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Warnings have been issued by the AA about the increase in theft of Catalytic Converters due to the sharp increase in scrap value of the precious metals housed in the units, platinum, palladium and rhodium. It is estimated that a stolen cat is worth about £150 in scrap value. Cars particularly at risk are 4WD cars and vans with a high ground clearance making it easier for thieves to saw off the cats. They warned that drivers of vulnerable vehicles should protect their insurance no claims discount as a claim could end up costing the driver £000’s. By Graham Hill

Some good news on the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) front. The EC has moved to make ESC compulsory on all new cars. The bad news is that the system will only be phased in from 2012 and made compulsory from 2014. You will recall that this is the system that checks your speed vs angle of steering and slows you down if you are about to go into a skid, it also applies power and/or braking to the wheels that are gripping. It’s an amazing system that was Read more »

I certainly notice less drivers using mobile phones whilst driving, possibly as a result of more prosecutions and fines, but we now see local authorities turning more of their attention to smokers in company vehicles. Whilst some issue warnings many are starting to issue more £30 penalties. A recent case saw a self employed painter and decorator, Gordon Williams fined £30 by his local council for smoking in his van, even though it is privately owned and he wasn’t working at the time. Read more »

Concerns have been raised over the noise levels of hybrid and electric cars. Not that they are loud, quite the reverse – they are too quite making it virtually impossible for pedestrians and cyclists to hear them before they reach them. As a result, Lotus have used new technology to synthesise the noise of an engine. They have developed a Safe & Sound Hybrid demonstrator, a Toyota Prius with a loudspeaker on the roof which Read more »

Last year saw the lowest number of road deaths since records began 80 years ago. The Department for Transport revealed that deaths fell by 7% last year from 3,172 to 2,943 despite indications that levels of traffic rose. Road deaths have been slowly dropping year on year but last year saw the biggest drop over recent years. In 2007 car driver and passenger deaths dropped by 11% and the number of seriously injured and other casualties dropped by 9% and 6% respectively. Whilst the latest drop was welcomed by the RAC Foundation and RoSPA  both organisations warned against complacency. Whilst the figures have dropped significantly there are still thousands dying on our roads each year. By Graham Hill

Warnings have been issued by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare regarding the lack of eye tests being insisted upon by employers. They recommend that all employees that drive a car as part of their job should have their eyes tested every year and at worst every other year, if not this lack of management could lead to prosecution of the employer in the event of a fatal injury. Their investigation found that 84% of employers recognised the need for Read more »

Sheilas’ Wheels have reported that more than three quarters of female motorists drive while hungry even though nearly half say that driving whilst hungry causes a loss of concentration. For 40% they say that feeling hungry increases their tiredness on the road. When asked why they drive whilst hungry the general response was it ‘slips my mind’ so the message must be if you want to be safe in a car with a woman driver listen out for the danger sounds, not tyres squeeling or knocks coming from the engine but a rumbling tummy and take a bag of chocolate to fix the problem. By Graham Hill

Researchers from the University of Alabama have proven that every cloud has a silver lining. We are all moaning like mad about rocketing fuel costs but the researchers have claimed a direct correlation between increasing fuel costs and decreasing road deaths as people look to save fuel by driving slower or not driving at all. The study showed that if petrol remained at $4 a gallon or higher, for a year or more, traffic deaths would drop by 1,000 every month across the country. Co-Author Michael Morrisy said Read more »

The Sentencing Guideline Council who advise magistrates and judges as to the recommended maximum term felons should face if committed for particular crimes have issued new guidlines for the the newly established crimes of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving. The new laws and associated prison sentences cover such things as momentarily looking at a map, adjusting their sat-nav and talking on a hands free phone, each of these will result in a maximum of Read more »

Whilst identity fraud continues to increase and cause concern to the leasing companies that often pay out tens of thousands of pounds for cars after receiving just a few signed documents and an advanced rental cheque, often for less than £1,000, motor finance fraud is relatively low compared to say credit card fraud or online purchase fraud. But there has been a steady increase in some more sophisticated organised fraud that results in professionals having their identities used in order to Read more »