The AnswerBank Articles

UK Motorways Apparently Most Congested In EU

Recent research by the Road Users Alliance (RUA) has found that motorways in the UK are the most jammed in Europe. UK roads carry over 93 per cent of all passenger travel, but take up less than one per cent of the UK's land mass, claims the RUA. The road network, particularly the motorway system, is in desperate need ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

More And Smarter Cameras On The Roads

Roads in the UK could soon be dotted with hundreds of roadside spy cameras cracking down on stolen vehicles and those without motor insurance. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras would be positioned at strategic locations such as interchanges, petrol stations and town centres as well as motorways, sugges...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Drivers Warned To Keep Plates Clear

Drivers are being warned to keep their licence plates and lights clean during the winter months. While there has always been a legal and motor insurance requirement to keep them clear, inadvertently obscured registrations could now trigger police automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and identify them as c...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Police Prepared To Seize And Destroy Unlicensed Mini Bikes

Mini motorbikes found on highways or on public land without the correct licence, taxation and motorbike insurance will be seized and destroyed, police have warned. Sales of the baby motor bikes, only around two feet high but styled to look like super bikes and capable of up to 35mph have taken off recently. But polic...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Avoiding A Parking Fine Could Cost Your Car

Motorists could face having their vehicles clamped or seized if they run up three or more outstanding parking tickets. The Department of Transport (DoT) says that it is being forced to consider the drastic measures to make reluctant drivers cough up. It is also considering a national parking fine database, which could...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Huge Increase In Numbers Without Motor Insurance

There has been a 40 per cent increase in the number of drivers without motor insurance in London in just two years, the London Liberal Democrats have announced. Nationally, the numbers caught without motor insurance have increased by around 20 per cent. The Liberal Democrats described the increase as a "major soc...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Clampers Still Crooks After Law Changes

Most drivers want to see wheel clamping outlawed on private land says a new motor insurance survey. Ninety four per cent of drivers in England and Wales think that the rest of the UK should follow the example of Scottish authorities that have made it illegal. The result comes despite legislation passed six months ago...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Direct Debit Can Put A Third More On Your Premium

Direct debits have blossomed in popularity in recent years, especially among those who have difficulty staying on top of their finances. The convenience of the out of sight, out of mind payments are such that 35 million people in the UK now have at least one direct debit set up. They are popular with companies as wel...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

One In Ten Passengers Failing To Belt Up

Despite long running awareness campaigns by safety organisations and motor insurance companies, one in 16 drivers and one in ten front seat passengers are still failing to belt up, says motor insurance research. And despite the law requiring back seat passengers to wear seatbelts being almost 15 years old, a fifth of ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Future Of Monza In Doubt

The future of Italy's historic Monza race circuit has been thrown into jeopardy after a judge ruled that racing there produces too much noise. The court said that any motor sports events held there in the future must make sure that it conforms to sound emission limits far below the volume produced by Formula One vehic...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Are Those Added Extras Offering Value For Money

Cars are coming with an ever greater number of bells and whistles as part of their standard spec, and for a little more you can add some extras that a few years ago would only have been seen on the Jetsons. But some of the bonuses could prove to be turkeys when you come to trade your old motor in, warns a leading auct...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

IAM Questions Fleet Safety

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has issued some alarming statistics about the safety of fleet vehicles on the UK roads. The information was gathered through the IAM's 'Drive and Survive' training course, a safety program for business drivers enabling companies to cut their motor insurance costs. The company&...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Motor Insurance Companies Warn On Tyre Wear

Motor insurance firms and safety campaigners are warning motorists that the increasing safety and toughness of new cars may actually be making them more dangerous. This is because while the average service period of cars has grown considerably, some components, such as tyres, may well wear out between times say motor i...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Volvo Wins Top Marks For Safety

Volvo has scored top marks in the motor industry's anti-whiplash ratings. Alongside Saab, Volvo was one of only two manufacturers to receive the top motor insurance rating. Volvo achieved an ‘All Good’ rating, with top ‘Good’ scores for every model tested. The vehicles were tested by Thatcham o...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Research Suggests Third Of Speed Gun Convictions Wrong

New research has suggested that almost a third of readings from speed guns are wrong. The findings mean that thousands may have wrongly received licence points, had to pay higher motor insurance premiums, or even lost their licences over faulty equipment. Researchers testing the handheld radar devices found that nearl...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Dodgy Bumpers Costing Motorists Unnecessary Millions

Dodgy designs of car bumpers are costing UK motorists £250 million every year, says recent motor insurance research. This could lead to higher insurance premiums, loss of valuable no claims bonuses and unnecessary inconvenience. The motor insurance industry testing discovered that under all the secure plastic an...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

BT Launches Vehicle Satellite Tracking

BT has launched an innovative scheme that uses satellite tracking to locate stolen cars. Users of the BT Trackit system use a special smartcard to 'login' when they start the ignition. If someone does not use the smartcard, a transponder concealed in the car alerts a BT call centre and the satellite tracking is turned...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Deflating Tyres Leak Pennies

Drivers who do not regularly check their tyre pressure could be wasting £6 on every £50 fill up, motor insurance companies have warned. There are also less tangible costs, with tyre life reduced by almost a third when they are run under-inflated. "While the safety message surrounding driving with the...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Creature Comforts Essential Say Business Drivers

Car gadgets that help ease the stress of driving, improve safety and cut motor insurance quotes are becoming more and more essential to business drivers says a new report. Almost two thirds of business drivers polled told motor insurance researchers that their car was a home from home as they spend more time behind th...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Driver Association Accused Of Encouraging Speeding

The AA has been accused of encouraging speeding by selling devices which alert drivers of nearby speed cameras, the Independent has reported. Although the organisation does not sell radar or camera detectors, it retails navigational devices which can warn drivers of speed cameras which lie ahead. The list of cameras ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010