The Best Car Finance Blog In The World

Whilst there are a few vague signs coming out of Germany, France and Japan that we may be moving out of the world recession we have no such signs in the UK and whilst people are still being made redundant and reducing work hours there are fears that the UK roads are becoming more dangerous as drivers avoid service and repair costs. One of the biggest dangers lies with Read more »

Specsavers Corporate Eyecare has launched a new range of sunglasses as part of its corporate optical care voucher scheme. Each voucher costs the employer £35 and includes:

A full eye examination at any of their 623 stores

 A pair of prescription glasses from their £45 range or

 A pair of non prescription sunglasses from their newly launched range

 Employees can use the voucher for £45 off any of the more expensive glasses in their range. Specsavers point out that the addition means that if an employee has an eye test and finds that he doesn’t need glasses it gives an assurance to the employer who is seen to be taking health and safety seriously and the employee still receives a nice pair of sunglasses. For more information on the scheme contact Specsavers direct by emailing:  corporateeyecare@uk.specsavers.com, By Graham Hill

They say ‘it’ sends you blind – whatever ‘it’ is. But whatever ‘it’ is it seems to affect middle aged drivers as one in five drive their cars knowing that their eyesight is impaired according to the College of Optometrists. The study also revealed that 28% of these blind old duffers put off having a sight test for up to 6 months after noticing their eyesight had deteriorated and a startling 21% put it off for up to 5 years, probably because they can’t find their local Specsavers. ‘This attitude is extremely worrying’ said Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser to the College of Optometrists. I agree. By Graham Hill

Calls for a total mobile phone ban have come from safety experts following a landmark case. Lynne-Marie Howden, a director and head of sales at business consultancy Insights was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. But she was found guilty of the lesser charge of careless driving which resulted in a 12 month ban and a fine of £2,000. Ms Howden was talking on her hands free phone to a works Read more »

Specialist law firm, Driving Defences LLP have said that thousands of convictions of failing to provide a specimen could be overturned due to questions over the reliability of the police intoximeter machine. They brought a successful case in which it was proven that due to an error made by the police, a defendant could not possibly have provided a sample of breath. Martin Hammond, a solicitor at the practice, said Read more »

A recent poll showed that 61% of motorists would not welcome a drop of acceptable drink driving levels from 80mg to the more common 50mg but that is probably because of the draconian punishment handed out if over the limit. If you are guilty of driving even slightly over the limit in the UK you are automatically facing a 12 month ban whilst in some countries in the EU the chances of being caught in the first Read more »

There has been a marked increase in the number of drivers talking on mobile phones whilst driving. The reason has been put down to increased work pressure by employers on employees who fear that missing critical calls or failing to call back customers could cost the company orders. The employees are doing it, even though they know it’s illegal, because they also need the commission. The sad fact is that Read more »

MOT test changes are coming. Of course this won’t affect those hugely sensible people that lease their cars from me but will affect those that still like to drive cars beyond their three year old birthday. If you are one of my clients then now would be a good time to make that cup of  Earl Grey and crack open the Hob Nobs, for those that may have a car that is MOT’d the changes probably won’t affect you anyway unless Read more »

New legislation is to be introduced in 2011 regarding the eyesight of drivers. The legislation was passed in 2006 and is set to come into force by member countries in 2011. It is expected that the new legislation will lead to earlier detection of cataracts, glaucoma and other disorders as well as prevent accidents. The Federation of Manufacturing Opticians (FMO) explained that drivers will have to get their eyes tested every Read more »

 If you use your own car for company business or you allow employees to drive their own cars for business use Active Risk Management feel they have a solution to checking if employees are totally road legal in their own cars by providing an ongoing audit service. Employees will be issued with an online permit which will confirm whether they are eligible to drive on company business. The record will show whether the Read more »