A report prepared by motoring web site “Honest John”, has revealed that overall 20% of all cars taking their first MoT fail to pass, with Chrysler and French cars being amongst the worst offenders.

Interestingly, those that do fail are often doing so because of minor problems that owners could have rectified themselves, including problems with windscreens and wipers.

Top of the table come the Suzuki Splash, closely followed by the Audi TT, Porsche Boxter and Suzuki Jimny. Languishing at the bottom of the table were the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot and Chrysler 300C – the latter averaging out at a whopping 38% of those tested being a fail.

In the Top 20 14 manufacturers represented – all of whom are either Japanese or German, with the exception of Land Rover and Renault (although a Spanish company, SEAT is German-owned).

However, the report also states that one of the most surprising is the amount of regional variations in pass rates, with cars that are MoT’d in the more remote parts of the country performing less well than those in areas that are further inland, with the lowest rates in the country made up with coastal postcodes. Harsher conditions appear to equate to a lower pass rate, with the lowest three postcodes – Dundee, Lerwick and Kirkcaldy – all covering Scottish coastal towns. In fact, in Dundee every other car fails its MOT and is 22% less likely to pass its first MOT than in the rest of the UK. It’s a similar story for Plymouth, Truro and Exeter.

The south east of England dominates the other end of the table, with, for example, a 70% likelihood of passing in Romford and 69% in Enfield, Ilford, Slough, Bromley and Southend-on-Sea.
The most common fault in most areas is lighting and signalling -including items such as blown bulbs. In fact, almost a quarter of cars fail on lighting and signalling , while MoT failure for brake problems is 98 per cent more likely in Dundee than the rest of the country.

Finally, the report reveals that Birmingham carries out more MoT tests than any other postcode area with some 788,357 tests being carried out, significantly more than the second highest, Sheffied, with 579,371.

Further details of the survey results can be found at the Honest John web site at www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/

With insurance premiums and fuel prices constantly on the rise, we thought it was about time we took at a look at some driving tips to increase fuel economy and reduce the risks of accidents – hopefully to assist in avoiding the loss of no claims bonuses!

1. Plan your journey in advance

   Before setting off on any journey you should plan your route and give yourself plenty of time to get there. Take advantage of route planners on the web or use satellite navigation technology.

2. Check Tyre Pressures Regularly

   Driving with under-inflated tyres can be dangerous as it reduces your control of the vehicle. Under-inflated tyres wear much more easily and will increase your fuel consumption.

3. Unload your vehicle

   Remove those unnecessary items from your car. Whether it be the child seat when you are not taking the children or your golf clubs or sports kit when you are going for a family day out, cutting down on excess weight will reduce your fuel consumption as well as giving you more room in the car for the essentials such as waterproofs and wellies!

4. Check your vehicle

   As well as checking the tyres, regularly checking the brakes, steering, exhaust and oil can ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy and running in the most efficient way.

5. Watch your speed

   Your speed should be in keeping with the general road and weather conditions. It is worth remembering that the speed limit is not a target. Not only does keeping your speed down save lives, it will also help to ensure you are not accidentally over the limit when you pass a speed-trap and may also help you to reduce overall fuel consumption.

6. Drive Calmly

   Rapid acceleration and hard braking will dramatically increase your fuel consumption and increase your chances of being involved in an accident. Try to keep to a constant speed and anticipate your braking so you can reduce your speed gradually.

7. Keep Your Distance

   Every driving instructor will tell you that “Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule”. This advice is as good today as it ever was. Ensure you keep at least a 2 second gap between you and the car in front. Not only will this help prevent accidents it will also help you to avoid the need for excessive breaking and thus increase your fuel consumption.

8. Concentrate on the Road

   Keep your attention on the road ahead of you, think about what other drivers may be going to do and try to anticipate what may be ahead so that you can respond in a calm and responsive way. Again, not only will it help you to avoid accidents but will also mean that you are travelling at the optimum speed for the conditions.

9. Only run your engine when you are ready to drive

   Leaving your car running when you are not driving – or even not in it – can not only be against the law in some circumstances but will also use fuel unnecessarily, pollute the air and possibly annoy those around you – especially if it is late at night or early in the morning. Don’t start your car to warm up and de-ice the windows – instead invest in a good scraper and some de-icer.

10. Use the gears sensibly

    Correct use of the gears can really help to cut your fuel consumption. Making sure you are in the correct gear for the speed at which you are travelling means that you can respond more easily to road conditions and that you are not over-revving your engine (which can cause increase wear on the engine).

11. Streamline

    Remove any unnecessary bike racks or roof boxes from your car. Leaving them on needlessly will increase drag and as a result increase your fuel consumption and road noise.

Driving test candidates across the country are set to benefit from a more convenient service as the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) extends a trial exploring a new approach to test delivery.

As well as using conventional driving test centres, the DSA has been looking at whether practical driving tests can be delivered from other venues such as local authority buildings, hotels or leisure centres.

This new approach is currently being trialled at eight locations, and following positive feedback from candidates and instructors, the DSA now plans to extend the scheme to five more areas across the country.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:

“We have to be more flexible and innovative in delivering driving tests to make sure that we are offering people the best service possible wherever they live and I am delighted that these first trials have proved successful.

“We are now extending the trial so that more candidates will be able to benefit from a service that is convenient as well as being cost effective.”

The DSA plans to develop this model further and extend the scheme across areas in and surrounding: Watford, Manchester, Kettering, Glasgow and Worcester. In each area, DSA will look to identify a number of locations where there is sufficient demand for local test provision. Tests could be provided from local authority buildings, or from local businesses such as hotels or retail outlets.

As part of the longer term planning for driving test delivery, the DSA is looking for opportunities to work in partnership with the private sector across the country. Tests will still be conducted by DSA examiners, but the agency is inviting businesses who may be interested in providing premises for delivering driving tests to register their interest. A Prior Information Notice is being published in the Official Journal of the European Union and the agency hopes to attract interest from a wide section of the business community.

A survey carried out by Brake, the road safety charity, and insurers Direct Line has revealed that more than half of drivers are risking deadly pile-ups on motorways by driving too close to the vehicle in front.

The research reveals that compared with seven years ago 49% more drivers are willing to take this deadly risk and that men are far more likely to do it than women. As many as three in ten male drivers do so on a weekly basis.

Combined with proposals to increase speed limits on motorways to 80 mph, the failure by drivers to keep a safe distance from the car in front could prove to be a major problem on the roads. Brake warns that most drivers’ failure to always keep a safe distance adds to the case against raising the motorway speed limit, currently being considered by government. At 80mph, stopping distances are 27% greater than at 70mph (122m on average compared to 96m at 70mph), meaning that drivers are less able to stop in time in an emergency and avoid devastating crashes.

Brake is calling on the government to scrap plans for 80mph limits which, it predicts, will to lead to 25 more deaths and 100 more serious injuries every year as well as increasing carbon emissions.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake , said:

“Drivers who don’t keep their distance increase the risk of pile-ups, which can and do result in multiple and violent deaths and injuries, and devastation for the families involved. We urge all drivers to realise the vital importance of the two second rule, and make a personal commitment to always stick to it. We are also appealing to the government to ditch proposals to raise the motorway limit – the fact most drivers aren’t keeping their distance only adds to the case against this inhumane policy. Various researchers have predicted an 80mph limit will mean more lives cut short and more horrific injuries, while arguments in favour simply don’t stand up to scrutiny.”

Andy Goldby, Director of Motor Underwriting and Pricing for Direct Line Car Insurance, said:

“Driving too close to the car in front of you is asking for trouble. Doing it at speed and you’re risking not only your own life but other road users’ lives too. Whilst the UK’s motorways have proportionately less crashes than other roads, crashes on these roads are more likely to be deadly because of the high speeds involved. We believe it is better to save lives than to save a few minutes of journey time.”

So what should drivers be doing? Brake recommends that drivers stop tailgating and leave a gap between themselves and the car in front of at least 2 seconds to give them time to brake in an emergency.

Motorists in many remote island communities will benefit from a 5 pence per litre discount on pump prices from tomorrow, 1 March 2012.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, announced in November 2011 that final EU clearance had been received for the rural fuel rebate pilot scheme to go ahead this year.

The scheme has been well subscribed since it opened for applications in January and more than 90 businesses in the Inner & Outer Hebrides, Northern Isles, Islands in the Clyde and Isles of Scilly have applied to take part.

Pump prices are particularly high in these areas due to high transportation costs.

Speaking ahead of a visit to the Isle of Skye, Danny Alexander said:

“It’s terrific that islanders in Scotland and the Isles of Scilly will finally begin to see a cut in fuel prices after years facing higher costs. This will make a real difference to people who face the highest fuel costs in the country.

“The Government has shown the naysayers that real action is possible and this discount will deliver real benefits to motorists and businesses in remote island communities.

“This shows yet again how a government for the whole of the United Kingdom can, and is, delivering real results for Scotland.”

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) have announced that from 23 January the driving theory test will no longer use pre-published questions in a move to stop candidates from learning answers by heart.

Until now all the questions used in the driving theory test have been published. These changes will mean that learner drivers and riders gain a better understanding of driving theory because they can no longer rely on simply learning which options are correct for individual questions.

The familiar Theory Test books and software still offer revision questions for candidates to test themselves and assess their progress. They now also have exercises so learners can practise applying their knowledge on each topic to case studies. There are also new sections of revision support for motorcyclists and a free e-book for car drivers.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said:

“By bringing a stop to publication of theory test questions we aim to encourage candidates to prepare by learning each topic area thoroughly rather than just memorising the questions and answers.

“The intention is to improve candidates’ knowledge and understanding of driving theory, so that they are more able to retain and apply it when they are on the road.”

The agency has also launched its first iPhone apps for theory test revision, which also help candidates to study and monitor their progress at their convenience as they approach their test date. These are available from the iTunes Store.

For more information go to www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_200875

MPs are urging that motorists should face tougher medical tests to prove whiplash injuries in order to reduce fraudulent claims.

Claims management companies and no-win, no-fee lawyers are apparently exploiting the subjective nature of such injuries causing a rise in claims and corresponding rise in motor insurance premiums.

MPs are also urging the insurance industry to look into other practices which are pushing up the cost of premiums, for example the practice of passing on to claims management companies the details of drivers involved in accidents. The MPs report said that the rise in personal injury claims, most of which were for whiplash injuries, was “the main reason for the rise in premiums”.

The report is reflected in a survey carried out by LV= car insurance ( GPs report rise in attempted fraudulent personal injuries) which reports that up to 60% of GPs had observed a rise in the number of patients attempting to make fraudulent claims for road injuries in the past two years, with over half of all GPs having been contacted by claims companies in the last 12 months asking to buy patient details and a total of 29,000 GP hours wasted every month by claims companies and people making up or exaggerating injuries.

The Government has announced that it is to establish a panel to look at the possibility of introducing a new law against taking drugs and driving. The panel will look at a number of relevant aspects including:

• how an offence of this sort could be defined,
• whether levels for the impairing effects of specific drugs can be determined,
• which different drugs have what effect and how this would vary for those who are habitual users,and
• the interaction between alcohol and drugs.

The panel, whose remit will be to provide scientific, evidence-based advice as opposed to policy or legal advice, is to be set up by the Department for Transport (in conjunction with Home Office and Department of Health) and will comprise academic and scientific experts in the field of alcohol and drug misuse.

Although it is possible for a motorist to be charged with being unfit to drive through drugs, difficulties in proving this mean that there are very few prosecutions with evidence being needed that a person’s driving ability was impaired.

At Keep Me Driving we are often approached by clients who have mistaken the speed limit in a particular area or vehicle. We have drawn up the table below to clarify the speed limits on various roads for different classes of vehicle.

Speed Limits are set by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the maximum speed at which a vehicle can travel is dependent upon the road concerned and the type of vehicle.

If a road has a system of street lighting placed not more than 200 yards apart, that road (in the absence of other speed signage) is deemed to be a restricted road and the limit is 30mph. Where there is no system of lighting in place (or the lights are more than 200 yards apart), the speed limit is deemed to be declassified (and therefore the speed limit as defined in the table below applies). Alternatively, a speed sign can set the speed limit in those areas, provided it meets the correct signage requirements (a lengthy and complex issue which requires considerable legal consideration).

The table below therefore sets out the speed limits for roads which have no speed limit signage and are not deemed to be restricted roads (i.e. with a system of street lighting no more than 200 yards apart).

A motorway is defined by start and end signs (blue background with white two lane road with bridge over the top).

A dual carriageway is not necessarily one with multiple lanes (e.g. overtaking lanes on a usual single carriageway, often on an uphill stretch). In order to be classified as a dual carriageway, the traffic moving in opposite directions must be separated by a central reservation.

The cost of car insurance has become an increasing concern for motorists in the past 12 months, with the AA reporting that the average driver paid 40% more for the same level of cover in 2010 compared with how much they paid just 12 months before.

This is impacting on motoring habits, with 65% of the drivers who took part in a moneysupermarket.com car insurance survey admitting that they had been forced to alter their driving habits as a result of this. More worryingly, 5% of these respondents had been forced to give up driving all together.

Drivers with convictions have been more badly impacted by these price rises than most with insurers, who are not keen to take on the risk associated with them. Insurers are therefore attempting to dissuade them from buying insurance by offering car insurance quotes which are massively out of proportion.

The impact of convictions

There are different levels of financial penalties applied to motorists by insurers depending on the offence. The following looks at the penalties that would be applied to an average 30 year old male driver with a Ford Mondeo, who is both employed and married:

 

Conviction	Car insurance premium offered	Total percentage increase
None	£335	Base premium rate
Minor conviction- i.e. failing to wear a seat belt	£365	9%
Two minor convictions- i.e. failing to wear a seat belt and following another vehicle too closely	£417	25%
One major conviction- i.e. failing to stop after an accident	£550	64%

 
As you can see minor convictions only add a marginal increase, in this case 9%. However a 64% increase, as what occurs with a major conviction, could be the difference between being able to afford to run your car and being forced off the road.

Overcoming convictions

However there are a number of things that you can do to lower car insurance premiums, hopefully ensuring that you are not forced off the road and in the case of minor convictions, possibly ensuring that your premiums do not rise at all:

• Improve yourself- The policy holder is the factor who is the single biggest influence on car insurance premiums. You can’t do anything about your age or the conviction once it has been picked up, but you can improve your levels of experience by taking part in advanced driving courses such as pass plus.
• Add named drivers- You can also add older and more experienced motorists as named drivers on your policy. Insurers will assume that you will both be sharing the driving and will therefore be inclined to offer cheaper premiums.
• Change your vehicle- Every different car is assigned to an insurance group numbered between one and fifty, with cars in insurance group one the cheapest to insure. You should therefore opt for a car in the lowest insurance group possible in order to lower your premiums.
• Reduce your mileage- The more miles you travel, the more likely it is that you will be involved in an accident and make a claim. Insurers recognise this in the form of more expensive premiums for drivers with a higher mileage allocation. You should therefore make sure that the mileage allocation you set on your policy is as low as possible in order to ensure that you are not paying for miles that you are not going to be using.
• Parking- A car parked on a public road is more susceptible to vandalism and theft than a car which is parked in a locked garage. Insurers will therefore offer cheaper premiums to drivers who plan to park in their vehicle in a secure location.
• Security modifications- Contrary to popular opinion, not all modifications will be viewed negatively by insurers. Adding security systems such as alarms and immobilisers will reduce the statistical likelihood of your car being stolen, and therefore attract cheaper premiums.

Taking note of all these tips when you fill in the online car insurance forms can be quite time consuming if you complete forms for each insurance company individually. You could save yourself a significant amount of time by utilising price comparison websites. These will compare deals available through hundreds of different insurers in a matter of minutes and only require you to fill in one online form.
 
The final point to remember is that convictions are not the end of the road, but try to avoid adding any more to your collection in the future.