Council hoping tests will fix road repairs with one visit

Posted on February 29, 2012 by admin

The United Kingdom has suffered three back-to-back bad winters and Lincolnshire County Council have had a huge backlog of road repairs after the freezing conditions left large holes in highways throughout the county. However, the good news for drivers is that the council are taking part in trials which promise to affect a permanent repair and in just one visit.

Emergency repairs have been carried out over the last three winters to make the roads safe, but these were often only short-term solutions and a return visit by council workers was usually required. Many residents over the last three years have had damage caused to their vehicle by the deep pot holes and some have even had to make a claim on their car insurance policy due to the amount of damage caused. The trials involve the use of new materials and a process involving a Jet Patcher. A tanker delivering hot bitumen, filler and aggregate, pours the mixture into the pothole in one operation which gives a better surface dressing. The tanker carries permanent hot material which remains workable for hours, enabling workmen to carry out repairs throughout the day.

Paul Rusted, head of Highways, said, “We are completing the repair of all the potholes that developed as a result of the last three years of severe winter weather and are continuing to repair any further potholes that we become aware of using ten teams to carry out any necessary work. We have completed an extensive programme of surface dressing and are in the process of finishing other carriageway repairs to prevent the formation of further potholes. Highways are also trialling a number of new products and processes to help reduce potholes forming in the future.”

Members of the county council’s Highways, Transport and Technology Scrutiny will be told at a meeting next week that the trials have seen some successes. When the work is complete the council will look at their results and take guidance from the national Highway Maintenance Efficiency Programme before they finalise their overall approach to pothole repairs in the future.

Mayor’s Mercedes Drives Taxpayers’ Bills Up

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

Council tax payers in a cash strapped Surrey council have been outraged to find that almost £50,000 of taxpayers’ money was spent last year on ferrying the Mayor to and from official council business.

The cost to Kingston Council and its taxpayers was brought out into the open by a freedom of information request from a local newspaper. The Surrey Comet discovered that although the council only leased a Mercedes E220 for Mayoral business, the costs still mounted up. In the financial year of 2010/11 the council paid out £49,993 for the car and associated charges. The biggest cost by far came from the Mayor’s Attendant and Chauffeur who cost the council over £34,000 and a further £7,000 was spent on relief drivers presumably when the chauffeur was on holiday. In fact the council did quite well on a number of motoring extras accounted for in the total. Fuel costs only just passed the £1,000 mark and the £339 spent on motor insurance must surely rank as a bargain. The lease of the car came to another £7,000.

Vikki Harris, a councillor in Kingston, thought residents got good value, saying, “I think a lot of people appreciate it if a mayor comes to their event. I think a lot of people like to see the mayor there with his chains and all that goes with it. I know we are all looking to make savings but at the same time maybe it’s going one step too far if the mayor turns up on a push bike – it has got to be taken in perspective.”

While Kingston councillors consider arranging a deal which would involve the Mayor’s car being sponsored by a local company, councillors in nearby Epsom have gone the whole hog and ditched the Mayor’s Rolls Royce in favour of a Skoda. The council hope to save £25,000 by changing cars but the Mayor was not available to give his opinion on the change of transport.

Arbroath Residents Unhappy About Car Park Changes

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

Arbroath residents and business owners are becoming increasingly concerned about council plans to make the Marketgate car park a short stay facility only. Angus Council proposes to limit cars to a two-hour maximum stay in a bid to free up space quicker and help businesses in the town centre to increase their turnover with more shoppers and tourists able to park.

Residents have for some months been raising concerns about the plans as they are worried that shoppers planning to stay for a longer period will fill up the surrounding streets every day. Marketgate is the first car park driverAs entering the town centre come across, and councillors believe by restricting its usage they will encourage shoppers further into the town and onto the High Street. Those that are worried that parking on streets rather than in a car park will increase their motor insurance policy needn’t worry, as insurers do not need to know where the car is at all times.

Two long standing businesses in the area have joined the growing list of those opposed to the changes. Heinz Voigt, of the Voigt Partnership, and Lindsay Mudie from Commercial and Agricultural Insurance Brokers, are business owners who have been established in the area for more than three decades and both feel that they bring just as much investment to Arbroath, if not more than shoppers or tourists. The companies believe the plans will not help businesses, who already pay substantial business rates.

Mr Mudie said: “I support boosting tourism here but this car park is at the business end of the town whereas the shops and tourist attractions such as the Abbey are at the other end. Even then two hours isn’t a long time to see all the attractions in Arbroath or go to a weekday matinee performance at the Webster Theatre. The local business people shouldn’t be overlooked in favour of shoppers or tourists who just might visit the town.”

The council report asserts that people used to parking all day in the Marketgate car park will be able to find alternative spaces in surrounding streets without inconveniencing local residents, but locals are unhappy at this suggestion as the surrounding streets are already full.

Speeding Motorists to be Targeted by Police in Scotland

Posted on February 24, 2012 by admin

Police throughout Scotland will be looking out for speeding drivers this weekend as part of a two-day operation targeting the offence. They will also be stopping any motorists who are driving inappropriately for the conditions and surroundings.

The crackdown is the latest in a series of ACPOS (Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland) campaigns which have targeted issues such as uninsured vehicles, drivers using a mobile phone and drink/drug driving. The police are worried about the number of drivers being stopped who do not have any car insurance and the “couldn’t care less” attitude they display when caught. According to police officers, most shrug their shoulders and just say motor insurance is something they can’t afford.

Chief Superintendent, Derek Robertson, has said: “Over the year across Scotland, on our days of action alone, over 1,000 drivers have been caught speeding and over 70 drivers caught driving dangerously or carelessly, many of these have not held a current insurance certificate. In each case they were potentially putting their lives and the lives of others at risk – this is unacceptable. Speeding carries a minimum penalty of a £60 fine and 3 penalty points on your driving licence. Anyone convicted of dangerous driving will lose their licence for at least 12 months and may even be ordered to re-sit the driving test.”

This will be the last operation of the 2011/12 campaigns and preparations are already under way for the 2012/13 campaign which will start in April. The police will continue to try and reduce the number of people who continue to take unacceptable risks and endanger the lives of road users by speeding or having no insurance. The message from the police is that education and enforcement is the way forward and this campaign is a good way to get the points across.

A Sharp Intake of Breath for Motorists Heading for France

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

Hundreds of thousands of UK motorists travel across the channel to France every year; from July 1st 2012 they will all have to carry a new piece of equipment in the form of a breath testing kit to conform to a new French law.

The horrific accident rate on French roads has persuaded transport ministers to make carrying a personal breathalyser kit compulsory in every car. The kits are not expensive to buy, and with the French legal alcohol limit much lower than its English counterpart for motorists, then it is easy to see why it has been introduced. Although the kits will only cost a few euros the fines for not carrying them can be quite stringent. The maximum fine is 4,500 euros and law enforcers can also take away the drivers licence or even send them to jail for up to two years.

It is thought that travellers from the UK will be able to buy the kits when they exit the ferries at Channel ports and it is a good idea for any driver to check their levels as soon as possible. It would be quite easy for a driver to be below the limit in the UK and then be over the limit in France without having had any more alcohol. Of course this situation would also invalidate their car insurance as well as breaking French law.

Although French law makers insist the kit will help cut down on road accidents in the country, the decision has been met with criticism in the UK. Keith Peat, speaking on behalf of the Association of British Drivers, said: “The whole idea of self-testing sounds like nonsense. It seems like another money spinner for the very profitable road safety industry.”

Whatever the truth is, British drivers will need the kit from July this year and need to remember the kit must comply with French standards, so buying one in the UK may not be advisable unless it specifically states it is compliant with French demands.

L plates on motorways divides opinions

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

There are fears that more accidents will inevitably happen on the motorways of the United Kingdom if learner drivers are to be allowed to drive on them. At the moment it is illegal to get behind the wheel on motorways until passing the driving test but Roads Minister Mike Penning plans to change the law by the summer.

Statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) and car insurance brokers prove that motorways are the safest roads and that is partly why the majority of driving instructors are supportive of the upcoming change. The DIA (Driving Instructors Association) feel that all new drivers need to be encouraged to use the bigger roads more. However, those opposed to the change such as The RHA (Road Haulage Association) say no-one should be allowed to drive on them until after they have passed their test. Some even think that new drivers should stay off the motorway for at least six months to make sure they have enough experience behind the wheel. However, Mr Penning has confirmed that there will be no conditions like that imposed.

Roads Minister Mike Penning said: “Many new drivers are terrified of motorway driving because they do not have the skills or confidence needed. If we can show insurers someone has got skills of their own accord, I would expect them to drop their premiums proportionately and that is what I will be telling them. I hope that the extra training also brings down the high cost of insurance premiums for those new drivers.”

There are also no plans to make learning to drive on motorways compulsory, as learners from rural areas would have to travel a long way for the training. The change would apply across England, Wales and Scotland while the Northern Ireland Assembly are considering it and will announce their final decision shortly.

Chilling Story of a Trapped Motorist

Posted on February 21, 2012 by admin

It would seem that the price of fuel and motor insurance are rather small troubles in the grand scheme of things after the news of a Swedish motorist whose problems almost cost him his life. The motorist has had a miraculous escape as rescuers have found him alive after being buried in a snowdrift for over two months!

Peter Skyllberg, 44, from the Swedish town of Umea, was discovered in his snowbound car by a group of snowmobile drivers on a weekend adventure. The car was at the end of a remote track and covered in a two foot carpet of snow. When the group investigated the vehicle they were amazed to see a body on the back seat. Mr Skyllberg was emaciated, very weak and almost unable to speak, he told the men he had been there for a long time but could tell them little else.

Police officers and an ambulance managed to get to the scene quickly and Mr Skyllberg was taken to Nooland University hospital in Umea where doctors tried to revive him. Incredibly he responded to treatment and was able to tell the medical team that he had been in his car since December 19th. The doctors were amazed that anyone could survive as long as he did in temperatures that reached -30 in the period he was trapped.

Dr Ulf Sederburg, the chief registrar at the hospital said: “This is the case of a lifetime. Starvation for one month, anyone can tolerate that if they have water to drink and are in a comfortable temperature. If you have body fat, you will survive even longer. But surviving two months in conditions like this is exceptional.”

Experts believe the snow around the vehicle may have acted as some sort of igloo and kept the temperature inside the car manageable whereas others believe Mr Skyllberg’s body may have closed down slowly and gone into some kind of hibernation. No-one knows for sure and no-one is quite sure why he was not reported missing. According to people who knew him Mr Skyllberg had money troubles and had recently lost his home.

Whiplash problem is one reason why insurance is increasing

Posted on February 20, 2012 by admin

The United Kingdom is fast becoming known as the whiplash capital of Europe with 1,500 claims each day for physical and emotional damage not to mention loss of earnings. Unsolicited emails and text messages are now commonplace from companies urging drivers to claim pay outs after an accident.

Many of the claims are genuine; however, there are more and more cases where drivers are being encouraged to claim for whiplash even though there are no apparent injuries or even damage to the cars involved. The pay outs come from insurance companies who then have no choice but to push the cost of premiums up. Prime Minister David Cameron has met with many insurance companies to tackle the growing concerns about a compensation culture around whiplash claims. One of the things discussed was reducing the £1,200 fee that a solicitor will earn from a small value personal injury claim and also adjusting motor premiums on car insurance quotes accordingly. Another idea due to be debated is a speed limit threshold that is working well in Germany, where a claim will be thrown out if the collision occurs at a speed of less than 6.25mph.

It’s an idea that consultant Andrew Cope says would be much fairer. He works at Peterborough City Hospital’s accident and emergency ward and he sees at least ten cases of whiplash per month to drivers who have been involved in collisions.

Mr Cope said: “The symptoms will not show up on a normal X-ray. The majority will get better within four to six weeks, but some can last one or two years. Fundamentally it is becoming a claims culture, but it is difficult to be completely dogmatic because there are some people who have genuine problems. It has disturbed their sleep and the normal activities of their lives, and affected their work. So I have seen cases of genuine disability – but I have also seen cases where the signs don’t fit in with the symptoms.”

The coalition are also looking at encouraging the use of ‘smart-boxes’ to monitor the behaviour of younger drivers. A machine fitted inside the vehicle will monitor an average journey and grades each manoeuvre as green, amber or red. This score can be seen on a computer by anyone who has a password, so parents are able to monitor their child’s driving pattern. If it does take off, younger drivers could see their premiums coming down as well.

Retired Buckinghamshire Man all set for Charity Drive in Classic Car

Posted on February 17, 2012 by admin

Frank Lomax is getting ready for a 4,690 mile drive around mainland Britain in his classic Morgan Roadster 100 car. The sixty-nine year old from Beaconsfield New Town will start his charity drive in April and he hopes to complete the drive in three weeks.

Frank will fund the trip himself, with any sponsorship money he receives being given to the Help for Heroes charity. He plans to set off from North London, driving anti-clockwise around Great Britain using only A and B class coastal roads. His Morgan Roadster 100 was made three years ago to commemorate one-hundred years of the Morgan Family manufacturing their classic vehicles. His car was specially made for him using the same formula as a model from 1936.

Frank, who is retired from working in the clothing industry, said: “Driving solo will take me back to the days when I used to weekly commute from south Bucks to Northumberland by car to work. The mountains of Scotland and Wales will be contrasted by the many lovely seaside towns I will pass through. The drive along Blackpool’s Golden Mile should also be fun. I will have plenty of thinking time because one thing that is difficult to do in a Morgan with the roof down or up is listening to the radio. I usually have a CD of classics or pop blasting in my ear, much to the surprise of pedestrians as I go through a town.”

Frank has already spoke to his insurance company about updating his named driver car insurance policy to take into account the large amount of extra miles he will be doing for twenty-one successive days. With the Morgan Roadster almost three years old, Frank is hoping that it will not let him down. The 1930s design means its front suspension will require greasing every 1,000 miles so a grease gun and some overalls will be two of the most used items on the trip.

Leading Charities Say Bio Fuels Not The Answer

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin

A national and international charity has joined forces to plead with the UK Government to look again at its policy on bio fuels.

The two charities, ActionAid UK and Friends of the Earth, recently commissioned a report from the Institute for Sustainable Development into the effect of bio fuels on motorists and the planet. The results do not make good reading for anyone. Motorists, who already face challenges finding cheap car insurance and fuel, can expect to pay an extra 2% a litre at the garage forecourt, and the Earth’s atmosphere will be overloaded with extra carbon emissions. This, the charities say, is the result of a European Union (EU) policy aimed at increasing the use of sustainable fuels.

A directive issued by the EU’s renewable Energy Directorate requires member nations to ensure that at least 10% of a nations transport energy is taken from renewable sources. The Directive actively encourages nations to use bio fuels as an alternative to fossil fuels because it produces less carbon emissions. In fact the charities insist the opposite is true.

Speaking on behalf of ActionAid UK, Meredith Alexander, said: “The UK must scrap its bio fuel targets. Motorists, the environment and poor people in developing countries will bear the brunt of this ill-conceived directive. Prices at the pump will be higher and so will CO2 emissions. Increased bio fuel production will have disastrous consequences as food prices are forced up and millions of people go hungry and lose their land.”

It is true that many under developed countries have turned to crops producing bio fuels rather than food because they earn more cash, and it is these factors that may make the western world turn its attentions elsewhere to reduce carbon emissions.