Thursday, 2. October 2008
The 1st October sees the introduction of new regulations that ensures that customers with hire purchase or conditional sale agreements are reminded specifically of their rights to voluntary terminate (VT) the agreement when 50% of the total amount due has been paid. The Consumer Credit Act 2006 states that Read more »
Wednesday, 1. October 2008
Having been the first to break the news that the takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB would also result in the amalgamation of the two contract hire giants Lex and Autolease many are now reviewing what this could mean to the industry. Whilst the takeover still has to be approved by the FSA and needs shareholder approval both MD’s have said that in the meantime it is business as usual. As both companies are Read more »
Monday, 29. September 2008
A recent conference sponsored by leasing company Lex suggested that drivers and all businesses should consider ways of saving money. They concluded, as I have already suggested, that finance is one important area of consideration along with vehicle choice, emissions limits, fuel policies and for fleets even drink and drugs policies. Nothing very new there then but the interesting debate was over fuel choice. The proposal was that diesel Read more »
Monday, 29. September 2008
New regulations have come before Parliament that will allow Highways Agency traffic officers to authorise the removal of broken down and abandoned vehicles from motorways and A roads. This will give Highways officers similar powers to the police. Could this be the thin end of the wedge? By Graham Hill
Saturday, 27. September 2008
The Government has launched a major review of road signs, the biggest for 40 years. Transport Minister, Rosie Winterton, has called upon all motorists to have their say in how Britain’s streets should look in future. The review is aimed at using latest technology to help cut congestion and emissions and keep traffic moving safely and efficiently. The idea is to provide local authorities with new powers to Read more »
Friday, 26. September 2008
Companies have already started to cut back on their transport costs, as of course consumers have also, in preparation for the difficult times ahead. Sadly the problem here is not a need to downsize or purchase cheaper cars etc. it is really a need to understand the finance tools that are available. Various types of leasing could save businesses a fortune. Taking on a tax efficient purchase scheme when the company is making no profits against which they can write off depreciation and interest is pure lunacy. Losing the Read more »
Friday, 26. September 2008
If you live or travel around Birmingham you will have seen that work has begun on the £150 million scheme on the M6, M40 and M42 to introduce variable speed limits and hard-shoulder running. Two new stretches of the M6 will be opened for hard-shoulder running during peak periods and variable speed limits will be in force on parts of the M6, M42 and M40. The work is part of a £6 billion investment aimed at Read more »
Thursday, 25. September 2008
Well just as we started to rejoice in the steady fall in oil prices and the price war that started last week between the oil companies and the supermarket chains we suddenly saw a massive increase in the price of crude oil of $25 a barrel on Monday. Now whilst there was an element of manipulation on the markets protecting traders on the futures market from over exposure it has still sent jitters throughout the car industry and concerned drivers (who heard about the rise). Strangely, this massive increase in Read more »
Tuesday, 23. September 2008
What Car has produced the top ten cars offering the best visibility and the top ten worst visibility. The study was carried out following complaints that visibility was getting worse in new cars. Conventional safety assessments such as EuroNCAP crash tests don’t include visibility tests. Driver safety experts say poor visibility is becoming more Read more »
Tuesday, 23. September 2008
Impersonators who sit driving tests for others have been warned that if caught, they face tougher sentences. The driving standards agency issued the warning following the sentencing of Palwinder Singh Johal at Oxford Crown Court to two years in jail and a recommended deportation notice on completion of his sentence. By Graham Hill