New Year, New Reforms on Disabled Parking

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Steve

It may not be a major headline or issue in the news but Disabled Parking fraud costs the government a staggering £46 million each year, through forgery and theft, and so now they have decided to crack down on this crime and staring on the 1st of January new Blue Badge parking permits will be brought in.

New Blue Badges

The new permits will replace the current handwritten ones and will be electronically printed, in a similar fashion to driving licences, making them almost impossible to forge. This will hopefully also deter people from wrongfully using the Blue Badges of family member and abusing the disabled parking system in the UK.

However, although these new reforms are likely to save the government money, many disabled drivers are unhappy with the changes as they will coincide with an increase in the renewal cost of the Blue Badges.

Higher Costs

Going forward, the renewal cost to disabled drivers will increase from £2 to £10 in England and will go up to £20 in Scotland, although it should be noted that the badges only need renewing every three years and this is the first price increase for 30 years.

What’s more, the new Blue Badges may actually save a lot of disabled drivers money, as one of the biggest problems with the current ones is theft, which leads to car damage such as broken windows and claims on motor insurance. But with the new badges, thieves may be more deterred leading to a lower level of car crime around these badges and fewer insurance claims.

Other Drivers

However, another point that is being brought up by disabled motorists against the new badges is that many of them have a family member drive them about, as it is easier, and they therefore technically use the badge. But with the new crackdown on improper use, people may face fines for actions such as these, which could leave some disabled people with fewer driving options.

Although, whatever the arguments against, the new reforms will be coming in on January 1st and it seems that we will have to just wait and see if this has a purely positive financial aspect for the government or if it is actually a hindrance to disabled drivers.

January Car Award Ceremony

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Steve

For so long now December has been a month full of award ceremonies, and with January fast approaching it would be easy to assume that award season has come to a close. However, you would be wrong to think so as January will see the What Car? Award ceremony take place, and the nominations for the What Car? Car of the Year awards have already been announced and published.

Coveted Prize

The What Car? Car of the Year award has for many years been a prestigious award that manufacturers love to boast about winning. January’s award ceremony will be no different! The awards cover 13 individual car categories, and of course, one overall winner.

Chas Hallett, the Editor-in-Chief at What Car? has been quoted saying: “The decision-making process this year is going to be harder than ever, because the automotive industry keeps building better, more economical and more desirable cars that offer consumers great value for money. The objective of the annual What Car? Awards is to let our readers know the best car in every class.”

He then added the following: “The final decision is far from settled and many more miles of driving and hours of controversial discussions will take place between now and January 11th.” January 11th being the date of the awards ceremony.

Personal Favourites

Here I have pointed out some of my favourites from the range of cars nominated for different awards.

For the City Car award the Fiat 500 is nominated, and straight away I believe this is the strongest car in the category. Whilst it looks fantastic, it also drives brilliantly and is great fun. It is light and nippy and will undoubtedly put a smile on your face when zipping around those tight city roads.

Up for the Hot Hatch award is the Mini Cooper S. This, for me, has become the market leading hot hatch. It looks great, goes like stink and is how a Mini should be! Fun, fast, and compact.

The Open Top award looks to be tasty with the Audi A3 and Audi TT nominated along with the Mazda MX-5 and the somewhat more expensive Bentley Continental GTC amongst others.

Who Wants Some Performance?

By far and away my favourite award would have to be the Performance Car award. There are some scintillating cars nominated, all of which would seemingly put motor insurance quotes through the metaphorical roof and beyond, such as the Audi R8 Spyder, the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Lamborghini Aventador, the Lotus Evora and the McLaren MP4-12C amongst a number of others.

The favourite for this one has got to be last year’s winner, the 458. It would be great to see a Brit win the award and when it comes to power and performance the MP4-12C certainly does give the 458 a run for its money. This could be a close battle. Looks wise, the Ferrari wins hands down, but round a track they are so similar. The other cars in the category are also in with a fantastic chance of winning. The experts will have a tricky time judging this one!

The motor industry will wait in great anticipation to see who will win the awards next month, and the full list of the cars nominated for the 2012 awards can be found on the What Car? website.

A Positive Year for Motoring

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Steve

It has been claimed that 2011 was a very significant year for British motoring, and if you have read our previous blog posts about sales increasing for the likes of Bentley and the fact that car production has been rising, then you too will hopefully agree!

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have again been discussing the state of the UK motor industry.

Impact on the British Economy

The Chief Executive of the SMMT, Paul Everitt, has been speaking about the plans that have been announced by global vehicle manufacturers to invest a whopping £4 billion into Britain’s economy. Now of course this money isn’t in order to bail us out of the financial crisis.

It is instead to be spent on a whole variety of different projects. Such projects will range from the introduction of all-new vehicles to the development of sustainable and low carbon technology; something that will therefore be beneficial to the economy and the environment simultaneously.

Mr Everitt has been quoted saying the following: “Despite the uncertainty within the Eurozone, these decisions demonstrate real confidence in the future of UK manufacturing and its role within a rebalanced economy.” Mr Everitt also seems to get more vocal space on our MotorMouthBlog than he does elsewhere!

Positive Prospects

It is apparent that much of the investment has come from international sources which suggest that the country’s future prospects could also look to be improving. The influx of money will also surely lead to more and more jobs being created which in turn would hopefully lead to the reduction of unemployment. In addition, hopefully the public will then begin investing further in new cars over the next twelve months, whilst also then requiring more people to purchase motor insurance. Further positives for the economy, and the country in general there then!

The news about the £4 billion influx has come after individuals and organisations have been invited to put themselves forward for this year’s Transport Achievement Award. The award ceremony will be announced at the International Transport Forum’s summit in Germany.

Let’s hope 2012 will see things improve further for the UK motor industry and the economy as well.

Fewer Cars on the UK Roads

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Steve

It seems that the number of cars on our roads has been declining in recent years. So, what could this be attributed to? The high cost of motoring? More and more people becoming aware of the impact of global warming? Or, should we not be reading into these statistics quite so deeply anyway?

Statistics

The Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed that the volume of motor vehicle traffic in Great Britain has fallen for a third successive year. In 2010 the total motor vehicle traffic on Britain’s roads amounted to 308.1 billion miles, a 1.6% decline on 2009’s figure. That fall followed the 1% drop between 2008 and 2009, and the 0.8% decrease between 2007 and 2008.

Reactions

There have now been various articles written on the subject with various viewpoints flying around. For example, the Association of British Drivers has accused the Coalition Government of continuing with the “War on the Motorist”.

Furthermore, the figures were accompanied by more calls to reduce the level of fuel duty. In 2010/11 about £27.3 billion was raised through fuel tax. That’s a huge amount of money, yes; however the government is still, seemingly, struggling to raise cash as the global economy plunges deeper into financial meltdown. Well, perhaps not meltdown, but finances are indeed tight.

Meanwhile, Luke Bosdet, a spokesman for the AA, has been commenting: “People are being priced off the roads, and it is those on low incomes and those in rural areas who are worst affected. There is a real danger that motoring is being wound back to the 1960s and 70s, when it was by and large the preserve of the middle classes.”

Flip Side

The DfT’s National Transport Model tells a different story however. It suggests that the reduction in motor traffic seen in the last three years is a mere blip when compared to the overall picture. The DfT has predicted that between 2003 and 2043, we are to see a 43% rise in motor traffic. This would in turn lead to larger numbers of motor insurance quotes being taken out. A 43% rise will also mean one thing else – we will need more roads!

A 43% rise in motor traffic would be alarming and would cause huge amounts of congestion. Imagine a 43% increase in the amount of vehicles on the roads on your way to work every morning. It would take nearly twice as long to get anywhere! If this prediction begins to paint itself in real terms, something is definitely going to need to be done to increase traffic networks.

A 43% rise in motor traffic could, however, be potentially great news for the motor industry, but only if people were buying new cars of course, rather than second hand cars.

Whatever happens in coming years, it might just be a tad premature to begin blaming the decrease in motor traffic on the cost of motoring, whilst motoring is indeed very expensive these days, it does not necessarily mean we are regressing to the 1960s and 70s as aforementioned. For example, more and more people are cycling to and from work due to environmental concerns, and so that has undoubtedly contributed to the reduction in the number of cars on our roads also.

Safety Advice for Motorists

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Steve

I’m sure you will have seen or read somewhere recently about the bad weather that is seemingly already here. The UK, over the past days and weeks, has experienced showers of snow, especially in areas of the country that are further north.

Motoring organisations have now issued advice on driving in tricky weather conditions. Peter Rodger, the Chief Examiner of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), has been quoted saying: “Avoid travelling unless completely necessary, and don’t ignore police warnings or advice to not travel on specific routes. Can you work remotely, or change your schedule?” For many this would be, understandably, a little impossible however.

Concern for Motorists

It seems that there are concerns for motorists getting stuck on the roads, or even worse, endangering themselves and others in icy conditions. Black ice, in particular, can be rather troublesome as it is difficult to notice against the tarmac roads. Motorists would be wise to take their time when driving around side roads and off the beaten track.

Further advice that has been given on driving safely in the difficult conditions includes making sure all your windows are clear and that you have good all-around visibility. It will also be important to take time to ensure that you clear all the snow off your roof, if it does indeed snow!

Motoring organisations have also stated that it would be a good idea to keep your car in a higher gear than normal as this will help maintain better control and it may also be an idea to move off in a higher gear rather than using first. Whilst this may harm the clutch ever so slightly, it will do less damage than wheel spinning on the spot without be able to move off in first gear! In icy conditions it can be easy to spin the wheels in first gear when moving off, so second gear may be a better bet if the roads are very icy.

Be Prepared

If the worst does happen, it has been suggested that motorists should take all the necessary steps in order to deal with the situation as best they can. For example, it will be important to keep track of where you are so that you can tell the breakdown or emergency services where you are located; a fairly obvious point. It could also be beneficial to step out of your vehicle in case someone else loses control and accidently crashes into your vehicle. If this were to happen, you would then need to contact your motor insurance company in order to make a claim.

Driving around in tricky weather conditions can be hazardous, but not if you go about it the correct way. Sometimes just a little preparation and common sense can be incredibly beneficial!

Positive News for the Motor Industry

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Steve

In our article earlier this week discussing Bentley’s increasing sales in 2011, we touched upon the fact that sales in the motor industry have, on the whole, since November 2010, declined by 4.2%, yet they are actually higher than forecasts suggested they might have been.

Rising Production

Since that blog post further information has been released and reported by the BBC. They have reported that in November, car production rose for the sixth straight month according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Last month, there were 136,111 cars produced, which is 8.5% higher than the same time last year. This certainly represents some fantastic progress. Furthermore, it has been reported that engine production rose by 1.7% in November.

The Chief Executive of SMMT, Paul Everitt, has been quoted saying: “UK vehicle and engine production continues to lead a manufacturing recovery. Despite the challenges in the Eurozone, the UK motor industry expects further growth in 2012.” This will be pleasing news for motor insurance companies as the number of insurance policies being renewed, and taken out, will hopefully be on the increase.

All-Time High…Nearly

KPMG, one of the largest firms in London, if not the world, has explained that strong demand from Asian consumers has been helping to drive the production figures up, and John Leech, a partner in KPMG’s automotive practice has been saying: “As a result, the proportion of cars produced in Britain for the export market is close to an all-time high.”

He then went on to add: “Premium manufacturers are performing well at present, notably Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, both of whom are enjoying record years fuelled by Chinese demand for British exports.”

Jobs Created

This is brilliant news for the motor industry in the UK and it will also help open up jobs for thousands of people across the UK. With unemployment at its highest point since 1996, more jobs being created by the motor industry can only be a good thing for the economy, right?

Japanese manufacturer, Toyota, are also doing their bit for the UK economy and the motor industry on the whole, as they are on the brink of investing over £100 million in the firm’s Derbyshire factory. This will make it the sole European centre for making the new hatchback next year and this will in turn create 1,500 jobs in the area. Yet more great news!

New Mercedes SL Announced

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Steve

Here on the MotorMouthBlog we feel that we write about interesting topics, and subject matters that will appeal to our readers, and so today, we are bringing you the news that any petrol head (which we are) will find interesting. That is the news that there is a new Mercedes SL.

A Reputation to Uphold

Mercedes has recently, in my own personal opinion, produced some of the finest luxury cruisers on the road. They’ve got the styling right, they’ve got the engines right, and to some extent, they’ve got the prices right. The name Mercedes evokes a sense of quality, refinement and class, however, depending on what particular Mercedes you are thinking about, words such as lunacy, joy, excitement and thrilling are also true. The AMG Black models for example are thunderous, bellowing brutes that will etch very wide smiles into your face; and that’s before you turn the key, or push the starter button as the case may be.

What’s the Performance Like?

SL’s of the past have been gracious models, however, the new SL looks to be a rather edgy affair, especially if you go for the SL500 which will kick out 435bhp from the 4.6 litre V8 power-house.

Mercedes claim that this new engine is 22% more efficient than the previous SL500 which had a 5.4 litre V8. Great news then for fuel bills! Whether this improved efficiency will make a positive difference on a car insurance quote remains to be seen, however, when buying a Mercedes-Benz, owners will be aware of the type of price they will have to pay for their car insurance cover.

In terms of the performance, the SL500 will hit 60mph in a blurry, yet refined, 4.6 seconds, whilst the smaller SL350, with a 3.5 litre V6, will get there in just over one second more. Of course, as we expect these days, the Mercedes SL will come limited to 155mph.

Innovation and Detail

Continuing a long line of innovation from Mercedes-Benz, the SL comes with almost an entirely aluminium structure, and the SL is the only car in its class to feature FrontBass. This allows the aluminium structure of the car to be used as a bass woofer.

The new SL is also packed with a range of brilliant features, such as a steel and glass folding roof along with Magic Sky Control which will allow owners to change the tint of the glass. There is also a Magic Vision Control system fitted to the car which is a rather sophisticated wiper system that delivers warm water directly to the wiper blade. The attention to detail never ceases to astonish us!

The new SL is sure to be a hit; will you be making your way to your nearest Mercedes-Benz dealer? Or would you prefer something else? Why not let us know your thoughts…

Sales Increase for Bentley

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Steve

Bentley have seen UK sales increase by over 20% last month according to the latest statistics that have been released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). According to the stats, the Crewe-based firm have sold 65 cars in the UK in November, this is 20.4% more than the same period in 2010.

Sales Figures

So far this year, Bentley has sold a total of 986 cars in the UK. This is up by 4.5% during the same period last year. This is encouraging news for the automotive sector and those more exotic, luxury car makers. The number of luxury car owners looking for car insurance cover has, therefore, increased this year.

The economic recession has hit us all hard and big businesses have been suffering too. Especially those that manufacture luxury products, such as expensive cars, as less and less people feel the need to own one during times of financial uncertainty. Of course, the price for motor insurance on such expensive vehicles will have put many people off during the economic downturn.

A Bentley spokesman has been commenting on the recent revival they have seen however: “Bentley continues to do well, with global sales up around 30 per cent in November, continuing the annual trend which is seeing total sales increase by around one-third in 2011. Chinese growth is relentless as we surpassed 1,500 cars in the region for the first time.” Many car firms have seen great sales in China as the country continues to prosper.

The spokesman added: “However, established markets such as America and Europe are also increasing, reflecting strong demand for the Mulsanne and, in particular, the new Continental GT. The UK was up despite the on-going economic uncertainty but with the new Continental GTC reaching dealers from December, the prospects for the New Year are promising.”

Sales Forecasts

It is little surprise that Bentley will be excited by what 2012 could bring them, with new models on the horizon and increasing sales forecast.

The SMMT has reported that the total amount of UK car sales declined by 4.2% in November to 134,027 units, however, this is still 5,000 units above the SMMT’s forecast. This year, thus far, total vehicle registrations are down by 4.5%, at 1,822,065 units.

The SMMT feel that the market will better its full year forecast of 1.923 million, however, they added that they are remaining cautious for 2012. Nothing can really be taken for granted in such an unstable economy!

Motorway Lessons to be Introduced

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Steve

It has been announced that learner drivers, as of next year, will be taken on motorways as part of their tuition. This is a very positive step as it will mean that young drivers are comfortable on the motorway at speeds of 70mph right from the off.

This change will not however become compulsory, merely just advisory. This is due to the fact that learner drivers in remote areas of the country would face some difficulty in finding a motorway within a reasonable distance of where they live.

Life Behind the Wheel

Mr Penning made the announcement when addressing the Institute of Advanced Motorists and he cited an example of his own daughter who would have been able to drive on a motorway within minutes of passing.

Mr Penning has also been quoted saying: “Are we teaching young drivers to pass a test or are we giving them the skills to enjoy life on the road?” This comment, along with the changes, have come after growing concerns regarding the current testing regime, which many believe, does not prepare drivers correctly for life behind the wheel.

Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety, has also commented on the issue, saying: “This is good news. It will end the ludicrous situation where people can live near a network of motorways and pass their test without ever having been on one.”

I am very much inclined to agree with this. After passing my test I did not drive on a motorway for about three and a half years, simply because I did not feel prepared or equipped with the right skills and knowledge to apply them to the motorway, which can be daunting for young drivers with little experience.

Driving tuition currently seems rather mundane and simply aimed at getting someone to tick the boxes in order to pass a test. The amount of drivers who pass their test but still do not feel at ease behind the wheel is staggering and alarming. It is really quite detrimental to their own confidence and the other drivers on the road too. With a few tweaks here and there, it is possible to prepare drivers better for life on the road and to teach drivers a greater number of skills.

It’s Just Safer

By taking learners on motorways it is sure to reduce the chance of them having an accident when they finally do take the motorway once they have passed, this may also reduce the amount of motor insurance claims made every year.

There are some countries in Europe that prepare drivers for icy conditions; in the UK we do not even touch upon that, we are merely told to brake earlier in the rain. That’s just common sense isn’t it? Such tuition could also eventually lead to lower motor insurance quotes being offered to younger drivers, which currently can be very pricey indeed!

On the whole, the way we are taught to drive is very good, but like I said, with a few edits here and there, we could make driving tuition even more effective and even more comprehensive in order to teach drivers further skills and prepare them better for driving in a range of conditions and on a greater variety of roads.

Andrew Howard added: “Toughening the rules on driving instructors is also to be welcomed. At the moment it is possible to be taught by a trainee, without knowing that when you booked the lesson – but you still have to pay the same price.”

Fuel Prices to Remain Constant

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Steve

If you are a keen motoring enthusiast, like we are here, then you probably won’t have missed the news regarding fuel prices recently. Well the latest on this issue is that the government has now decided to further postpone the scheduled three pence rise in fuel duty that was intended for January.

A Welcome Change

This announcement, which has been welcomed by motorists across the UK, was part of the Autumn Statement by Chancellor George Osborne. He also announced that the planned rise of 5p in August has been lowered to 3p. So, expect fuel prices to remain fairly constant for at least the next eight months!

Of course fuel prices will still vary from one location to another, just driving home I see variances of two pence from one borough to the next, however, we can’t exactly stop companies from competing with one another.

Mr Osborne’s statement has also explained that taxes on petrol will be 10 pence lower in August 2012 than they would have been as a result of action taken in this year’s Budget. This will, hopefully, see families saving around £144 on average next year. A sizeable saving for sure!

Roads to Improve

Further pleasing news for us motorists was that the National Infrastructure Plan was announced. This is the plan to improve roads, rail and airports among other things. £5 billion of additional public spending will reportedly be pumped into more than 500 projects over the coming years.

The big improvements for the roads are, currently, likely to be upgrades to the M1 and the M6 in the Midlands as well as the Bristol link road and the A380 bypass in the South West. The toll charge for the Humber Bridge that connects Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire will also be halved. The cost will therefore be £1.50 for a single crossing instead of the rather extortionate price we have to pay now.

The price it costs these days to run a car from day to day is quite astonishing, especially if you add it all up, not forgetting motor insurance quotes of course, along with road tax, car maintenance and services, and of course, fuel! It is at least pleasing and quite relieving to see that the government are, to some extent, helping us out. Long may that continue, and hopefully they will do a u-turn on the proposed price increase in August.