Strike

A 24 hour strike has been called in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy due to austerity measures that have seen wages, pensions, benefits and social services cut. This is all due to governments such as Spain and Greece having large debts with banks and other countries. Cuts have been agreed by governments in exchange for money to bail out countries.

Strikes are also planned in countries such as Belgium, Germany and France; however the debts in these countries are far less than in Spain, where unemployment is currently at 25%, the highest rate in the EU, with Greece coming in close second.

There have been outbreaks of violence with 32 people arrested and 15 others treated for minor injuries. The strike has delayed many flights and trains, with the transport in Lisbon reported as being at a virtual standstill. The foreign & Commonwealth office is advising all travellers to check for any delays or cancellations before making their way to the airport, and to allow extra time for travel.

If you have a car hire booked for today or tomorrow and your delayed due to these strikes then speak with our team today and we will ensure that we can amend your car rental reservation.

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Insurance Companies Forced Into Gender Equality

Women are being urged to check their insurance policies before the new ruling comes into force next month which will ban firms quoting prices based on gender.

Insurance companies have been very forceful in trying to prevent this change for the past few years however due to new legislation this is a mandatory option as of the 21st December 2012.
Some insurers predict that women’s premiums for their car hire could rise by at least 25%.

From 21st December 2012 insurance firms in the UK will be restricted from taking gender into account. Currently women pay less for their cover for cars, so the rise in women’s premiums is to bring the prices in line with what men are currently paying.

According to the Department of Transport, male drivers under 25 were involved in more than 24,000 accidents last year, compared to just over 14,000 for female drivers under 25.

It is great news that the insurance companies are finally getting in line with gender equality and not basing their prices on what sex we are. However some women are arguing that women, should not have to pay an additional 25% on top of their premiums, and that men should pay a little less so that the premiums rates for men and women could be on more of an even keel.

Male drivers can expect to see their premiums drop slightly however don’t be expecting huge drops as this is very unlikely to happen.

If your insurance coverage is due to expire after 21st December 2012, insurers are advising it may be cheaper to cancel your policy prior to this date and sign up for another year at the cheaper prices before this date. Do be aware though that you may be subject to a fee if you do this it might also affect your no claims bonus.

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Capacity Issues At Heathrow Airport

With London being a thriving centre for the world’s trade and business sectors, arriving and departing by plane for meetings and business deals is often imperative to ensure that you arrive on time and you seal that lucrative deal. Many of the airports in London are an essential gateway for families and people travelling to and from the UK for their holidays. Heathrow is no exception which is why there is growing concern surrounding the capacity at Heathrow Airport.

This follows the news that the government has rejected calls for a third runway to be built at Heathrow Airport. There have also been talks about expanding London City Airport to alleviate the amount of traffic incoming to London however talks for this have also been suspended.

Chancellor George Osbourne stated,

“Over the next few months we will be talking to people about where that capacity should be.” He then went on to say, “I am very clear; we are an open trading nation and just as we don’t want to shut down our ports or our railways, we don’t want to shut down our airspace.”

Now this is totally understandable and we do not want to in anyway disrupt our trade links or travel arrangements. However this is a problem which is only going to get worse, not better. Something does need to be done but it is a matter which will take time, money and many meetings before a decision will be made.

Personally I think that an extension to one of the airports may be required but space is at a premium in London, so finding the space to fit all of these extra runways may be tricky, so possibly another airport could be built somewhere just outside of London possibly in the South-East of England. Although where to situate this airport would again be a lengthy and arduous spectacle.

What solution would you suggest?

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