January

Keep up-to-date with relevant news

• 31/01/2012 Ice to hit roads around Britain Icy conditions look set to trouble motorists on roads around the UK, with a 100% likelihood of "severe" conditions around most of England this week.
• 31/01/2012 Women 'better than men at parking' The widely held stereotype that men are better at parking cars than women has been laid bare after a study concluded that the fairer sex are more accurate.
• 31/01/2012 Poll reveals buyers' market thoughts More than half of people moving house believe that the market is geared more towards buyers than sellers, according to a poll.
• 31/01/2012 Many drivers 'struggle with sight' Figures have suggested that many people are getting behind the wheel despite having sight problems that interfere with their ability to drive.
• 31/01/2012 M6 Toll charges increase again From March 1 this year, M6 Toll motorway charges will increase again, it has been revealed.
• 30/01/2012 Bicycle hearse may get reprieve The boss of a motorcycle hearse company is reconsidering his plan to axe a pedal-powered tandem bicycle from his roster of hearses due to popular demand.
• 30/01/2012 Bid to review councils flood spending A group has written to councils across the country to find out how they spend cash allocated to them for flooding issues.
• 30/01/2012 Four kids found travelling in car boot Police stopped a car only to find that four children were travelling in its boot, a court has heard.
• 30/01/2012 Black box technology under discussion A meeting between politicians and the car insurance industry in Northern Ireland could pave the way for aeroplane-style black box recorders being fitted to cars in the province.
• 30/01/2012 Motorists braced for cold snap It may be time for motorists to get out the trusty tartan blanket, with temperatures set to plummet as low as minus 10C this week.
• 27/01/2012 Wrong turn woman on railway line All motorists have probably taken a wrong turn at some point while driving in an unfamiliar area.
• 27/01/2012 Bentley offers ice-driving in Finland Petrolheads will be able to experience a new kind of winter driving this year as Bentley has put together a holiday package that offers a unique thrill.
• 27/01/2012 Car Wars officer wrecks test vehicle A policeman who starred in Car Wars and won a fan following on Facebook has ended up in hospital after wrecking a £40,000 supercar.
• 27/01/2012 More Britons 'planning 2012 holiday' Nearly a million more Britons plan to take a holiday in 2012 than last year, a survey has revealed.
• 27/01/2012 Car makers to fail in EU carbon pledge The majority of the 31 car manufacturers whose models are available in Europe are not expected to achieve 2012 EU average emissions targets of 130g/km.
• 26/01/2012 Cat antifreeze poisonings spark fears Cat owners should be on their guard after a spate of suspected antifreeze poisonings, the RSPCA has warned.
• 26/01/2012 Trucks roll again from oil refinery Fears of fuel shortages at petrol stations across London and the South East have been eased after an oil refinery began deliveries again.
• 26/01/2012 Drivers 'consider car retro-fits' Cash-strapped motorists would be willing to modify their car engines in a bid to save money, a new survey suggests.
• 26/01/2012 Iberia pilot strikes force cancellations Another wave of pilot strikes has forced airline Iberia to cancel seven of its scheduled flights between Heathrow and Madrid over the coming week.
• 26/01/2012 Flooding 'to cost UK billions' Flooding could cost the UK billions of pounds in the years to come, research has suggested.
• 25/01/2012 Refinery closure sparks fuel scare Motorists in south-east England could be set to suffer a shortage of petrol after a major oil firm went bust.
• 25/01/2012 Britons 'becoming less honest' Academics have said over the last 12 years British people are becoming more inclined to lie and commit offences like drink driving.
• 25/01/2012 Dog's pizza quest leads to house fire Firefighters were called to a fire at a house in Leicestershire caused by a hungry dog who inadvertently switched on a hob as he tried to get to a pizza left on top of a cooker.
• 25/01/2012 Leaner driver fails theory 92 times A learner driver from Leicester has spent nearly £3,000 on trying to pass his theory test.
• 25/01/2012 Ambulance response car thief jailed A man who stole an ambulance response car while over the legal drink-drive limit on New Year's Eve has received a nine-month jail sentence.
• 24/01/2012 £3,500 fine for drink-drive player An international footballer who was banned for drink-driving has now received a £3,500 fine after getting back behind the wheel.
• 24/01/2012 Peter Hain fined after speeding The shadow Welsh secretary has been fined for speeding in the Neath Valley.
• 24/01/2012 NHS issues asthma travel advice The NHS has issued guidance to help people with asthma remain comfortable during their holidays abroad.
• 24/01/2012 Britain boosts tropical diseases fund The Government has pledged to spend nearly £200 million more in the coming years as part of a global bid to tackle dangerous tropical diseases.
• 24/01/2012 Year-on-year mortgage lending up again The amount of money lent through mortgages was higher in December than during the same month a year earlier - the fifth month in a row this has been the case.
• 23/01/2012 Learners braced for new theory rules People revising for their driving theory test will no longer be able to memorise the answers under new rules that have come into effect this week.
• 23/01/2012 Fuel tanker crashes into bungalow A woman had a lucky escape when a fuel tanker crashed into the front of her bungalow, setting her home on fire.
• 23/01/2012 Peter Hain handed speeding fine Peter Hain, the shadow Welsh Secretary, has been ordered to pay nearly £300 after he was caught speeding in a 30mph zone.
• 23/01/2012 Drink drive campaign arrests 7,000 More than 7,000 suspected drink and drug drivers were caught by police during the festive period, new figures show.
• 23/01/2012 China suffers second bird flu death Health officials in China have announced that another person has died after contracting bird flu.
• 20/01/2012 Loyalty key to garage choice: poll Price may be the biggest deciding factor when it comes to choosing car insurance but trust is more important when it comes to selecting a garage to maintain your vehicle, according to a new poll.
• 20/01/2012 Drink drive warnings failing - IAM Motorists seem to be ignoring drink drive warnings, and figures show that younger drivers remain the worst offenders, according to safety campaigners.
• 20/01/2012 Driver escapes level crossing crash A woman has escaped unhurt after her car was hit by a train on a level crossing in Cornwall.
• 20/01/2012 Recorded crime figures drop by 4% There was a 4% drop in the number of crimes recorded by the police over the last year, figures show.
• 20/01/2012 Exports 'drive up car production' Record exports led to a 5.8% increase in cars being built in Britain last year, according to figures.
• 19/01/2012 Electric cars promoted in programme A programme just launched is uniting three Government departments and industry figures to help the UK get set for the commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.
• 19/01/2012 Olympics 'could create traffic storm' A roads-information firm has highlighted that the Olympic Games combined with the summer holiday getaway could create a "perfect traffic storm".
• 19/01/2012 Coins will not fit parking meters Soon-to-be-issued new 5p and 10p coins may result in people being penalised for inadvertently not paying for parking.
• 19/01/2012 'One third more bags' after Olympics The volume of bags handled by Heathrow Airport is expected to increase by at least a third on August 13, the day after the Olympic Games finish.
• 19/01/2012 Car cloning risk 'worse than ever' People are at more risk of "car cloning" than ever before, according to a leading vehicle information expert. With continuing economic uncertainty, con artists are using ever more complicated means of cloning vehicles to pull the wool over the eyes of unsuspecting used car buyers.
• 18/01/2012 Electric van grant powering up A 20% government grant is set to go to electric vans with immediate effect.
• 18/01/2012 Holidays new priority, poll says The holiday insurance industry could be in for a lift in 2012 after a survey predicted that consumers are to make taking a break their priority this year.
• 18/01/2012 Plug-in grant continues until 2015 The so-called plug-in car grant designed to promote environmentally friendly vehicles will carry on until at least 2015, the Government has announced.
• 18/01/2012 BA dove design to mark Olympics A Brighton teacher has won a competition to redesign the livery of British Airways planes to mark the London Olympics.
• 18/01/2012 Insurance boss' call over young drivers An insurance chief has revealed that some accidents involving young drivers are leading to car insurance claims of up to £20 million.
• 17/01/2012 UK has first cold snap of new year Freezing Britons are experiencing a spell of traditional winter weather as the new year serves up its first cold snap across the country.
• 17/01/2012 Drink-drive rugby star sentenced Rugby union star Danny Care has been banned from driving for 16 months and ordered to pay more than £3,000 after kicking off his new year with a drink-driving offence.
• 17/01/2012 Mini Coopers recalled over fault German firm BMW has confirmed that almost 30,000 of its Mini Cooper models in the UK are being recalled after it discovered that an electrical fault could lead to the cars catching fire.
• 17/01/2012 Time stuck in traffic takes toll New research has revealed that the average UK motorist who drives to work will spend a combined total of more than a year of their life stuck in traffic on their daily commute.
• 17/01/2012 Explorers batting for Captain Scott An intrepid team is seeking to play a game of cricket at the South Pole to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott's arrival there.
• 16/01/2012 Most travellers 'never upgrade' More than three-quarters of travellers have never had an upgrade on their hotel room or aircraft seats, according to a new survey.
• 16/01/2012 How to keep safe during night drives Specialists in driver training IAM Drive and Survive are offering weekly advice to motorists thanks to Simon Elstow, the group's head of training.
• 16/01/2012 Children over moon for holidays Some parents would face sky high costs for their annual holiday travel insurance if their children had their way - after a poll revealed almost half of three to eight-year-olds are keen on a trip to the moon.
• 16/01/2012 Cruise holiday numbers trebled The number of cruise holidays taken by Britons has more than tripled in the past 15 years, new figures have shown in the wake of the Italian ship disaster.
• 16/01/2012 Bond cars have licence to thrill Former Bond girl Britt Ekland was among the celebrity guests celebrating 50 years of 007 films as 50 original vehicles went on show.
• 13/01/2012 Experts welcome insurance report Government plans to cut the rising costs of car insurance for drivers have been welcomed by industry experts, in the wake of a new report.
• 13/01/2012 Speed limit could increase to 80mph Drivers could soon be legally allowed to travel at 80mph on motorways across Britain, the Government has said.
• 13/01/2012 Car product sales fall by 12.8% The milder weather led to more drivers cutting back on non-essential products for their cars during December, it has been revealed.
• 13/01/2012 Dealer finance 'popular among drivers' More and more people are turning to credit when it comes to buying a car, figures have shown.
• 13/01/2012 Ryanair will add 25p flight levy Airline Ryanair has revealed 25p will be added on to all of its bookings, to cover the European Emissions Trading System's (ETS) green tax scheme costs.
• 12/01/2012 Young drivers 'need cash incentives' The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has called on the Government to offer better incentives for young people who undergo further driving tuition.
• 12/01/2012 Whiplash claims increase insurance Car insurance premiums are soaring mainly due to the increase in whiplash injury claims, a report has revealed.
• 12/01/2012 VW hatchback is 'car of the year' The yearly What Car? magazine awards have presented the Volkswagen Up three-door hatchback with the 'car of the year' accolade.
• 12/01/2012 Snow-free Christmas boosts BAA numbers The snow-free December gave BAA the best Christmas present of all - it helped to bolster their passenger numbers, which rose last year by 4.4%.
• 12/01/2012 Pensioner caught driving at 147mph A pensioner's 147mph drive along a bypass has been described by a police sergeant as "the worst case of excessive speed I have ever seen".
• 11/01/2012 Spy car caught parking illegally Motorists are furious after a spy car, which rakes in hundreds of thousands of pounds snaring illegally parked drivers, was repeatedly caught on double yellow lines.
• 11/01/2012 Taxpayer 'forks out £13k' for 20 iPads The taxpayer has had to fork out between £8,000 and £13,000 for a set of 20 iPads, to be used by peers and staff in the House of Lords, it has been revealed.
• 11/01/2012 Honda offers savings on new models Motorists could make big savings when purchasing a new vehicle this winter as Honda is offering a variety of deals on its extensive range.
• 11/01/2012 Company car drivers 'less careful' People are more likely to cause an accident while driving a company car than if they are driving their own vehicle, the former Labour spokesman for transport has claimed.
• 11/01/2012 Students 'easy' targets says ex-burglar Students are a "ridiculously easy" target for burglars, particularly after Christmas, says a convicted crook.
• 10/01/2012 Parents help fund gap year trips The Bank Of Mum And Dad seems to be an increasingly popular way for students to finance their gap year travels, according to a new survey.
• 10/01/2012 Save fuel and money - go green A driver training group is helping motorists to be better drivers by offering weekly tips for life on the road.
• 10/01/2012 Public warned over counterfeit goods British consumers have been urged to avoid 'knock-off' goods following a recent legal case.
• 10/01/2012 More houses being put up for sale Property market supply increased during December but sales were low because of unrealistically high asking prices, according to surveyors.
• 10/01/2012 MOT changes could cost motorists Motorists could end up paying £57 more for car insurance and repairs because of plans to make MOTs every other year instead of once a year, experts have said.
• 09/01/2012 Multi-destination holidays popular More people have been arranging holidays with more than one destination over the past 12 months, according to a travel firm.
• 09/01/2012 Grass-allergic dog needs new owner A dog that is allergic to grass is looking for a new home, preferably somewhere by the beach.
• 09/01/2012 Activity holiday popularity predicted The Association of British Travel Insurers (ABTA) has predicted that Britons could become fixated with activity holidays this year.
• 09/01/2012 Details of new Citroen announced People looking for a car that can help them save money may be interested in the new Citroen C1.
• 09/01/2012 4.4% fewer cars sold last year Fewer new cars were sold in 2011 than in the previous year, official figures have shown.
• 06/01/2012 Snow blocks tourists in Swiss resort An avalanche in Switzerland has prevented hundreds of holidaymakers from leaving or entering Zermatt.
• 06/01/2012 Heavy winds sweep Britain again Transport and power networks across Britain have again been disrupted by wild weather including winds of over 100mph.
• 06/01/2012 Car expenses 'take toll on drivers' The cost of running a car is taking a financial toll on nearly a third of drivers, research indicates.
• 06/01/2012 Warning over raising motorway limit A report has claimed that proposals to raise the motorway speed limit could lead to more accidents.
• 06/01/2012 Ministers to hold satnav summit Ministers are to investigate ways in which problems associated with satnavs can be reduced.
• 05/01/2012 Gas chamber cat 'finds new home' A new home has been found for a stray cat in the US that has escaped the clutches of death twice.
• 05/01/2012 Motorists warned over windy weather Motorists have been warned to only make essential journeys on Thursday as the windy weather returned to the UK, while breakdown cover could be considered a must for those who do venture out in their vehicles.
• 05/01/2012 Colds 'can cause road accidents' Drivers suffering with a heavy cold or flu symptoms can put themselves and other motorists at risk by suffering serious lapses in concentration, according to research.
• 05/01/2012 Rugby star charged over drink-driving A professional rugby player has been charged with drink-driving, barring him from playing in England's squad during the Six Nations tournament.
• 05/01/2012 Alarms to boost heating oil security If your home is powered by heating oil you may want to read on.
• 04/01/2012 Man returned Las Vegas winnings A man who found more than £6,000 before boarding a flight in Las Vegas has returned it to its rightful owner because he wanted to set a good example to his children.
• 04/01/2012 Drug-driving scale investigated A panel of specialists is to investigate how to legislate for people who drive while under the influence of illegal drugs.
• 04/01/2012 Homes evacuated over crane fears Residents were evacuated from around 50 homes last week following safety fears that a crane could collapse on a building site.
• 04/01/2012 Smelly feet 'are malaria risk' Scientists have found in a study that smelly feet may be a danger to health in countries where malaria is found, as the mosquitoes that spread the disease are attracted to feet covered with certain bacteria.
• 04/01/2012 Insurers braced for storm claims Insurers up and down the country are preparing for a large number of claims after high winds and torrential rains hit parts of Britain.
• 03/01/2012 Car accidents cut at camera sites There have been fewer fatalities and serious injuries on roads in Scotland where safety cameras have been put in place, according to official figures.
• 03/01/2012 UK quarantine rules relaxed in 2012 Quarantine rules for animals have been relaxed to bring them closer in line with European legislation.
• 03/01/2012 Idling engine increases theft risk Motorists who leave their cars unattended while they heat up on freezing days are being urged to brave the cold and stay with their vehicle when the engine is running because of the risk of theft.
• 03/01/2012 Ribbon-munching dog saved by vets Most pet owners probably know to expect the unexpected, especially those who have dogs.
• 03/01/2012 Forecasters warn over strong winds Homeowners across the country are braced for gale force winds throughout Tuesday.