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Are we slowing down on our roads? The number of drivers being issued with speeding tickets generated by speed cameras suggests that we are. In 2008 the number of tickets dropped to 1.2 million compared to 1.9 million in 2004 and it is being predicted that the 2009 figures will be down to below the 2001 figure of 1.1 million. There are a number of reasons being suggested for this sharp fall. First of all the way the Read more »

Whiplash claims are becoming a pain in the neck to all motorists not just those that suffer the injury. Car insurance has increased by 25% in the last year according to the latest Retail Price Index (RPI). Insurers have blamed the massive surge on whiplash injuries. According to a spokesman for esure/Sheila’s Wheels group it’s the desire to push up injury claims, often by people chatting in the pub, that has pushed up Read more »

Recent discussions regarding the use of winter tyres in the UK following our harsh winter has spurred on many to provide more advice suggesting that winter tyres may not be necessary if drivers simply treated tyres with a little more respect. Simple maintenance such as the regular checking of pressures would be a start. The National Tyre Distributors Association have followed up with the following points when replacing tyres:

• Tyre size markings across an axle must be identical.
•  Tyre construction across an axle must be the same
• The load index must be equal or be higher than the manufacturer approved tyre for the vehicle
• It is recommended that the speed rating is either equal or greater than the original approved tyre.
• Mud and snow – winter tyres should ideally be fitted in complete sets and should not be mixed with other tyre types across an axle.
• It is recommended that when fitting two new tyres, they are fitted to the rear axle unless rear tyres are a different size to the fronts or the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook states otherwise.
• There may be special dimensional requirements preventing the mixing of tyres such as 4WD vehicles. 

I know I have provided this information before but do you know what the markings mean on a tyre? Lets take a tyre that reads 195/65 R 15 91 H. Here’s what the markings mean: 

195 : The width of the tyre in mm, also called the section width.
65 : The aspect ratio is the ratio between the sidewall height (side of the tyre) and the width of the tyre. It is expressed as a percentage.
R : The type of construction (R for radial).
15 : The internal diameter of the rim in inches.
91 : A tyre’s load rating is identified by a number and corresponds to the maximum load the tyre can withstand at maximum pressure.
H : Speed rating (also known as Performance Index). Indicates the maximum speed at which the tyre can bear a load corresponding to its load rating 

For more information on the tyre markings visit any of the major tyre fitter websites. By Graham Hill

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I’m grateful to Auto Express for the story about the driver in London Ontario who was clocked doing 66mph in a 31mph zone. As Auto Express said, because they’re all a bunch of comics there, his excuse for speeding, when stopped by the police, didn’t hold much water when he explained that he had been speeding to dry his car after washing it, get it (groan)? It may however turn out to be the most expensive car wash he’s ever had because, if convicted, he could face a fine of up to $2,000 (£1,300). They finished their report by saying that the car would be impounded for 7 days at the owner’s expense, lets hope it’s in dry storage (G falls off seat in hysterical laughter). By Graham Hill

After Christmas we are now about to hit the highest drink drive season. Long warm evenings beckon and the incidence of drink driving increases but where in the country are you most likely to be tested, where are most of the drunks driving around in their cars and where are the least offenders? I have the answer from the Home Office. You are most likely to be tested in Wales, most offenders are caught in Cheshire Read more »

On the subject of grey fleets, ALD Automotive who provide fleets with licence checking services, have highlighted the need to constantly check employee licences if they are expected to drive their own cars on company business. Their advice followed the discovery of a driver who had received 16 years of bans in a space of just 16 weeks. ALD first checked his licence in 2009 and noted that he had received a 12 Read more »

Now here’s a funny story! There has been a lot of  criticism over the way that companies encourage their staff to use their own car (known as the grey fleet) for business use. There are many health and safety implications but the criticism has been aimed at companies that don’t vet the vehicles that are being used and are taking a cavalier attitude towards the environment and the way that they are happy for their Read more »

Have you taken much notice of the key to your new car? You may well find that it no longer has the metal bit that normally goes into the lock. As a result you may well think that it is a bit of electronic jiggery pokery that is used to make it more difficult to start your car without the key. But you may be surprised to learn that it actually stores a lot of information about the car and its service condition including its Read more »

Vehicle tracking is often seen as a bad thing by drivers who have them fitted in their vehicles as they tell their boss or the transport manager where they are at all times. However, the tracking device fitted in the van of an employee of Fords of Sidmouth, may have saved him from a prosecution and a fine. Another driver reported the van for speeding and running into him causing damage to his car. However, Read more »

Oh dear I’m not sure how this is going to go down with employees but it seems that there has been a bit of an upsurge in the provision of logos for company cars. In the past companies that run vans and trucks would use them as a mobile advertisements for their business but very few, other than estate agents and letting agents, adorn their cars with advertising logos. But just recently employees have been Read more »