August 23rd, 2008 Administrator
Police have launched a nationwide campaign to lower the number of accidents on country roads in Scotland.
The new initiative, the Country Roads Weekend, will see officers from all eight of Scotland’s forces carrying out high-visibility patrols on rural roads, where 70% of fatal crashes take place.
Motorcyclists and young drivers, who are the most likely to drive too fast for the road conditions, will be the main targets for the traffic police.
The number of road casualties are falling, a police spokesman said, “but when you look closely at the statistics for young drivers and motorcyclists in their 30s and 40s, the numbers killed and injured are going up.”
Superintendent Niven Rennie, head of road policing at Strathclyde Police, said: “Country roads can be particularly challenging to young and inexperienced drivers. Many are unaware of the dangers they can face when driving on these routes.
“Throughout this weekend, we will be targeting rural areas that we know have problems with speeding and we will also be looking at prominent crash sites.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) has organised the Country Road Weekend campaign.
Copyright © PA Business 2008
RAC Homepage – http://www.rac.co.uk/
Acpos – http://www.acpos.police.uk/
From : RAC website
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August 23rd, 2008 Administrator
Would you pass a tougher driving test? The county’s learner drivers could face much sterner examinations before they are let loose on the roads – if the Government gets its way.
A four-month public consultation on proposed changes to the driving test is in progress. If the plans go ahead, the new test will focus on safety ahead of mechanical manoeuvres.
According to the Department for Transport’s latest figures, there were 802 injuries or deaths on Kent’s highways in 2006-2007. Nationally, one in five deaths involves newly-qualified drivers and 750,000 learners pass their test every year.
Experienced drivers may be revelling in the knowledge that their days of lessons and test preparation are over – but one Kent driving instructor says that needs to change.
Mike Howard, who runs the Alpha Driving School in Chatham, said: “The rules of the road change, the amount of traffic on the road increases, manoeuvres in the test have changed a lot.
“Going back into having to think about your driving, possibly every 10 years, would be a good thing.”
Well, we all know bad habits can dog our driving after years on the roads – but I thought I would see how I fared after a decade behind the wheel…….Aurelia would have failed her driving test!
Author : Aurelia Allen
From : Kent Online
Posted in Driving, Driving Lessons, Driving Tests, Road Safety | No Comments »
August 21st, 2008 Administrator
Getting a car sounds great, but what does it actually involve and is it worth the money?
Some people dream of the freedom a driver’s licence and the purchase of a car can bring, while others just can’t be bothered! If, however, you are the former, here are the facts to face up to when thinking of buying a car.
Lessons
Many of you will have passed your test already. For those of you who haven’t, the standard theory test fee is £30. You can take practice tests for free via the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) website www.dsa.gov.uk. Practical driving lessons with a qualified instructor cost between £24 and £30 an hour. People who pass their driving test have had, on average, 45 hours of professional lessons and 22 hours of private practice, according to Government statistics. Both the Automobile Association (AA) and the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) offer discounts for members on lessons with registered instructors, so check to see if your parents are signed up.
Insurance
The price of insuring your car depends on the size of the model of car you drive, your age, your existing road record, how long you have been driving, what sort of job you have and whether you keep your car in the garage. It also depends on the type of policy you get, whether it be third party, fire and theft or comprehensive.
MOT
All vehicles, with the exception of new vehicles, must be taken for an MOT inspection every year to ensure they meet with the minimum environmental and road-safety standards. New vehicles are required to have their first MOT after three years from the date of registration. An MOT inspection can be done at registered garages throughout the UK, and you will need the pass certificate to be able to get insurance and car tax. An MOT inspection for a car costs a minimum of £53.10.
Tax
The amount of tax payable on your car is calculated based on engine size or CO2 emissions, depending on the age of the car. Tax will be about £120 per year depending on the type of vehicle, and breakdown cover will work out about another £100 a year.
Petrol
Petrol costs are on the rise due to economic conditions and the price of oil. Diesel and hybrid cars can offer relief from these prices, but there is no way to avoid it all together!
Parking
Check out your university’s parking facilities and parking in the area where you live. Some places charge for permits and require evidence of residence or enrolment.
Stolen goods
Remember not to tempt thieves by leaving valuables in a place where someone can see them, like the back seat. Fitting your car with an alarm is a deterrent if someone does break in, and don’t create an opportunity by leaving any windows open or the car unlocked.
Driving under the influence
You may want to offer lifts to friends in return for petrol costs, or volunteer to be the designated driver on outings, but be careful. If you are tempted to drink – or take other substances – when you’re out with friends, driving under the influence is a serious crime. According to the Department for Transport, driving under the influence of alcohol caused 14,350 casualties and 540 deaths (17 per cent of all road deaths) in 2006. The legal limit in the UK is 80mg per 100ml of blood, with ministers looking at reducing it to 50mg in line with EU regulations. Don’t drink and drive!
Web watch
Directgov
Government information about owning a car www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring/ owningavehicle/index.htm
National Youth Agency website
Head to the sport, leisure and travel section for guidance and advice www.youthinformation.com
The RAC
Explanation of the costs of running a car can be found on the rac website www.rac.co.uk/web/know-how/owning-a-car
From : Independent website
The Bedford based driving school, Txt-Drive, offers cheap driving lessons from just £20.50 per hour (based on Block Booking 10 two hour lessons as a student).
Txt-Drive offers a student discount of £1 per lesson to all students who are in full time education (proof of this must be shown to the driving instructor on the first driving lesson. NUS card, College or University cards are all acceptable).
Txt-Drive would also recommend the Pass Plus course to those students who have passed their driving test. This will build on your existing driving skills and should also entitle you to receive a one year no claims discount on your car insurance.
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August 21st, 2008 Administrator
So-called boy racers who have been performing dangerous stunts and posting them on the internet have been warned to stop before someone gets killed.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) said there was a “growing trend” of young drivers posting videos of their reckless driving on websites.
Emergency teams staged a mock crash in Rochester to show young revellers the reality of being in a collision.
KFRS said it was taking road safety schemes to where young people gathered.
‘Schools and night-spots’
Education manager Alexa Kersting-Woods said: “Our experience tells us that young people rarely attend safety events such as open days.
“This campaign aims to take road safety education right to the places where they are already gathered, for example car parks, schools and night-spots.”
She said emergency crews wanted young drivers and passengers to be responsible for their own and others’ safety while driving.
Statistics from KFRS said that one in three young male drivers will write off their car in their first year of driving, and the biggest killer of teenage girls was the driving of teenage boys.
KFRS said a quarter of the convictions for causing death by dangerous driving were for drivers under 20 years old.
From : BBC website
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August 21st, 2008 Administrator
Metal road signs are being replaced with plastic alternatives to stop scrap thieves committing “highway robbery”.
Thieves have targeting road signs after the price of aluminium has risen. Essex County Council has already swapped 2,500 high value metal signs for glass reinforced polyester versions.
The additional benefit is that the low-value plastic sign does not degrade when exposed to the elements and is sturdy, the council said.
Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “We are going through times when the value of all commodities, including scrap metal, is particularly high and it’s leading quite literally to highway robbery.
“After a spate of thefts a couple of years ago, we started to work with our contractors to replace our signage where possible with this new low value, non-recyclable material.”
He said they would eventually replace all the 70,000 signs across Essex. The council is also adding hinges to manhole covers to prevent theft.
The Local Government Association said that councils across the country were suffering from thefts, such as drain covers, which at around £300 each, cost the taxpayer millions every year.
In one night 20 drain covers were stolen in the north west town of Accrington, Lancashire. Last year Buckinghamshire council replaced its road signs with ones made out of worthless metal material to deter thieves from taking them.
From : Telegraph website
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