The truth behind lane closures

Only this morning the A4 eastbound into London was clogged with traffic because a car had broken down on the elevated section between the Chiswick and Hogarth roundabouts.

The queues stretched all the way back to junction 3 of the M4, which is an unhappy place for motorists at the best of times, as the 3-lane motorway funnels down to the 2-lane flyover that was designed to scoot you speedily all the way to Hammersmith and beyond – jams are the norm in peak periods and not unexpected at any time of day or night.

Road to ruin

The combination of road architecture, volumes of traffic and mechanical failure is no doubt repeated many times across the country every day.

In fact, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), if you’re stuck in a queue on a motorway or major A-road in England, there’s a 40% chance the problem will be someone up ahead standing next to a wounded vehicle with an expression that is equal parts dismay, shame and apology for the trouble they’re causing.

In total, breakdowns caused 185,000 lane closures in England in 2014 (out of 440,000). Roadworks, obstructions and collisions, when combined, accounted for another 140,000.

IAM also found (thanks to a Freedom of Information request to Highways England) that lanes closures were also caused by:

• 122 unsupervised children


• 12,759 incidences of pedestrians walking on a motorway or A- road


• 3,990 loose animals


• 5,700 potholes


• 2,598 abandoned vehicles


• 6,742 shed tyres


• 856 suicides or attempted suicides


• 152 cases of objects being thrown onto the roads


• 567 cases of a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road.

Another big contributor was ‘administration’ – usually police checks – which weighed in with nearly 24,000 lane closures.

Economic damage

The IAM reckons lane closures cost the economy £1 billion a year in lost ‘man’ hours, and it says improved vehicle maintenance, road safety education and driver training will help reduce the problem.

Meanwhile, to the guy standing mournfully next to his car on the Chiswick flyover this morning – I hope you can’t lip-read.

More from my site

The truth behind lane closures

The Week in Trucks

 

 

  

  

 

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The Week in Trucks

Truck drivers warned of obstructions placed on roads with criminal intent!

This past week I had the pleasure of hosting a young man, Michiel Van Duurling, from the Netherlands and invited him to drive with me from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg. Along the route I could inform him of some unique challenges in South Africa. Much of our conversation was pertaining to the threats on our roads, the low numbers of cyclists on our roads and the reasons for this.

Near Johannesburg I had to explain the road signs alerting road users to hazardous objects on the roads! During this past weekend these messages were further highlighted by a warning from crash reconstructionist Stan Bezuidenhout to truck drivers of this threat. I would like to quote:

“Trucking Alert (and all motorists): This morning at approx 04:30 on N12 near Etwatwa, driver of a loaded fruit truck is reported to have swerved to avoid boulders/ rocks placed on the freeway. He crashed into the centre median, destroying the guard rails and “clearvu” anti-pedestrian fence proceeding across the freeway. The crash also destroyed the trailer and load was scattered.

This is not the first incident on objects being put on the road or thrown from overhead bridges. Earlier this year a cattle truck overturned after bricks were thrown from the overbridge on N1 near grasmere. Last week a mother and child were seriously injured on the N12 near the Glen (comaro offramp) after a brick was thrown at the vehicle. News reports indicate the child is in a coma….

A special warning to all drivers to slow down and be observant on freeways especially in the dark…..pics of this mornings aftermath uploading.”

Also view:

Crime as a Threat to Road Safety

Truck Hijackings, Crime and Road Safety

Truck drivers warned of obstructions placed on roads with criminal intent!

Volvo Selects South Carolina as Location for First U.S. Plant, Breaks Ground this Fall

A former timber plantation in a sleepy southern town will be place back to operate constructing new Volvos. In the initial Swedish-Chinese-South Carolinian collaboration of its kind, Volvo is scheduled to break ground on a $ 500-million factory this fall.

Because late March, when Volvo announced it would construct an American plant with capacity for 25,000 cars a year—nearly double what it sold right here in 2014—the automaker turned down a proposal near Savannah, Georgia, and turned its focus to the Palmetto State, which agreed to offer you incentives worth up to $ 120 million. Volvo has not announced which models would roll down the line when construction finishes in 2018 or what percentage will be exported. (There’s also no word as to whether or not this deal will bring South Carolina its first IKEA store.)

Volvo plans to employ up to 2000 personnel, and you can bet your sweet tea that the UAW will not come knocking. Throughout Volkswagen’s union debates in neighboring Tennessee last winter, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley mentioned she wore high heels to stomp unions out of her state. “You’ve heard me say a lot of times I put on heels. It is not for a style statement,” she stated. “It’s simply because we’re kicking them every single day, and we’ll continue to kick them.” In the lengthy term, Volvo expects to employ 4000 individuals. The plant will be Volvo’s fifth following its 2 Swedish and 2 Chinese factories.

Volvo says it will use a large chunk of the 6800-acre Camp Hall Plantation, situated about 40 miles northwest of Charleston (exactly where one of 2 main ports is situated) and closer nonetheless to Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van plant. According to The Columbia State, Volvo filed an environmental permit for 575 acres with an additional 322 acres accessible for expansion.

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Offered Volvo’s languishing volume amongst an industry that has noticed nearly every brand bounce back from the recession, the South Carolina plant will probably export half, if not a lot more, of the vehicles it builds. A planned lineup expansion into compact crossovers and upscale S90s will assist fill the factory floor. But far more telling is what Geely, Volvo’s owner since 2010, may do with a large car-assembly plant sitting on inexpensive land and a state willing to do whatever it requires to boost employment. Could this be the very first step to American-made, Chinese-branded automobiles? If Volvo wanted to export vehicles cheaply, it could have constructed a plant in Mexico, a nation that is tariff-free to most European and Latin American countries. More than shiny XC90s, we’re betting Geely desires to win in America.

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Volvo Selects South Carolina as Location for First U.S. Plant, Breaks Ground this Fall

LIVE: Formula DRIFT Round 2 – Road Atlanta

This weekend sees the 2015 Formula DRIFT championship hit up Road Atlanta and, soon after the drama of Round 1 on The Streets of Extended Beach, we’re hunting forward to tuning into the live stream and keeping an eye on the action.

Verify the timetable under to make positive you tune in at the proper time (all instances are GMT):

Friday, May 8, 2015 - Practice & Qualifying
15:30 – 16:00 - International Time Attack 2 – Track
11:15 – 12:00 - Trans Fast 5 Qualifying – Track
17:15 – 17:45 - Worldwide Time Attack 3 – Track
18:00 – 18:30 - International Time Attack 4 – Track
19:30 – 20:15 - Trans Practice / Qualifying – Track
20:00 – 21:00 - FD: Autograph Signing Session – TBA
21:30 – :30 - FD: Open Practice – Track
:30 – 03:00 - FD: Qualifying – Track

Saturday, Might 9, 2015 - Principal Occasion
13:00 – 13:30 - International Time Attack 1 – Track
13:45 – 14:15 - Global Time Attack 2 – Track
14:30 - 115:40 – Trans – Foametix Muscle Auto Challenge (TA2) – Track
15:55 – 16:25 - Global Time Attack 3 – Track
16:40 – 17:50 - Trans – Foametix Trans 25 (TA & TA3 A&I) – Track
19:30 – 21:00 - FD: Open Practice – Top 32 – Track
21:00 – 23:00 - Major Competition: Round of 32 – Track
23:00 – 00:30 - HALF TIME BREAK
00:30 - NATIONAL ANTHEM / OPENING CEREMONIES – Track
01:00 - Primary Competition: Round of 16 to Finals – Track
03:00 – 03:30 - TROPHY CEREMONY & CLOSING

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Written by Ali Posted on May 8, 2015. Filed below Drift News, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry by way of the RSS 2.. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

LIVE: Formula DRIFT Round 2 – Road Atlanta

Truck drivers warned of obstructions placed on roads with criminal intent!

This past week I had the pleasure of hosting a young man, Michiel Van Duurling, from the Netherlands and invited him to drive with me from Bloemfontein to Johannesburg. Along the route I could inform him of some unique challenges in South Africa. Much of our conversation was pertaining to the threats on our roads, the low numbers of cyclists on our roads and the reasons for this.

Near Johannesburg I had to explain the road signs alerting road users to hazardous objects on the roads! During this past weekend these messages were further highlighted by a warning from crash reconstructionist Stan Bezuidenhout to truck drivers of this threat. I would like to quote:

“Trucking Alert (and all motorists): This morning at approx 04:30 on N12 near Etwatwa, driver of a loaded fruit truck is reported to have swerved to avoid boulders/ rocks placed on the freeway. He crashed into the centre median, destroying the guard rails and “clearvu” anti-pedestrian fence proceeding across the freeway. The crash also destroyed the trailer and load was scattered.

This is not the first incident on objects being put on the road or thrown from overhead bridges. Earlier this year a cattle truck overturned after bricks were thrown from the overbridge on N1 near grasmere. Last week a mother and child were seriously injured on the N12 near the Glen (comaro offramp) after a brick was thrown at the vehicle. News reports indicate the child is in a coma….

A special warning to all drivers to slow down and be observant on freeways especially in the dark…..pics of this mornings aftermath uploading.”

Also view:

Crime as a Threat to Road Safety

Truck Hijackings, Crime and Road Safety

Truck drivers warned of obstructions placed on roads with criminal intent!

Where in the vehicle will my child be safest?

Question:

Good afternoon. My son is 11weeks and i need to know what i should do if i have to drive a long distance. I cant put the child in the back of the car cause it is only us 2. can i put the child in the front facing the back?

Answer:

You can have your child on the front seat as long as his baby seat is rear facing and you have de-activated the airbag. Drive at a lower speed and take a break every 2 hours. It will be good for him too to get out and stretch a bit. Soothing music also helps to keep him calm. If you do need to attend to him, pull over where it is safe first. Children, especially new babies, can be a huge distraction when driving.

Keep well my friend

Much love

Peggie Mars

Founder – Wheel Well

For Children in Road Safety

072 385 7121

www.wheelwell.co.za

Also view:

Child restraints and Road Safety

Car Seats for Children and Legislation in South Africa

Where in the vehicle will my child be safest?

Live: Formula DRIFT Round 2 – Road Atlanta

This weekend sees the 2015 Formula DRIFT championship hit up Road Atlanta and, after the drama of Round 1 on The Streets of Long Beach, we’re looking forward to tuning into the live stream and keeping an eye on the action.

Check the timetable below to make sure you tune in at the right time (all times are GMT):

Friday, May 8, 2015 - Practice & Qualifying
15:30 – 16:00 - Global Time Attack 2 – Track
11:15 – 12:00 - Trans Fast 5 Qualifying – Track
17:15 – 17:45 - Global Time Attack 3 – Track
18:00 – 18:30 - Global Time Attack 4 – Track
19:30 – 20:15 - Trans Practice / Qualifying – Track
20:00 – 21:00 - FD: Autograph Signing Session – TBA
21:30 – 0:30 - FD: Open Practice – Track
0:30 – 03:00 - FD: Qualifying – Track

Saturday, May 9, 2015 - Main Event
13:00 – 13:30 - Global Time Attack 1 – Track
13:45 – 14:15 - Global Time Attack 2 – Track
14:30 - 115:40 – Trans – Foametix Muscle Car Challenge (TA2) – Track
15:55 – 16:25 - Global Time Attack 3 – Track
16:40 – 17:50 - Trans – Foametix Trans 100 (TA & TA3 A&I) – Track
19:30 – 21:00 - FD: Open Practice – Top 32 – Track
21:00 – 23:00 - MAIN COMPETITION: Round of 32 – Track
23:00 – 00:30 - HALF TIME BREAK
00:30 - NATIONAL ANTHEM / OPENING CEREMONIES – Track
01:00 - MAIN COMPETITION: Round of 16 to Finals – Track
03:00 – 03:30 - TROPHY CEREMONY & CLOSING

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Written by Ali Posted on May 8, 2015. Filed under Drift News, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Live: Formula DRIFT Round 2 – Road Atlanta

What are the main issues addressed in Consignor Legislation?

The Consignor legislation came into force on 31 Jan and is based on the following principles. It has been widely recognised and the principle accepted, both by the freight transport industry and the law enforcement authorities, that there is a need, in certain cases, to extend the responsibility of heavy vehicle overloading to the consignor and consignee, who may also benefit from the overloading of freight vehicles. A precedent has already been set with the new dangerous goods legislation.  The NDoT prepared draft consignor/consignee legislation during 2000, which was revised during 2003. It was published in October 2014 as legislation and became effective on 31 Jan 2015 Main issues addressed in legislation Various issues are addressed in the regulations as follows: ·                The proposed regulations will only be applicable to vehicles that carry mass goods (not volume goods);

• A consignor or consignee shall not offer goods nor accept goods if the vehicle in which the goods will be or has been transported is not loaded in accordance with the requirements of the Road Traffic Act;


• Consignors that are responsible for the loading of an operator’s vehicle shall be required to ensure the correct loading of the vehicle;


• A consignor or consignee shall not conclude a contract to transport goods on a vehicle with an operator if the vehicle is overloaded when the load is transported on the vehicle;


• In cases where the tonnage of goods transported exceeds 500 000 kg per month and a consignor shall be required to (i) have a method for establishing the mass of a vehicle and the axles and axle units of the vehicle and (ii) keep records of all loads transported from his or her premises;


• The operator shall carry a goods declaration containing specific information regarding the vehicle/vehicles making up the combination, the operator of the vehicle(s) and the consignor(s) and consignee(s);


• The consignor/consignee and operator shall conclude a written agreement for the transportation of goods.


• The operator shall have insurance against incidents.

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

What are the main issues addressed in Consignor Legislation?

Live: Formula DRIFT Round two – Road Atlanta

This weekend sees the 2015 Formula DRIFT championship hit up Road Atlanta and, after the drama of Round 1 on The Streets of Long Beach, we’re looking forward to tuning into the live stream and keeping an eye on the action.

Check the timetable below to make sure you tune in at the right time (all times are GMT):

Friday, May 8, 2015 - Practice & Qualifying
15:30 – 16:00 - Global Time Attack 2 – Track
11:15 – 12:00 - Trans Fast 5 Qualifying – Track
17:15 – 17:45 - Global Time Attack 3 – Track
18:00 – 18:30 - Global Time Attack 4 – Track
19:30 – 20:15 - Trans Practice / Qualifying – Track
20:00 – 21:00 - FD: Autograph Signing Session – TBA
21:30 – 0:30 - FD: Open Practice – Track
0:30 – 03:00 - FD: Qualifying – Track

Saturday, May 9, 2015 - Main Event
13:00 – 13:30 - Global Time Attack 1 – Track
13:45 – 14:15 - Global Time Attack 2 – Track
14:30 - 115:40 – Trans – Foametix Muscle Car Challenge (TA2) – Track
15:55 – 16:25 - Global Time Attack 3 – Track
16:40 – 17:50 - Trans – Foametix Trans 100 (TA & TA3 A&I) – Track
19:30 – 21:00 - FD: Open Practice – Top 32 – Track
21:00 – 23:00 - MAIN COMPETITION: Round of 32 – Track
23:00 – 00:30 - HALF TIME BREAK
00:30 - NATIONAL ANTHEM / OPENING CEREMONIES – Track
01:00 - MAIN COMPETITION: Round of 16 to Finals – Track
03:00 – 03:30 - TROPHY CEREMONY & CLOSING

No tags for this post.

Written by Ali Posted on May 8, 2015. Filed under Drift News, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Live: Formula DRIFT Round two – Road Atlanta

2016 Mini Cooper S Clubman Rendered, Detailed: It’s Coming to Haul Your Stuff

What It Is: To say the final Mini Clubman was a compelling oddball would be an understatement. It was half hatchback, half station wagon and nearly completely strange, with a 5-door layout that integrated rear barn doors and a rear-hinged suicide door on one side only. It was as well modest to ever be taken seriously as a load-lugger—despite Mini trying, and failing, to make a case—but it undoubtedly had an abundance of character.

This is our rendered take on what the new version to be launched later this year will look like. We know that it will be larger and much more sensible—indeed, it’s set to be the greatest Mini but in terms of all round dimensions. The big question is whether or not it will be able to match any of the idiosyncratic charm of its predecessor.

2013 Mini Cooper Clubman

The Clubman will, in essence, be a station-wagon version of the 4-door Cooper hatchback, with an extended cargo area. The rear-hinged “clubdoor” has gone, replaced by standard doors (and one particular on every single side!), but it will stick with twin side-hinged doors at the back, with the glass in every getting its own dinky tiny wiper blade. If it sticks to the published dimensions of the apparently production ready Clubman Concept that was shown at the 2014 Geneva auto show, it will be some 10 inches longer than the last Clubman and a half a foot up on the Countryman, which, till now, has been the greatest Mini.

Why It Matters: In the U.S. we fear that it won’t. Promoting station wagons is enough of a challenge here in the ideal of times, let alone a little one particular that carries the price premium that comes with a Mini badge. But in those components of the planet where tourers still reign—like Europe—this is a sensible move to broaden the appeal of the Mini hatchback. Luggage accommodation is unlikely to be overly generous, but it will nonetheless be the most spacious Mini to date for both men and women and stuff. Mini insiders have hinted that we can also count on to see an all-wheel-drive version later on, which will broaden its appeal still additional.

Platform: Like its F56 Mini brethren, the Clubman sits on BMW’s new front-drive UKL1 platform, which also underpins the not too long ago launched (and thankfully not-for-the-U.S.) BMW 2-Series Active Tourer. Mechanically it will share all main elements with the Mini hatchback (and the 2er), including the very same independent rear suspension. BMW has resisted the temptation to match a less costly (and far more space-effective) torsion beam at the back, which need to make certain the Clubman drives as crisply as its hatchback siblings but efficiently precludes offering third-row seating in this model provided the packaging constraints.

2013 Mini Cooper Clubman

Powertrain: All will be familiar, with the same 3- and 4-cylinder gasoline engines as the existing Cooper hatchback, probably running all the way to the 228-hp John Cooper Operates powertrain, and with a decision of automatic or stick-shift transmissions. Europeans will also be in a position to pick diesel versions, although they practically undoubtedly won’t make it to the U.S. And as mentioned above, the platform gives all-wheel drive, which we think will be presented as an choice some time following launch.

Competition: Fiat 500L, Ford Focus ST, Volkswagen Golf SportWagen.

Estimated Arrival and Value: Appear for the new Clubman to arrive in the 4th quarter of 2015, and to command roughly $ 1500 far more than the commensurate 2-door, non-Clubman hatchbacks.

View Photos View Photographs

2016 Mini Cooper S Clubman Rendered, Detailed: It’s Coming to Haul Your Stuff

What are the main issues addressed in Consignor Legislation?

The Consignor legislation came into force on 31 Jan and is based on the following principles. It has been widely recognised and the principle accepted, both by the freight transport industry and the law enforcement authorities, that there is a need, in certain cases, to extend the responsibility of heavy vehicle overloading to the consignor and consignee, who may also benefit from the overloading of freight vehicles. A precedent has already been set with the new dangerous goods legislation.  The NDoT prepared draft consignor/consignee legislation during 2000, which was revised during 2003. It was published in October 2014 as legislation and became effective on 31 Jan 2015 Main issues addressed in legislation Various issues are addressed in the regulations as follows: ·                The proposed regulations will only be applicable to vehicles that carry mass goods (not volume goods);

• A consignor or consignee shall not offer goods nor accept goods if the vehicle in which the goods will be or has been transported is not loaded in accordance with the requirements of the Road Traffic Act;


• Consignors that are responsible for the loading of an operator’s vehicle shall be required to ensure the correct loading of the vehicle;


• A consignor or consignee shall not conclude a contract to transport goods on a vehicle with an operator if the vehicle is overloaded when the load is transported on the vehicle;


• In cases where the tonnage of goods transported exceeds 500 000 kg per month and a consignor shall be required to (i) have a method for establishing the mass of a vehicle and the axles and axle units of the vehicle and (ii) keep records of all loads transported from his or her premises;


• The operator shall carry a goods declaration containing specific information regarding the vehicle/vehicles making up the combination, the operator of the vehicle(s) and the consignor(s) and consignee(s);


• The consignor/consignee and operator shall conclude a written agreement for the transportation of goods.


• The operator shall have insurance against incidents.

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

What are the main issues addressed in Consignor Legislation?

The Week in Trucks

 

 

  

  

  

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The Week in Trucks

What are the rights and obligations of traffic officers when screening for overloading of trucks?

Question:

Can you please advise me on the rules and regulations on the distance and circumstances that a traffic officer can order a truck driver to drive to a weighbridge from a mat scale?

Answer:

A traffic officer is given certain powers in terms of the National Road Traffic Act – specifically in this case in terms of Section 3 I – ascertain the dimensions of, the load on, or the mass, axle mass load or axle unit mass load of, any vehicle, or the mass of any combination of vehicles, loaded or unloaded, and if necessary for the purpose of ascertaining such mass, require any vehicle or combination of vehicles to proceed to a mass-meter or mass-measuring device, and if the mass of any vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds the mass allowed in terms of this Act, prohibit the operation of the vehicle or combination of vehicles on a public road until the mass has been reduced or adjusted to comply with this Act: Provided that where the load on a vehicle includes any hazardous substance as contemplated in the Hazardous Substances Act, 1973 (Act 15 of 1973), the reduction and handling of the mass shall be undertaken in terms of that Act;

There is NO condition in these powers as to the maximum distance (or length of journey) relating to the direction to weigh. This would be for practical reasons.

In most cases the vehicle would have been subjected to some version of screening process (which in most cases is not more than 2km away for control more than for concern over distance from multi-deck scales).

The circumstance is clear – the provision is to “ascertain such mass” – so the officer can direct any vehicle whether “overloaded or not”.

Regards

Gavin

;

Gavin Kelly Technical & Operations Manager Road Freight Association

What are the rights and obligations of traffic officers when screening for overloading of trucks?

Is it time to ditch your vehicle?

Taking into consideration ditching your automobile because you are fed up with Britain’s gridlocked roads?

And that doesn’t just imply leaving it at residence in favour of commuting on public transport – we’re talking about in fact obtaining rid of your car for great.

If you’re in this category, you are not alone. According to a new report from analysis charity, the Independent Transport Commission, the quantity of people who own their personal cars is likely to fall steeply over the subsequent 50 years.

This is primarily due to the cost of operating them, and due to the fact we’re sick of sitting in visitors jams.

Peak season

So are we quickly approaching the scenario identified as “peak car”, when the road ne2rk simply can’t accommodate any more cars, and the number of motives not to personal a automobile begins to outweigh the positive aspects of getting a single?

Not absolutely everyone thinks so. Forecasts from the Department for Transport recommend that traffic on all UK roads will enhance by 41% amongst 2010 and 2040 – so they clearly do not acquire into the argument that car usage is going to decline any time quickly.

Indeed, may possibly driverless vehicle technology not increase the number of vehicles on the road, given that it will take a lot of the anxiety and strife out of acquiring behind the wheel?

The Commission, however, is sticking to its guns, saying growing numbers of us will be put off driving by worsening targeted traffic conditions.

Price issues

It is not just targeted traffic that is placing us off auto ownership.

The fees of learning to drive and of operating and insuring a auto are amongst the principal reasons a lot of of us could consider dumping our motors.

There are a lot of other costs linked with owning a auto, such as fuel fees and parking charges, which offer excellent purpose to think about hanging up the car keys.

Take my case. It would be really valuable for my personal family to have a second vehicle, offered we have 2 young kids and live in the sticks. But my husband has rather gone for a moped to save cash.

This has the benefit of quite cheap operating charges and means he does not have to spend the £4 station auto park charges each and every day – a saving of about £80 a month.

Club class

So how will we get about if we no longer use our own vehicles?

The report says escalating numbers of us will turn to automobile clubs, where you rent a auto anytime you require one, auto-sharing and taxis.

It’s not tough to see the appeal of any of these choices.

Automobile clubs normally charge an annual fee, generally amongst £60 and £100, and then an hourly rate, generally starting from about £5.

According to the Income Guidance Service, if you drive significantly less than 6,000 miles a year, joining a auto club could save you more than £3,000 compared to operating your own automobile, and you don’t have to worry about servicing or repairs, or arranging toad tax and insurance coverage.

Problem shared…

Automobile-sharing is also properly worth thinking about – particularly if you’re a commuter and have a fellow workplace worker you can share fees with. If you do not, then there are a lot of lift share sites available, such as nationalcarshare.co.uk and blablacar.com exactly where you can sign up to be a passenger.

Most websites let you to join for totally free, and then look for people going in the very same path you want to. The only cost to you is a share of the petrol expenses.

If you are worried about obtaining into a vehicle with a stranger, most sites have a ratings system so you can verify out what other passengers say about them very first.

Country living

While all this makes good sense in theory, it surely feels as even though it is going to be a long time just before any person who doesn’t reside in an urban area will be in a position to get by effortlessly with no their personal car, specially if they have youngsters to ferry around.

In most rural locations, you’d be really tough pushed to find a vehicle club vehicle within walking distance, and fortunate to find a person prepared to routinely drop you at your door with a lift-share arrangement.

Probably this will all alter, but I for a single can’t see myself providing up my vehicle keys anytime quickly.

Is it time to ditch your vehicle?

Is it time to ditch your auto?

Taking into consideration ditching your car simply because you’re fed up with Britain’s gridlocked roads?

And that doesn’t just imply leaving it at home in favour of commuting on public transport – we’re speaking about in fact getting rid of your car for great.

If you’re in this category, you’re not alone. According to a new report from analysis charity, the Independent Transport Commission, the quantity of folks who own their personal automobiles is most likely to fall steeply over the next 50 years.

This is primarily due to the cost of running them, and because we’re sick of sitting in traffic jams.

Peak season

So are we rapidly approaching the situation identified as “peak car”, when the road ne2rk simply can’t accommodate any far more autos, and the number of causes not to personal a auto starts to outweigh the positive aspects of getting a single?

Not everybody thinks so. Forecasts from the Department for Transport suggest that site visitors on all UK roads will increase by 41% among 2010 and 2040 – so they clearly do not get into the argument that auto usage is going to decline any time quickly.

Certainly, may driverless auto technologies not boost the quantity of cars on the road, provided that it will take a lot of the pressure and strife out of getting behind the wheel?

The Commission, nevertheless, is sticking to its guns, saying rising numbers of us will be put off driving by worsening site visitors circumstances.

Price concerns

It’s not just targeted traffic that is placing us off car ownership.

The fees of learning to drive and of running and insuring a car are among the principal reasons many of us may consider dumping our motors.

There are lots of other costs connected with owning a auto, such as fuel fees and parking charges, which offer good explanation to take into account hanging up the automobile keys.

Take my case. It would be extremely helpful for my personal loved ones to have a second automobile, given we have 2 young kids and reside in the sticks. But my husband has rather gone for a moped to save income.

This has the advantage of very low-cost operating fees and implies he doesn’t have to spend the £4 station automobile park charges each and every day – a saving of about £80 a month.

Club class

So how will we get about if we no longer use our personal cars?

The report says increasing numbers of us will turn to auto clubs, exactly where you rent a automobile whenever you require a single, car-sharing and taxis.

It is not difficult to see the appeal of any of these alternatives.

Auto clubs generally charge an annual charge, normally among £60 and £100, and then an hourly price, normally beginning from around £5.

According to the Income Guidance Service, if you drive less than 6,000 miles a year, joining a car club could save you more than £3,000 compared to operating your own car, and you do not have to worry about servicing or repairs, or arranging toad tax and insurance.

Problem shared…

Auto-sharing is also nicely worth contemplating – specifically if you’re a commuter and have a fellow workplace worker you can share costs with. If you don’t, then there are a lot of lift share websites offered, such as nationalcarshare.co.uk and blablacar.com where you can sign up to be a passenger.

Most web sites permit you to join for free of charge, and then look for folks going in the identical path you want to. The only price to you is a share of the petrol expenses.

If you’re worried about getting into a vehicle with a stranger, most internet sites have a ratings program so you can verify out what other passengers say about them very first.

Country living

Whilst all this tends to make good sense in theory, it definitely feels as even though it’s going to be a lengthy time ahead of anybody who doesn’t reside in an urban region will be capable to get by effortlessly without their personal auto, specifically if they have youngsters to ferry around.

In most rural regions, you’d be very tough pushed to uncover a car club vehicle inside walking distance, and lucky to locate someone ready to routinely drop you at your door with a lift-share arrangement.

Probably this will all modify, but I for one can not see myself giving up my auto keys anytime quickly.

Is it time to ditch your auto?

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

In amplification of the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of April, 2015 – released today for public consumption on the website of the Department of Trade & Industry – the Association commented that domestic new vehicle sales, particularly all categories of commercial vehicle sales, had been affected by the multiplicity and configuration of public holidays during the month. Supported by incentive packages, new car sales had held up relatively well. Continued strong growth in new vehicle exports had continued during the month.

In the event, April 2015 aggregate new vehicle sales at 44 503 units were slightly down from the 46 016 vehicles sold in April last year. Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 44 503 vehicles, an estimated 38 780 units or 87.2% represented dealer sales, 6.3% constituted sales to government, 4.2% to industry corporate fleets and 2.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry.

The April, 2015 new car market at 30 184 units reflected a decline of 594 units or a fall of 1.9% compared to the 30 778 new cars sold in April last year. Intense competition in a challenging, difficult tradingenvironment had resulted in incentive packages to promote new vehicle sales. Furthermore, a modestrecovery in the used vehicle market had also been noticed.

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses during April, 2015 at 12 077 units reflected a decline of 774 units or a fall of 6.0% compared to the 12 851 light commercial vehiclessold during the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vehicles in the investment-driven medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry had registered declines. Medium commercial vehicle sales at 777 units and heavy commercial vehicle sales at1 465 units, reflected a fall of 38 units or 4.7% in the case of medium commercials, and a decline of 107 vehicles or a fall of 6.8% in the case of heavy trucks and buses – compared to the corresponding month last year.

Vehicle exports had continued to contribute positively to South Africa’s current account of the balance of payments. Industry new vehicle exports at 23 615 units during April, 2015 had again registered exceptionally strong growth compared to the corresponding month last year rising by 6 813 vehicles or 40.5% relative to the 16 802 export sales in April, 2014.

Vehicle exports for 2015 were on target to improve by around 25% in volume terms to a record export number of about 325 000 for the year.

At this stage, NAAMSA continued to project marginal volume growth in domestic sales based on an assumption of a slight improvement in South Africa’s economic growth rate, relative stability in automotive industry industrial relations, stable interest rates and unchanged credit ratings.

New vehicle industry production would continue to benefit from projected higher export numbers.

[Media from NAAMSA]

Also view:

Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety

Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

In amplification of the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of April, 2015 – released today for public consumption on the website of the Department of Trade & Industry – the Association commented that domestic new vehicle sales, particularly all categories of commercial vehicle sales, had been affected by the multiplicity and configuration of public holidays during the month. Supported by incentive packages, new car sales had held up relatively well. Continued strong growth in new vehicle exports had continued during the month.

In the event, April 2015 aggregate new vehicle sales at 44 503 units were slightly down from the 46 016 vehicles sold in April last year. Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 44 503 vehicles, an estimated 38 780 units or 87.2% represented dealer sales, 6.3% constituted sales to government, 4.2% to industry corporate fleets and 2.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry.

The April, 2015 new car market at 30 184 units reflected a decline of 594 units or a fall of 1.9% compared to the 30 778 new cars sold in April last year. Intense competition in a challenging, difficult tradingenvironment had resulted in incentive packages to promote new vehicle sales. Furthermore, a modestrecovery in the used vehicle market had also been noticed.

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses during April, 2015 at 12 077 units reflected a decline of 774 units or a fall of 6.0% compared to the 12 851 light commercial vehiclessold during the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vehicles in the investment-driven medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry had registered declines. Medium commercial vehicle sales at 777 units and heavy commercial vehicle sales at1 465 units, reflected a fall of 38 units or 4.7% in the case of medium commercials, and a decline of 107 vehicles or a fall of 6.8% in the case of heavy trucks and buses – compared to the corresponding month last year.

Vehicle exports had continued to contribute positively to South Africa’s current account of the balance of payments. Industry new vehicle exports at 23 615 units during April, 2015 had again registered exceptionally strong growth compared to the corresponding month last year rising by 6 813 vehicles or 40.5% relative to the 16 802 export sales in April, 2014.

Vehicle exports for 2015 were on target to improve by around 25% in volume terms to a record export number of about 325 000 for the year.

At this stage, NAAMSA continued to project marginal volume growth in domestic sales based on an assumption of a slight improvement in South Africa’s economic growth rate, relative stability in automotive industry industrial relations, stable interest rates and unchanged credit ratings.

New vehicle industry production would continue to benefit from projected higher export numbers.

[Media from NAAMSA]

Also view:

Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety

Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

The automobile modifications that pump up your premium

Your automobile may possibly be your pride and joy, but tinkering with it to make it even greater could expense you dear.

Insurers don’t look kindly on modifications, so any alterations could see your premiums DOUBLE.

Worse nevertheless, if you do not let your insurance coverage organization know in advance about any adjustments, your policy could be invalidated altogether – which indicates no spend-out if you’re are involved in an at-fault claim.

And that could be financially ruinous if you are deemed liable for a person else’s injury or death.

Common deviation

Insurers adopt this approach due to the fact, they argue, altering your auto signifies changing its original specification from the regular factory model – which signifies the basis of the insurance proposition is diverse.

And the insurer can not be certain of the good quality of the function that’s been carried out, so it can not be 25% confident the vehicle’s roadworthiness has not been compromised.

This means your insurer requirements to know about any changes you make, preferably ahead of they are produced. It may well imply a greater premium, but the option is to risk voiding your cover, which would leave you uninsured.

That would mean breaking the law and, of course, not obtaining any prospect of a spend-out if you had to make a claim.

Sticky situation

Do not fall into the trap of considering minor or cosmetic modifications are not substantial.

Earlier this year a vicar was told by her insurer that it wouldn’t have covered her had it known she had religious stickers proclaiming ‘Christ have to be Saviour’ on her car.

When she submitted a claim to her insurance business right after a portion was stolen from her car, enclosing photographs, they gave her 10 days to clarify why she hadn’t notified them about the stickers.

Rack and ruin

It’s not just stickers which could write off your cover. Your policy could even be invalidated if you match a roof rack to your vehicle.

If you want to be on safe side, constantly let your insurer know about any additions you make, even if they appear harmless.

Charger charges

MoneySuperMarket has crunched the numbers to learn which modifications are likely to lead to the most harm to your wallet, with turbochargers coming out on top.

The typical annual expense to insure your motor is £423, but add a turbocharger and you can also add a whopping 93% or £393 to the price of your cover.

Modifying your gear box can also prove expensive, raising the price of your premiums by almost 48%, although changing wheel arches or adding ‘bonnet bulges’ can add 42% on typical.

Re-tuning your engine can mean 23% greater insurance bills, and even a seemingly minor modify such as a new steering wheel can improve fees by 18% on average.

Guys are much more probably to introduce adjustments which bump up the cost of cover, and are most probably to modify the brakes, add a turbocharger and install air filters.

Typical sensors

Not all modifications will boost the price of your motor cover.

MoneySuperMarket’s research discovered it is ladies who come out of best when it comes to producing insurance coverage-friendly modifications to their automobiles.

They are most likely to add parking sensors, a sunroof and air-conditioning, all of which can bring down the expense of insurance coverage.

Parking sensors can cut vehicle insurance expenses by a tenth, even though adding a secure tow bar will reduce premiums by 6%.

The automobile modifications that pump up your premium

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

In amplification of the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of April, 2015 – released today for public consumption on the website of the Department of Trade & Industry – the Association commented that domestic new vehicle sales, particularly all categories of commercial vehicle sales, had been affected by the multiplicity and configuration of public holidays during the month. Supported by incentive packages, new car sales had held up relatively well. Continued strong growth in new vehicle exports had continued during the month.

In the event, April 2015 aggregate new vehicle sales at 44 503 units were slightly down from the 46 016 vehicles sold in April last year. Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 44 503 vehicles, an estimated 38 780 units or 87.2% represented dealer sales, 6.3% constituted sales to government, 4.2% to industry corporate fleets and 2.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry.

The April, 2015 new car market at 30 184 units reflected a decline of 594 units or a fall of 1.9% compared to the 30 778 new cars sold in April last year. Intense competition in a challenging, difficult tradingenvironment had resulted in incentive packages to promote new vehicle sales. Furthermore, a modestrecovery in the used vehicle market had also been noticed.

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses during April, 2015 at 12 077 units reflected a decline of 774 units or a fall of 6.0% compared to the 12 851 light commercial vehiclessold during the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vehicles in the investment-driven medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry had registered declines. Medium commercial vehicle sales at 777 units and heavy commercial vehicle sales at1 465 units, reflected a fall of 38 units or 4.7% in the case of medium commercials, and a decline of 107 vehicles or a fall of 6.8% in the case of heavy trucks and buses – compared to the corresponding month last year.

Vehicle exports had continued to contribute positively to South Africa’s current account of the balance of payments. Industry new vehicle exports at 23 615 units during April, 2015 had again registered exceptionally strong growth compared to the corresponding month last year rising by 6 813 vehicles or 40.5% relative to the 16 802 export sales in April, 2014.

Vehicle exports for 2015 were on target to improve by around 25% in volume terms to a record export number of about 325 000 for the year.

At this stage, NAAMSA continued to project marginal volume growth in domestic sales based on an assumption of a slight improvement in South Africa’s economic growth rate, relative stability in automotive industry industrial relations, stable interest rates and unchanged credit ratings.

New vehicle industry production would continue to benefit from projected higher export numbers.

[Media from NAAMSA]

Also view:

Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety

Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

Lightning Seed? Subsequent-Generation Ford F-150 Functionality Pickup Rendered!

In the course of the sport-truck mania of the 1990s and early aughts, Ford’s SVT unit graced us with 2 versions of the Lightning. Out of production because 2004, that hole in Ford’s lineup ostensibly has been filled by the flatbill-ready, improbably lovable Raptor. And even though FoMoCo wasted no time displaying a second-gen Raptor primarily based on the new, aluminum-intensive F-150, SVT’s successor unit, Ford Overall performance, has but to supply any official word on a Lightning replacement. But that does not mean 1 is not on the way.

Ford says it has 12 new Overall performance cars in the pipe for delivery by 2020, but we’ve only noticed the Focus RS, Mustang GT350 and GT350R, the subsequent Raptor, and of course, the quite spendy, quite limited GT supercar. We’d anticipate to see a Mustang GT500 added to the mix, which brings us to 6. And it is hardly inconceivable that Ford would want to additional butter its share of the F-150’s pie. Although the current F-150 Tremor had the brief-cab, brief-box silhouette of a classic sport truck, it wasn’t specifically packing in the muscle division. Its 6.-second -to-60 time was handily bested by the Lightning we tested in 2001, which made the very same run in 5.2.

2001 Ford SVT F-150 Lightning

The 2017 Raptor dispenses with V-8 energy in favor of EcoBoost V-6 motivation, and we’d count on a Lightning successor to continue to emphasize outright muscle. No matter whether that indicates a 6- or 8 cylinder engine or twin-turbo or—like the second-generation Lightning and ’00s Harley-Davidson trucks—supercharged forced induction is unknown at this point, but we’re betting on a couple of snails offered Ford’s major EcoBoost push of late. What ever happens, Ford lately applied for a trademark on “EcoBeast”, and that name would sound pretty rad applied to a streetgoing Raptor analogue.

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Our artist’s rendering suggests what such a machine could look like, replete with a Felicia Fun–grade combination of yellow paint and tailgate spoiler. The blacked-out maw of a grille echoes other zoot-oriented Ford automobiles like the Concentrate ST and Mustang. Because you want a hood scoop, it is got a hood scoop. Simply because you will want front-fender air extractors, it’s got those, as well. Larger brakes and stiffer suspension naturally would be on the menu, since when you are hustling your truck by way of the Southern Cascades and Northern Sierra Nevada, say on a run from Bieber, California, down to Butt Lake, Momma ain’t got no time to wallow.

Predictably, Ford has refused to comment on any future item, but appears to us that with Ford Functionality on such a tear, a hot-rodded, road-oriented pickup can’t not be on the future-machines docket.

Lightning Seed? Subsequent-Generation Ford F-150 Functionality Pickup Rendered!

Why does driving make us so angry?

Ever had to deal with an irate motorist?

Exactly where I reside, the query need to most likely be: “Ever come across a motorist who is not mouthing obscenities, flashing their lights, leaning on their horn and creating hand gestures that defy explanation to your kids sitting in the back?”

Or possibly that says far more about my driving than something else.

Be that as it could, it appears road rage is endemic. A staggering 81% of drivers have been victims of road rage, according to a recent survey by Carwow.co.uk.

It is your shout…

Shouting would appear to be the most typical expression of anger. But aggressive or hazardous driving and verbal abuse are also normal occurrences.

And a single in 5 drivers has been threatened in a road rage incident.

But if road rage is so common, how come 51% of us claim we in no way give in to our aggression? Is it genuinely the case that only 30% of us permit anger to get the greater of us when or twice a month, as the survey suggests – or are we also ashamed to ’fess up and admit we do our fair share of yelling and gesticulating?

Authority figures

The authorities have attempted to crack down on road rage by introducing £100 penalties for poor driving habits, such as tailgating and lane hogging.

Quite whether or not this will have the preferred effect remains to be seen. Soon after all, if you’re prone to tantrums that make your veins stand out on your temples, are you actually going to be capable to modify your behaviour at will?

The root of the dilemma is surely woven into how vehicles and driving have an effect on our psychology.

Most of us behave differently when we’re driving. We drop our inhibitions simply because we feel anonymous and immune.

In other words, we make rude gestures at other motorists behind the wheel that we would in no way dream of producing face to face.

Fighting the fury

So while it is tempting to blame road rage on a specific group of issue drivers, we ought to all acknowledge our prospective to drop our rags and feel about how we can avoid confrontation, stress and accidents.

Here’s a couple of ideas:

• enable a lot of time for your journey. If you are late, you are significantly more probably to be aggressive


• do not get behind the wheel if you are upset, angry or unwell (or hungover – a disastrous notion for all manner of causes, not least the truth that you are probably still over the limit)


• don’t permit oneself to be distracted by music, phones, maps or passengers


• do your very best not to antagonize other drivers. So, no lane hogging, inappropriate use of the horn, flashing your headlights, tailgating or cutting-up


• wave an apology if you make a error as the acknowledgement can defuse a potentially explosive situation


• do not competing with other drivers. It is a public highway, not a racetrack


• if somebody else is driving aggressively, don’t make eye contact, shout or gesticulate.

What if you are the victim?

It’s most likely occurred to all of us. You suddenly find your self on the getting finish of a barrage of abuse and aggressive behaviour.

So what’s the greatest approach?

Tailgaters can be specifically intimidating, but you ought to never compromise your own safety. So, do not speed up or brake all of a sudden.

As an alternative, try and discover a safe way to let the tailgater pass. For instance, you might drive twice round a roundabout.

If a driver is persistently aggressive, you may well want to head to a secure, public place and contact the police. Never ever allow an angry driver to comply with you house.

And if the motorist gets out of the car to approach you, lock the doors and don’t open the window. It can also help to make a note of the registration quantity and a description of the driver and the vehicle.

Temper your temper

It’s not constantly easy to remain calm on the roads, specially if you are stuck in heavy visitors or reduce up by an inconsiderate motorist. But losing your temper is not going to assist.

In reality, it is more probably to make items worse.

So next time you really feel the anger rising, take a deep breath, smile and count to 8.

Why does driving make us so angry?

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