Driving News
For more information visit: www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
BIG FREEZE TAKES ITS TOLL: - 08/03/2010
Nearly three million motorists have had a run-in with another vehicle during the recent big freeze, according to research by Continental Tyres.
An unlucky one in ten drivers have crashed into other road users in the last month during the snowy and icy weather and 45 % said they had two or more near misses over the cold snap.
RECORD RISE IN INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR 2010: - 08/03/2010
Motorists renewing car insurance policies face the largest annual hikes ever recorded, according to new research from independant market research firm, Consumer Intelligence.
The research found that the average premium is now £564.00 representing a 19.6 % increase from January 2009.
DRINKING AND DRIVING: - 01/02/2009
An 11 % increase in under 25s failing breath tests over the Christmas period 2008 shows the battle against drink driving is never ending. Figures released show that of 48,214 under 25s tested during December 2008, 2,709 tested positive, failed to provide or refused a breath test.
If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash,than a driver who hasn't been drinking.
Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. There is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit, or of knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely.
What is the drink drive legal limit?
The legal alcohol limit for driver in Great Britain is:
- 80 milligrammes (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood (80mg/100ml), or
- 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath, or
- 107mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine
The limit has remained unchanged since its introduction by the Road Safety Act 1967, which also gave the police powers to breath-test drivers suspected of drink driving.
What are the current penalties?
For exceeding the legal alcohol limit for drivers:
- up to 6 months in prison
- a fine of up to £5000
- a minimum of 12 months' disqualification (3 years for a second offence within 10 years
Why isn't the limit zero?
Even without drinking, some alcohol can be present in the body produced by fermentation processes when certain foods are digested. This means that a zero limit isn't practical.
2,946 DEATHS ON THE ROAD IN 2007: - 26/11/2008
For the first time since the 1920's the number of people killed on our roads has dipped below the 3,000 mark to 2,946, the best news this year. Source: Advanced Driving (IAM Magazine Winter 2008)
PHOTOCARD DRIVING LICENCE EXPIRY: - 22/08/2008
Did you know all photocard driving licences need to be updated every 10 years? The photograph on the licence is only valid for this period and the licence holder must update their licence before their current photo expires. Failure to do so may result in a fine of up to £1000.
Full details on renewal can be found at: www.direct.gov.uk/motoring
CLEAR YOUR CAR OF DANGEROUS CLUTTER: - 22/04/2008
Most Drivers only clear their car of clutter once a year, thereby putting themselves and the safety of other road users at risk, according to a new study by the AA. A number of risks were highlighted including: bottles and cans rolling under pedals, obscured vision due to dirt on the inside of windows and loose items such as toys becoming dangerous when travelling at speed.
LAZY MOTORISTS AT RISK OF CAR THIEVES AND IDENTITY FRAUD: - 22/04/2008
One in ten car owners regularly leave sensitive documents such as bills and bank statements in their car leaving them exposed to identity fraud, and a fifth of car owners display more than £150 of valuables in their car, according to new research by direct line insurance. The advise is hide all valuables, lock your car and park in busy well lit areas or a secure car park.
PARENTS COMMIT ROUTINE INSURANCE FRAUD: - 22/10/2007
Thousands of parents are unwittingly committing fraud by insuring their child's car in their own name. A YouGov survey for Zurich insurance showed that 1 in 10 parents and Grandparents who have helped youngsters buy a car have insured in their name with the youngster a named driver.
Zurich said that anybody who did this was guilty of 'fronting' - the insurance fraud of a named driver being the main driver. They also say this is a false economy as in the event of an accident, an insurer could decline a claim or recover any third-party costs from the child or the parents. Worse still if the insurer declines the claim, the police could then treat the young driver as uninsured, meaning six penalty points and an automatic ban for a new driver.
USE OF MOBILE PHONES: - 30/01/2007
On the 1st December 2003 a new law made it a specific offence to hold and use your mobile phone whilst driving. Since the 27th February 2007 the penalty for this offence is a £60 fine and 3 points on your driving license.
If you need to make a call with a hands free kit, try to keep it to a minimum and warn the other person that you are driving and may need to break off the conversation at any time.
If you're in any doubt, you should find a safe place to pull over, stop and switch off your engine before using a mobile.
THINK DRUG DRIVING - NOT A SAFE TRIP: - 18/10/2005
Driving under the influence of drugs - whether prescribed medication or illegal substances - is just as dangerous as driving when drunk. It's also against the law.
Drugs can affect your mind and body in a variety of ways that mean you aren't able to drive safely. Not only that, the effects can last for hours or even days.
The police can carry out roadside tests of impairment to help them decide whether to arrest you if they think you are unfit to drive through drugs.
The penalties are the same as for drink driving. You face a minimum one year driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000, and six months jail.
The THINK! campaign 'Drug driving. Not a safe trip' is the first government campaign to raise awareness of the effects of drugs on people's driving.
PART-WORN TYRES LOSE THEIR GRIP: - 27/10/2004
Research carried out by the British Rubber Manufacturers' Association indicates that tyres lose their ability to grip well before they have worn down to the 1.6mm legal minimum tread depth. It found that even with 3mm of tyre tread remaining, stopping distances on wet roads increase by 30 per cent.
PARENT ALERTED OVER CAR SEATS: - 05/10/2004
New research has highlighted that not all parents are using approprmiate child seats in their cars.
Key findings:
- 60% of parents stopped using child seats when their children were six or under.
- 1 in 10 parents had stopped using car seats by the time their child was three.
- Only 41% of parents of children aged seven to nine and just 26% of those with children between ten and eleven said their child travels in a child seat.
- in 2002 35 children died and 480 were injured while traveling in cars.
- Department of transport advise is that children need to be in a purpose built car seat or booster until they are either eleven years old or 150cm tall. Adult seatbelts will not fit them properly and will put them at higher risk of injury.