Are you ready for the new tax disc rules? Only one month to go...

Motorists have one month left to learn about the new tax disc rules

 

 

 Drivers have one month to prepare for the new tax disc rules, or risk being slapped with a £1,000 fine.

As of October 1, the Driving Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA) will stop issuing paper tax discs.

Car owners still need to have vehicle tax to drive or keep a vehicle on the road, but now the DVLA is taking payments online, including Direct Debit options or motorists can visit their local Post Office branch.

Drivers who buy a used car will not benefit from any months left on the tax disc.
It means buyers will have to renew their tax disc immediately, or risk being caught in an untaxed car.
Instead of using paper tax discs to spot tax evaders, police cameras will automatically check a car’s number plate.

The new rules also put the onus on used car sellers to inform the DVLA, when they sell their vehicle,
Meanwhile, the seller is responsible for informing the DVLA of a change of ownership, if they do not they could face a £1,000 fine.
This can be done by filling out a V5C form and sending it to the DVLA.
All vehicle owners should find out whether their vehicle was taxed or SORN’d (declared off the road) before driving their new car.
Sellers will get a refund for any full months left on the vehicle tax.
The new rules aim to streamline services and save money in administrative costs.

A3 drink-drive teenager banned after crashing mum's car

The 19-year-old defendant got behind the wheel after drinking "six or seven cups of beer"

Surrey Police roads officers tweeted this photo of the wrecked Vauxhall Corsa

A teenager from Deepcut who lost control of his mother's car on the A3 after drinking at a party has been disqualified from driving and fined.
Harry Samuels, of Crofters Close, pleaded guilty to drink driving at Guildford Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Nick Wilson told the court how at around 2am on Saturday June 22 this year, police responded to reports of a crash on the A3 southbound carriageway at Guildford.

When they arrived officers found Samuels, 19, standing by the verge having lost control of the Vauxhall Corsa, colliding with the central reservation crash barrier and causing the vehicle to roll.
They administered a roadside breath test which Samuels failed, posting a reading of more than double the legal alcohol limit.

The defendant was arrested and gave a full confession, saying he thought the car had crashed because of a faulty tyre, however he did not rule out that his being over the drink-drive limit had contributed to the accident.

Keji Kuku, defending, said his client was "very remorseful".
He told the court that on the night of the incident, Samuels had attended an 18th birthday party in Weybridge with a friend, with whom he had arranged to stay afterwards.


'Wrong decision'
An incident occurred which caused the party to abruptly finish, and the defendant lost contact with his friend.
Mr Kuku said Samuels had walked for about half-an-hour while trying to order a taxi, but because he could not properly describe where he was no-one agreed to pick him up.
Eventually he got into his car, which he had borrowed from his mother and driven to Weybridge, and attempted to drive home.

The court heard the crash happened because the defendant felt the car veer violently to the left and had corrected to the right.
He had drunk "six or seven cups of beer" at the party.
"He made the wrong decision to get behind the wheel," said Mr Kuku. "He regrets that decision."
The court heard Samuels was a person of previous good character whose prospects of promotion at work would be damaged while he did not have a driving licence.

Chair of the magistrates, Jon Curtis, disqualified the defendant from driving for 19 months, but gave him the opportunity to reduce the period of the ban by four months if he undertook a drink driver awareness course.

Mr Curtis fined Samuels £360 for the offence, imposed a costs order of £85 and a victim surcharge of £36, telling the defendant he would have to pay the money within 14 days.

Driving licence costs to be slashed by a third with a first-time application cut from £50 to only £34, and cost of renewing after 10 years to fall to £14 from £20

• First licence application to fall from £50 to £34 as part of DVLA review
• Transport minister Claire Perry says it will help young drivers with costs

The cost of applying for a driving licence is to be slashed by up to a third under plans being announced today.

New drivers who want their first licence will pay just £34, down from the current £50.

The price of renewing licences and the fee for tacographs will also be cut under efforts to ease the cost of motoring.

The coalition has long argued it is ending the war on the motorist, curbing parking fines and cutting the duty on petrol and diesel.

New transport minister Claire Perry, promoted in this month's reshuffle, will today launch a consultation on the plans to dramatically cut the cost of a driving licence,

She said: 'The cost of driving can be significant, especially for new drivers. 

'I’m pleased to say that we are planning to save drivers £18million a year by cutting licence fees, thanks to the DVLA making significant savings to their running costs.'

 

Drivers who apply online for their first driving licence would see the fee drop from £50 to £34.

Drivers who renew their licence after 10 years would see the fee drop from £20 to £14. The online reduction is 32 per cent and the paper application reduction is 15 per cent.

All driver tachograph cards would fall from £38 to £32. 

The Department for Transport expects the changes to save drivers nearly £18 million and the industry around £2 million every year. 

Transport minister Claire Perry said young drivers were especially affected by the high cost of motoring

Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: 'I have been working hard to drive savings across the whole public sector and it's great to see the benefit of these efficiencies feed through to drivers and businesses' pockets. What the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) have shown today is that you can do more for less.' 

DVLA is currently reviewing all the fees they charge to motorists. Today's consultation is the first step in this ongoing review.

The consultation closes on August 25 2014 and the Government is hoping to introduce the new fees by the end of October 2014. 

Liverpool bus lane suspension trial is extended

The trial suspension was started in the hope of improving traffic flow in the city

Continue reading the main story

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The enforcement of bus lanes in Liverpool will remain suspended until November, the city's mayor has announced.

A nine-month trial introduced by Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson was due to end later this month.

But due to the amount of roadworks taking place in the city centre, the council has decided to continue the suspension.

Mr Anderson said the extension will be used to help gather data.

He said: "We wanted to get a better and clearer picture of what effect the suspension is having.

"I want us to be certain we've got a clear picture before we make any big decisions and we need to be sure if it is the roadworks or the bus lane suspension making the difference."

The suspension was introduced by the mayor in October to improve traffic flow in the city.

However, the idea has been criticised by bus company Arriva and the Green Party, who argued that bus lanes do work in the city centre.

Tom Crone, Green Party councillor for St Michaels ward, said: "We want to promote people using buses to reduce congestion. If we push people into their cars we will only have more pollution.

"Pretty much every European city is investing in and supporting their bus lane network. It's only Liverpool that's in this questionable position."

Terrifying proof texting at the wheel is MORE dangerous than drink driving... and hands-free calls are almost as bad

• Texting behind the wheel slows reaction time by 25 per cent
• Eating a sandwich means you are 27 per cent worse at keeping a distance
• Drinking alcohol increases your risk of swerving by 74 per cent

Cruising along the middle lane of the motorway at 70mph, I pick up my smartphone from the passenger seat and start composing a text message about my plans for the forthcoming weekend. ‘What’s the harm?’ I wonder. The motorway traffic is moving steadily and it’s only going to be a quick text. Besides, I’m sober and alert.
Still, I hold the handset low — so passing motorists cannot see what I am doing — as I lower my eyes and start jabbing at  the screen with my right index finger... ‘CU @ 12,’ I type, before pressing send.

It took barely a second but when I glance back up, the first thing I notice are the red brake lights of a lorry ahead.

Risky strategy: Tom Rawstorne tests his driving skills whilst texting on a driving simulator at the Transport Research Laboratory in Wokingham, Berkshire 

 

With an impact imminent, I don’t have time to check my rear-view mirrors. I take immediate evasive action, single-handedly swerving into the overtaking lane.
It is a close shave but, more by luck than judgment, I just get away with it. My heart thudding, I drop the phone into my lap and ease into the inside lane, hoping that no one important has spotted my terrible driving.
But there is absolutely no chance of that.

 

The Honda Civic I am driving is in fact a high-tech simulator located deep within the bowels of the Transport Research Laboratory in Berkshire. While it looks, drives and moves like a normal vehicle, it has no engine — the lorry I nearly rear-ended and the motorway I have been driving along are part of an ultra-realistic film projected on to screens that surround the car on all sides.

As I operate the car, my speed, braking, road position and eye movements are all recorded, the data fed in to a bank of computers monitored by scientist Dr Nick Reed, who is the senior human factors researcher at TRL, one of the world’s leading transport research centres.

I’m here to test out new research that suggests texting is the most dangerous thing a person can do at the wheel. TRL scientists found that a driver’s ability is impaired far more by texting than it is by a couple of drinks, talking on the phone or eating a sandwich.

But can this be true? To find out, my reaction times and driving skills were tested while completely sober, and with no distractions. 

I was then put through the same tests while texting, talking with my phone to my ear, talking on a hands-free phone, eating a sandwich and having consumed enough alcohol to exceed the drink-drive limit. The results horrified me.


Making a hands-free call

While it is legal to use a hands-free set while driving, if the police think you are distracted and not in control of your vehicle you could still be penalised. And judging from the results of the tests I underwent, that is a very real risk.

To replicate the effect of having a hands-free phone conversation, Nick communicates with me via an intercom, running through a series of questions and mental challenges as I drive.

These include simple maths puzzles (‘if three chocolate bars cost 93 pence, what is the cost of one bar’) and sentences that I have to repeat (‘Annie’s dog ran to her for help after it was attacked by a raccoon in the woods’).

Unpredictable: Even though using a hands-free phone is legal, police can still penalise you if you are not in control of the car 

 

The idea is to occupy my mind to a similar degree as when engaged in, say, a conversation about work. And occupy it the raccoon most certainly does.
To measure my reaction time, I am told to flash the car’s lights whenever a red bar appears on the screens in front of me. 

When speaking hands-free, my reaction times were markedly slower than when I drove the simulator with no distractions at all. 

Next came the challenge to follow the vehicle ahead and to maintain a constant distance between the two cars. When driving with no distractions, I managed a fairly constant gap but while speaking on the hands-free, I yo-yoed back and forth wildly.
As for my ability to steer smoothly through a set of curves, I performed relatively well when compared with the other activities. But despite having both hands firmly on the wheel there was still a deterioration.

How can that be, I ask. Surely speaking hands-free is no different to speaking to another passenger? Nick explains: ‘When you are on the phone, you are expected to respond instantly. But when you have a passenger in the car and you reach a tricky road junction or a difficult situation, you can say “hold on a minute”, and carry on speaking later. When you are on the phone you feel obliged to respond immediately, whatever the circumstances.’

REACTION TIMES: 16pc WORSE
KEEPING A DISTANCE: 10pc WORSE
SWERVE FACTOR: 20pc WORSE


Speaking on a hand-held phone
As well as being illegal, talking on a hand-held mobile phone while behind the wheel is the nation’s most despised driving habit, even more than tailgating.
It’s something I know I have been guilty of in the past — not holding the phone to my ear but holding it in one hand and switching on the handset’s built-in speaker.
For the purposes of the experiment, I start by holding it in the crook of my neck and then switch it to my right hand. Again, Nick remotely runs through the series of questions as I negotiate the ten-minute drive.

Recreation: Tom tested a number of scenarios in a simulator, including a conversation on a hands-free set, which was replicated using an intercom 

 

The data subsequently reveals that my reaction time was 14 per cent slower than when there were no distractions, while in the car-following task, my attention wavered to the extent that the gap I left increased by 24 per cent.

When it came to steering a safe course through the curves, there was a 47 per cent increase in drifting. The results come as no surprise to me — it is abundantly clear to me as I do it that my control of the car has drastically deteriorated.

Oddly, my reaction times were marginally better than with the hands-free phone — I’m not sure why, but maybe I was lulled into a false sense of security on hands-free and didn’t concentrate as well. 

REACTION TIMES: 14pc WORSE
KEEPING A DISTANCE: 24pc WORSE
SWERVE FACTOR: 47pc WORSE


Texting
Using a hand-held phone to text or email while driving is illegal. But it is something that half of all motorists aged 18-24 admit to doing regularly — a worrying statistic given that this age group is already at much higher risk of being involved in a crash.
For this set of tests, I place my phone on my lap while Nick uses the intercom to dictate a number of messages for me to tap in to my phone and then send to him.
Before I send each message, I look at the road ahead in a misguided attempt to reassure myself. But, as everyone knows, there is nothing predictable about traffic — simulated or not. And so it is that I have my near-miss with the lorry.

Prevalent: Half of motorists between the ages of 18 and 24 admit to texting or emailing from their mobile phone while driving 

 

These results are the worst of the lot. My reaction times are 25 per cent worse than they were with no distractions and when it comes to following a car at a constant distance, I open up the biggest gap of all but then, when it slows down, end up getting closer to it than in any other of the tests. As for following a curved road, the 85 per cent deterioration in my control says it all.

‘When texting, drivers are distracted by taking their hand off the wheel, by trying to read small text on the display, and by thinking about what to write,’ says Nick.
‘This combination resulted in the impairments to reaction time and vehicle control that place the driver at a greater risk than having consumed alcohol to the legal limit.’

REACTION TIMES: 25pc WORSE
KEEPING A DISTANCE: 40pc WORSE
SWERVE FACTOR: 85pc WORSE


Eating a sandwich
Eating, drinking and smoking while driving are not illegal activities in the UK but drivers can be charged with careless driving if police believe they are not in control of their vehicle as a result.

I arm myself with an M&S baguette and settle back behind the wheel of the driving simulator. Obviously the problem with eating a BLT at the wheel is that it involves one of your hands. It also takes your eyes from the road as you instinctively tend to look at what you are about to put into your mouth. 

Diverting concentration: Eating requires two hands, and drivers will often look at what they are about to put in their mouth, meaning their eyes are off the road 

 

But I’m still shocked to discover that my meal-on-the-go has the second worst effect on my reaction times (only texting is worse) and the second biggest increase in difficulty following the car in front.

When it comes to controlling the vehicle through the curves, I don’t fare so badly — but that’s probably because I polish off the sandwich before I reach the end of the course.

REACTION TIMES: 19pc WORSE
KEEPING A DISTANCE: 27 pc WORSE
SWERVE FACTOR: 37pc WORSE


After alcohol 

For obvious reasons, this is the final test of the day and to get me over the UK drink-drive limit — a blood alcohol level of 80mg alcohol per 100ml blood — Nick calculates how much I need to drink in relation to my height and weight. I plump for wine and am presented with a couple of medium glasses.

After 15 minutes to allow the booze to enter my system, I’m back behind the wheel. By this time I’m infused by a warm glow and feeling pretty confident about my ability to handle the vehicle. Unfortunately, the results indicate that I am decidedly over-confident. 

After a tipple: Tom swills a glass of red wine before getting behind the wheel - causing his reaction time to decrease 

 

While alcohol has the least effect on my reaction time — 8 per cent slower — when it comes to the car-following task, it is the only occasion when I reduce the average distance to the car in front.

In the real world this could, of course, cause problems if said car suddenly slows down or stops. 

Meanwhile, my ability to negotiate the curved stretch of road safely deteriorates dramatically — I record the second worst result of all. It shows how dangerous alcohol can be — and a relatively small amount at that. As instructed by Nick, I had travelled to the lab by train and taxi. And I go home the same way.

REACTION TIMES: 8pc WORSE
KEEPING A  DISTANCE: 19pc WORSE
SWERVE FACTOR: 74pc WORSE 


The final verdict
There’s no doubt the number of people using phones as they drive is on the increase — just look around next time you’re on the road. 

Modern technology means we are now supposed to be contactable 24 hours a day, even when we are on the move. So when you get a text or an email during a car journey, there is a compulsion to read it — and to reply. We all know we shouldn’t, but sometimes the urge is irresistible.

But this experience has taught me that while many might assume drink-driving is as bad as it gets, using a mobile can be even more deadly: while drinking dulled my reaction times 8 per cent, texting slowed them by 25 per cent.

Damning verdict: The number of people using their phones on the road is on the up - making the roads a more dangerous place to be 

 

To put that into context, if I was travelling at 70mph, I would have travelled 8.5 metres further before hitting the brakes in response to a problem than if I wasn’t distracted. That’s more than two car lengths.

When it came to keeping a safe distance between my car and that in front, again, texting was the most disruptive. But most shocking of all was the way mobile use affected my ability to keep my car safely in the middle of a lane as I negotiated a series of gentle bends at 40mph.

When driving while texting my performance deteriorated by 85 per cent, massively increasing the risk of my car mounting a kerb and hitting a pedestrian or drifting into the path of oncoming traffic.

That compared with a 74 per cent deterioration when under the influence, 47 per cent when holding the phone to make a call, 37 per cent when eating a sandwich and 20 per cent when making a call hands free.
Having seen in black and white how dangerous a driver I become when I have a phone in my hand, I would never do it again

UK's first left-hand driving school launches as a QUARTER of Brits admit they are too scared to get behind the wheel abroad

• Foreign road signs and roundabouts baffle Brits abroad the most
• Skyscanner is teaming up with instructors to offer the free course
• 24% of Brits said they would prefer their partners to drive abroad

The UK’s first left-hand driving school has launched after it’s revealed more than a quarter of holidaymakers are afraid to drive abroad.

The course, to be held in Brixton, London, includes familiarisation with foreign road signs and roundabouts to build Brits’ confidence of taking a road trip while away.

Skyscanner is teaming up with driving instructors to offer free classes to travellers looking for practice and advice before getting behind the wheel overseas.

Nervous drivers: A quarter of Brits say they are not confident to get behind the wheel while on holiday

BRITS' TOP 5 FEARS WHEN DRIVING ABROAD...

1. Not recognising road signs
2. Getting lost
3. Going around roundabouts
4. Trying to navigate
5. Driving on the other side of road

The move comes after research revealed 27 per cent of Brits admitted to being afraid of driving on the opposite side of the road. 

The survey of 1,084 adults also showed 36 per cent admit they don't research driving laws before driving abroad and 24 per cent would prefer their partners to drive.

Skyscanner's Mary Porter said: ‘With two-thirds of the world's countries driving on the right-hand side of the road we wanted to give British holidaymakers the confidence they need to drive overseas. 

‘Rules and regulations vary from country to country so we've also published a guide to provide some clarity for drivers including top tips on driving on the opposite side of the road. 

 

‘There is so much to discover off the beaten track so we hope people make the most of it without the fear of driving abroad.’

Unfamiliar signs: Not understanding road signs is a top fear for Brits driving abroad

The guide includes a list of national speed limits for UK's most popular holiday destinations and also a list of unusual road signs they may come across as this is cited as the most fearful part of driving overseas.

There are also top tips on how to drive on the right as well as a list of some of the more unusual driving laws from across the globe.

Classes will run on Saturday, July 12 in Brixton, London and are subject to availability.

How to help elderly relatives if they're unfit to drive

Elderly drivers can be an unwitting danger to themselves and others, but should you voice doubts about a loved one's fitness to drive if it means they could lose their independence? 

 

 

There is no obligatory test or medical to check a driver's ability to be safe 

By Jill Sinclair

Many of us have an elderly relative or neighbour whose driving is giving cause for concern, but what are we meant to do – apart from offering lifts and extolling the virtues of their free bus pass?

Legally, there is no age at which any of us must stop driving. The onus is on the driver to decide when he or she can no longer cope. Ageing affects us all differently, and there will always be young drivers who are far more of a hazard than someone in their 80s.

Statistics bear this out. According to the Association of British Insurers, people over 70 are half as likely to be involved in accidents as 18- to 20-year-olds. Partly because older people will often choose not to drive at night or in bad weather and may only go on short, familiar journeys. So that's OK, then.

But it doesn't help if, like me, you've been asked to show an aged neighbour how to use the new satnav she's just been given.

To be fair, we couldn't have done much damage in the short trip from her home to the local park. We were going too slowly. But the combination of the neighbour looking at the satnav rather than the road and that imperious voice sending us an unfamiliar way was horribly nerve-racking. The outing was nevertheless deemed a great success and my neighbour announced her next trip: to visit a friend living six miles away along a new stretch of motorway. I quickly changed the satnav settings to send her on the scenic route and I asked if she wouldn't prefer me to drive her. But no.

From the age of 70 all drivers must renew their licence every three years. But there is no practical test and no medical. Just a form to say that we think we are still safe to drive. Given that the ageing process is as stealthy as a cat, how are we to know?

The DVLA has an A-Z of illnesses – some age-related, some not – which you "may" have to tell it about or that you "must" tell it about. Failure to declare a medical condition can result in a £1,000 fine and prosecution if you are involved in an accident. Assuming you are still alive after the crash to pay. Run of the mill age-associated decline – loss of hearing, reduced flexibility, the fact that it takes over-50s about eight times longer than a 16-year-old to regain normal vision after exposure to bright light – doesn't automatically mean we shouldn't be driving but will, in the end, make us less aware, less able to react quickly, less reliable.

Ultimately only a GP, an optician or the police can actually stop us from driving. Optician appointments are not mandatory; your GP may not volunteer an opinion – perhaps because they assume an elderly driver has already given up, or perhaps they have never been asked. The police will only stop someone if an offence has been committed or they happen to see someone driving erratically. Which leaves family and friends best placed to monitor our driving.

Anyone can tell the DVLA if they think someone is not fit to drive – regardless of the driver's age. The DVLA will then ask its Drivers Medical Group to carry out an investigation, contacting the driver's GP if necessary. Unlike visits to the optician, if you ignore its letter you will have your licence revoked immediately for non-compliance.

I'm not sure that I will contact the DVLA about my neighbour. I'd say she's borderline. But I have to hope that, along with most other people, I'm not just waiting for an accident to happen.

(as reported by The Telegraph)

Woman photographed driving ten miles along the M1 at 70mph while reading BOOK

• Woman was flicking through pages of a book on busy stretch of the M1
• The Nissan Micra driver was going at up to 70mph through Leicestershire
• Motorists waved at her to stop but she smiled, waved back, then carried on
• Police describe act as 'irresponsible and dangerous' and will use image as intelligence
• Road safety campaigners call for increase in fines for 'multi-tasking' drivers

Risking lives on one of the busiest motorways in Britain, this woman was spotted casually reading a book at the wheel of her car - while driving at up to 70mph.

The driver was travelling alone along the M1 in Leicestershie with the book spread across her steering wheel - and even carried on turning pages when other motorists were frantically waving at her to stop.

Road safety campaigners have called the pictures 'shocking' while police described the behaviour as 'irresponsible and dangerous'.

A real page turner: This driver was pictured reading her book at the wheel while travelling at 70mph along the M1 motorway

Builder Andrew Stonham was heading home on the M1 in Leicestershire when he spotted the reckless act.

He first saw her at junction 25 - and continued alongside the blue Nissan Micra until junction 27 ten miles away.

Mr Stonham, 28, who was the passenger in a workmate’s vehicle, said: 'We saw her about 200 yards back and my friend said he thought something was up.

'We caught up with her but we were struggling to keep up in the central lane. It’s not even like she was in the slow lane.

 

'We were beeping at her and I was waving at her out of the window. She finally looked over, smiled and waved before carrying on as normal.'

Mr Stonham, from Kirkby, Nottinghamshire, took a mobile phone picture of the woman from the passenger seat of the vehicle he was in last Wednesday between 3.30pm and 4pm.

The father-of-three noticed other drivers flashing their lights at her and witnessed her continuing to read until he and his colleague pulled off the motorway at Junction 27.

'We’re on the motorway all the time and we see people eating or putting on make-up, stuff like that, but this was unbelievable,' he added.

The woman was seen driving ten miles along the M1 through Leicestershire from junction 25 to junction 27, as indicated in red on the map

The woman carried on turning pages even when other motorists started beeping and waving their arms at her

'I would like the police to try and attempt to track her down if possible, because she needs to be told that this behaviour is not acceptable and can result in death.

'The road was busy at the time and she could have quite have easily have ploughed into the back of somebody. I have no idea what she was thinking.

'She even acknowledged we were there but just seemed oblivious to the fact that she was doing anything wrong. It was crazy'

James McLoughlin, spokesperson for road safety charity Brake, called the image 'shocking'.

'At Brake, we work with many families who have lost loved ones and had their lives torn apart because someone decided to multi-task at wheel.

'We're calling on government to increase fines and make traffic policing a national priority to deter risky, multi-tasking drivers.

'We urge all drivers to save any other activities until they're safely out of the car.'

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: 'This behaviour is clearly irresponsible and dangerous and if witnessed by police we will act accordingly and seek to prosecute the driver.

'Any images taken by a third party member of the public and provided to police will be treated as intelligence.'

'Smartest' British drivers revealed

Research found youngsters in the north of England are the nation's smartest young drivers, but overall older drivers reign supreme on the road.

 

Drivers aged 50-65 from the Midlands have been judged to be Britain's "smartest" - displaying the most fuel efficient and safe driving behaviours - while people aged 18-30 from Wales and the South West are more like driving dunces, new research claims.
Youngsters in the north of England are the nation's smartest young drivers, but overall older drivers reign supreme on the road.

The Shell FuelSave Smarter Driving research ranked young (aged 18-30) and older motorists (aged 50-65) on their 'smart' and 'not-smart' driving behaviours towards fuel efficiency and safety - everything from smooth driving to wearing appropriate footwear behind the wheel.
More than half (57%) of young motorists believe they are better drivers than anyone else on the road, but almost two thirds admit to driving with one or no hands on the wheel (59%) and accelerating through amber lights (56%), compared to a third of older drivers (34% and 32%).
Almost twice as many young motorists also wear inappropriate footwear while driving. Furthermore, a third of young drivers (33%) confessed to using their mobile behind the wheel, as opposed to just 5% of their older counterparts.

Older drivers are also more fuel efficient, making a conscious effort to drive smoothly (82% compared to 57% of young people), turn off the engine when idling (51% compared to 37% of young people), and remove excess weight from the boot (49% compared to 36% of young people).
The research results have been released as University College London (UCL) students prepare for Shell Eco-marathon Europe - an annual competition challenging student teams to compete in ultra-energy-efficient vehicles they have designed and built themselves, which hits the streets of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from 15-18 May 2014.

Young drivers 'feel invulnerable'

More than seven in 10 young drivers think they are better than the average driver, according to a survey.

More than seven in 10 young drivers think they are better than the average driver despite the age group being 2.5 times more likely to be involved in a serious crash, according to a survey by Vision Critical and road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

The IAM said that the average of 71% reveals a perceived "invulnerability" in young people that is not reflected in the real world.
Britain's most confident young drivers are in Northern Ireland where an astonishing 87% think they are better than average.

The facts tell a different story, with young drivers making up 26% of those involved in crashes.
Britain's 'least' confident young drivers are from Wales where a still-surprising 56% think they are better than average.

The gender gap is not as wide as some might expect, though, with 75% of young men believing that they are more competent than average drivers, compared with 68% of young women.
Contrary to the confidence of younger drivers, official figures show that while only 8% of drivers are under 25, they account for 22% of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes. They also drive, on average, about half the distance of older drivers each year.

Nearly a quarter of all car drivers (133 out of 542) who died in 2012 were young drivers themselves.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "A year ago the Government committed itself to producing a green paper to tackle the safety of young drivers which has yet to be published.

"Our whole system of learning to drive must be overhauled to provide safe exposure to a wider range of traffic situations, but also the chance to discuss attitudes and risks.
"New drivers feel invulnerable and it is the job of government, training providers, insurers, charities and parents and carers to ensure they have the best training to reduce risk to themselves and others."

Man driving since age of 9 had failed 56 times to fill in UK licence application

A MAN who claimed he has been driving since the age of nine told magistrates in Swansea he had applied for a British driving licence 56 times — but had never been able to successfully complete the paperwork.

Salim Sheikh Khalid Saeed, aged 23, appeared in court and admitted he had crashed a car he was driving without insurance, a licence and without permission.

He also admitted failing to stop when asked to do so by a police officer.
Saeed told probation officer Sharon Griffiths he was a good driver, but had not managed to obtain a driving licence in this country because he had not been able to provide the correct paperwork.

The offences all took place on March 18 while he was driving on Mumbles Road in Swansea.
Mrs Griffiths told the court he told her he had taken his friend's car so he could go out for dinner.
He said he had not realised police were asking him to stop the vehicle because officers were travelling in the opposite direction and had continued driving, but stopped when he reversed into a pillar, damaging the car.

Mrs Griffiths said Saeed, who did not grow up in the UK, "lacks understanding about requirements of driving in our country."
Saeed received a 12 month community order and was told to complete 80 hours work and a "Vehicle Crime" course.
He also received eight penalty points and has to pay costs and a surcharge.

Coronation Street star Barbara Knox claims she was 'manhandled' by police as she pleads not guilty to drink-drive charges with celebrity lawyer 'Mr Loophole' by her side

• Barbara Knox, 80, appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court yesterday
• She has pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving under the influence
• Veteran actress plays Rita Tanner in ITV soap Coronation Street
• It was claimed in court that Mrs Knox was 'manhandled' by police officers
• She has been granted unconditional bail until her trial on July 23

Case: Barbara Knox arriving at court yesterday where the actress pleaded not guilty to drink driving

Coronation Street actress Barbara Knox has claimed she was 'manhandled' by police after her arrest for drink driving, a court heard yesterday.

Mrs Knox - who plays the role of Rita Tanner in the ITV soap - entered a not guilty plea at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court, in relation to an incident in Knutsford, Cheshire, on March 10.

She arrived at the court, dressed in a black quilted coat and pearls, with Nick Freeman, a lawyer who has represented a slew of celebrities charged with traffic offences, including David Beckham, Jimmy Carr and Jeremy Clarkson.

Mr Freeman, who is reported to be one of the country's highest paid solicitors, has been nicknamed 'Mr Loophole' by the tabloid press because of his success in motoring cases. It's a moniker he trademarked in 2008.

The 80-year-old Mrs Knox, who suffers from high-blood pressure and hearing difficulties, also claimed that police 'physically manhandled' her.

Mr Freeman told the court: 'She was physically manhandled in the police station. It was agreed she was in a highly emotionally-charged state. She was described as tearful.'

Mrs Knox was said to have been a passenger in a Jaguar driven by her daughter, Maxine Ashcroft, 56.

The car was stopped by police after a member of the public reported they thought the driver was under the influence of alcohol.

Ashcroft was found to be nearly three times over the legal limit when she gave a breathalyser reading at Middlewich police station.

Mrs Knox, from Knutsford, later arrived at another station and was arrested herself on suspicion of drink driving. She was bailed pending further inquiries until she too was charged on April 4.

Mrs Knox entered a plea of not guilty to the charge when she appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court

Mrs Knox is represented by solicitor Nick Freeman, right, whose celebrity clients have included David Beckham 

 

The actress has been granted unconditional bail until her trial which is set to start on July 23

Prosecutor Simon Pover explained: 'Police officers initially dealt with an incident where the driver of the Jaguar was found to be over the limit and was dealt with.

'A passenger in the car, Mrs Knox, was assisted at the roadside by police officers who were concerned to leave her alone. They drove her home to an address in Knutsford.

'About an hour later Mrs Knox attended Knutsford Police Station and appeared to still be intoxicated.

'Police officers were concerned about how she arrived at the police station and gave her advice about how she should return home, and offered to give her a lift home but she declined.

'She was then seen to get into and drive a Jaguar motor car a short distance - police stopped the motor car and spoke to Mrs Knox.

'There was a positive breath test. She was arrested and taken into custody at Middlewich. A sample of blood was taken.'

The blood contained 85 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, with is fractionally over the limit of 80 microgrammes.

Solicitor Nick Freeman, right, has made his name representing celebrities in motoring cases

Mr Freeman said: 'She went into her car. She reverses a short distance, that is not in dispute. She doesn't dispute driving or being in a public place.'

He explained the two-day trial, scheduled for 23 July, may hear from expert medical witnesses to give evidence of his client's blood pressure at the time the alcohol blood sample was taken and also of her hearing difficulties.'

She has been granted unconditional bail until her trial, which will again take place at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court.

Mr Freeman claimed in court that Mrs Knox was 'physically manhandled' by police officers

Left: Nick Freeman is confronted by a man dressed as a Dalek, a villain from TV's Doctor Who, on his way into court. Right: Mrs Knox leaves court with her lawyer, she has been granted unconditional bail until the trial

Ashcroft, from Lechlade, Gloucestershire, was banned from driving for two years in a hearing at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court earlier this month.

Mrs Knox left school at 15 and worked as a telegraphist in the Post Office before appearing in amateur theatre.

She first appeared in Coronation Street in 1964 for one episode before becoming a regular character in 1972, winning a TV Times best actress award in 1989, and a Lifetime Achievement honour at the British Soap Awards in 2004.

She was also made an MBE in 2010 for her services to drama and describes her hobbies as gardening and tapestry.

She has been married twice- first to Denis Mullaney in 1956, having three children John, Amanda and Maxine. The couple later divorced in 1977 when she married John Knox. She and Mr Knox then divorced in 1994.

Apple's iPhone 'lock-out’ patent could end texting while driving

A new automatic system to preventing phone use while driving could ‘change the culture’ of texting addiction, say experts

 

A campaign thumb-band, which reads 'texting while talking kills'.

 

 

A new technology proposed by Apple would seek to address the dangerous and ubiquitous problem of drivers who use their phone behind the wheel, according to experts.
A new patent by the technology giant could “change the culture” and help stop driver distraction with an automated system that would disable certain smartphone functions when an iPhone user is driving.

One recently published patent describes a "driver handheld computing device lock-out" system that detects when a user is driving using on-board sensors or pulling information from the car when connected, blocking the use of text messaging or using other smartphone functions from the person driving.
“As a market leader, Apple could have the power to change the culture behind texting and driving, if it works and is intuitive; that would be a very good step,” said Paul Watters, head of motoring policy for the AA. “What we find in our research is that there’s an addiction here, to texting and using smartphones, it’s an addiction that is very hard to break even when in the car — it will take some system to help people break that addiction.”

Boosts likelihood of a crash by 23 times

Texting while driving is a hot-button issue that has been labelled as a “widespread menace” by Brake, the road safety charity, which has been shown to slow driver reaction times by 35% and increase the likelihood of a crash by 23 times for commercial drivers.
It is illegal to use a hand-held phones while driving, even when stopped at lights or in traffic in the UK, with an automatic fixed penalty of three points on the driver’s licence and a fine of £100.
Three in 10 of all drivers admitting sending or reading messages while driving, according to research by Brake and insurance company Direct Line. That number increases to more than four in 10 for drivers aged 18 to 24, while one in eight drivers admitted to using smartphone apps while behind the wheel.

‘Technology has a role to play’

Attempts to disable smartphones or limit distracting features of phones have been made in the past. Several developers have released apps that prevent drivers from texting behind the wheel for Android, but it has not been possible for the iPhone due to Apple’s restrictions on apps and system control.
“Technology has a role to play, but there is no single solution to the problem of distracted driving,” said Ellie Pearson from Brake.
Apple is currently making a large push into software for cars with its CarPlay system, which integrates an iPhone with a car's entertainment and communication tools, including connecting the car’s navigation system using Apple’s mapping app.
The patent for locking down the device was filed in 2008, but has only now been published. Apple could have a system in place that plays well with CarPlay, preventing the driver from texting using the smartphone other than via voice control through the car’s systems.
“Even if you cut off some functionality, it doesn’t necessarily remove the distraction the phone causes for drivers,” warned Watters. “There is no greater safety system than simply turning off the phone while driving.”

Amy Childs and Jim Davidson set 'to teach people to drive in new reality show Driving With The Stars'

She is not known for his teaching skills.

But Amy Childs could soon be putting her training cap on after it was reported the former TOWIE star is one of the names rumoured to be in the frame to appear in a new programme which will see celebrities teaching members of the public to drive.

TV bosses are hoping to capitalise on the popularity of celebrity-led reality shows like Splash! and The Jump with a new car crash viewing experience, provisionally dubbed Driving With The Stars.

Reality show queen: Amy has appeared in Celebrity Big Brother and The Jump since leaving TOWIE

According to The Sun newspaper, stars including former Coronation Street favourite Julie Hesmondhalgh is also in line to mentor 'problem' motorists who have proved to be a menace behind the wheel.

Joey Essex has also been linked to the rumoured series, but he will not be taking part in the programme.

A representative of Joey told MailOnline: ‘We have not had any enquiries about this show and I can therefore confirm that Joey is not involved.'

Success: Jim Davidson returned to reality TV earlier this year when he won Celebrity Big Brother 

 

A source told The Sun newspaper: 'It’s a definite goer. Imagine seeing Joey Essex trying to explain to someone how to do a U-turn, or Amy Childs giving a masterclass on the three-point turn — it could be comedy gold.'

Celebrity Big Brother winner Jim Davidson, who was hit with a driving ban in 2011, is also a hot favourite to join the line-up.
Motoring experts will help the stars teach the hapless learner drivers the basics, as they attempt to get them ready to pass their driving tests.

Driving to success? Julie Hesmondhalgh's Coronation Street character once taught her husband Roy Cropper to drive 

 

The show is rumoured to be planned for ITV this summer, but a spokesman for the channel told MailOnline: 'ITV has not commissioned this show.'

Amy has appeared in Celebrity Big Brother and more recently The Jump since leaving TOWIE.
She also splashed out £80,000 on a 'WE11 JEL' (Well Jel) number plate for her white Range Rover.

Julie has driving instructor experience of some sort as her Coronation Street character Hayley Cropper once taught her husband Roy Cropper - played by David Neilson - how to drive in the soap.
 

No show: Joey Essex will not be taking part in Driving With The Stars

Driving tests in English will make roads safer

Is BANNING translators for driving theory tests is an excellent decision by the Government?

 

There will be some critics who will decry the ban as racist but making everyone take exams in English, Welsh or British sign language will help immigrants learn the language of their adopted country.
Since 2008 almost 1,300 passes have been revoked following investigations into the improper conduct of interpreters.
Between February 2008 and December 2009 one in five tests using an interpreter was found to be fraudulent. That is a vast number of people to have progressed through the system despite falling short of the required knowledge.

Once they have passed the theory test learner drivers are then able to apply for the practical test, meaning they are just one step away from heading out on to the roads by themselves.

Cars are dangerous and we have to take all the precautions necessary to make sure that people are honestly good enough to warrant receiving their licence.

Transport Minister Stephen Hammond said: “By stopping driving tests in foreign languages we will cut out the risk of fraud and help to ensure that all drivers can read road signs and fully understand the rules of the road.

Now the selfie craze spreads to drivers... at the wheel: One in 14 admits taking picture of themselves while on the road

• 'Selfie' fans between 18 and 24 are 'worst culprits'
• Craze has been called selfish and dangerous by road safety campaigners

Motorists are putting lives at risk - including their own - as the craze for taking ‘selfies’ takes to the road, a survey reveals today.
Up to one in nine (11 per cent) admit snapping themselves at the wheel while driving despite warnings on the danger of using mobile phones.
It says that ‘selfie’ fans aged between 18 and 24 are the ‘worst culprits’.
Some 11 per cent confess to doing so compared to one in 14 (7 percent) on average across all age ranges.
They are also more than twice as likely to connect to social media sites at the wheel.

Up to one in nine drivers admit snapping themselves at the wheel while driving despite warnings on the danger of using mobile phones.

Nearly one in ten (9 per cent) say they have logged in to photo messaging app Snapchat compared to one in 25 (4 per cent) of all drivers, according to the survey of 2,000 drivers commissioned by price comparison site Confused.com
It also found that Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram are also much more widely used by 18 to 24-year-old drivers.
But the ‘selfie’ driving practice was condemned as recklessly risky and selfish by leading road safety charities Brake and IAM.

The self-portrait snaps have become so popular with that ‘selfie’ was named as the 2013 word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries.
It is defined as ‘a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.’
Brake spokeswoman Laura Woods said: ‘This is a case of selfie selfishness.
‘Using a phone in any way at the wheel dramatically increases the risk of crashing and killing or seriously injuring someone.

But the 'selfie' driving practice was condemned as recklessly risky and selfish by leading road safety charities Brake and IAM.

 

‘It is very worrying to see the numbers of drivers engaging in this dangerous behaviour, particularly younger drivers who are already at higher risk of crashing due to their age and inexperience.’
A ‘selfie’ showing A-list stars including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey and Brad Pitt became the most retweeted photo ever earlier this month after being shared by Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres.
Confused.com said hashtags including #drivingselfie and #drivingselfies 'are prompting social media users to take photos of themselves and post them online when behind the wheel'.

In America, an NBC investigation found more than three million pictures filed under hashtags including #drivingselfie, #drivingtowork and #ihopeidontcrash.
Previous UK research suggests that a third of drivers use hand-held mobile phones at the wheel despite an increase in fines from £60 to £100 in August last year.
One in eight culprits log onto social networks and a fifth use apps. Half check text messages whilst driving and a third scan emails.

Brake said penalties should be tougher and the IAM called for a police clampdown.
Neil Greig, IAM’s director of policy and research said: 'This seems to be another form of peer pressure to take part in the latest trend.
‘The best way to avoid it is to give young people the skills to stand up for themselves and not follow the herd and post silly photographs online.
‘The IAM want to see more traffic police out there catching bad drivers but this survey would seem to suggest not even that will stop those addicted to using their smartphones.’

Confused.com head of car insurance Gemma Stanbury said it was the duty of drivers to behave responsibly: ‘Taking your eye off the road, just for a second, to read an alert or take a photo can have potentially fatal results,’ she said.
‘We’re aware that social media and photo sharing sites do not actively encourage users to take photos or post updates when driving, so the responsibility sits with the individual not to do so when behind the wheel,’ she said.