Number of diesel cars on UK roads at record levels

Apr 18, 2018

Despite the Government’s relentless efforts to dissuade people from driving diesel cars, new statistics from the Department for Transport have shown that their attempts have failed miserably as there are now more diesel cars on the road than ever before.

The data shows that a record number of diesel cars were registered at the end of 2017 with a total of 12.4 million of them being driven on UK roads, which is 308,000 more than in 2016. This suggests that people are not scared by the forthcoming vehicle excise and MOT changes, the toxicity charges in London and are just not ready to give their diesel cars up because the benefits of keeping one outweighs the incentives to switch to lower emitting petrol, hybrid or electric cars.

A record number of diesel cars

The statistics show that 2 out of every 5 of the 31.2 million cars that are on the UK’s roads are diesel cars, which is up 0.5% on the previous year despite there being a 16% drop in new registrations.

This is certainly not a stat that the Government were hoping for as they have been desperately trying to reduce the number of diesel vehicles on the roads over the last 12 months by encouraging people to opt for hybrid or electric models instead.

However, just 45,400 new electric cars were on the road in the last quarter of 2017 which means that the UK roads are home to 272 diesels for every one electric vehicle, which is barely an increase on the number recorded the previous year.

Petrol ownership has also been decreasing, with numbers falling since 2004. The end of 2017 saw 0.3% less petrol cars on the roads than there were at the end of 2016, with 59% of the total number of cars being driven running on petrol.

Why the Government’s plan backfired

For months the Government have been implementing plans to encourage people to buy cleaner cars, such as the new Vehicle Excise Duty making low carbon dioxide producing vehicles more expensive to tax, and surcharges being introduced for driving and parking high polluting cars in Central London.

With so much effort being put into eliminating diesel cars by the Government it may be surprising that there are actually more diesels on the roads now than ever before, but there a number of potential reasons for why this has happened.

Jack Cousens, Head of Roads Policy for the AA, stated that changes made to Vehicle Excise Duty by the Government were counter-intuitive as they have just ended up forcing higher tax bills onto those who would have preferred to buy a cleaner car. Instead, people are keeping hold of their older, more polluting cars which is the complete opposite of what the Government was aiming for.

Another possible deterrent for motorists is that they want to avoid the surcharges that they would face if they bought a new model, so they would prefer to stick with the vehicle that they currently drive.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, summed the situation up well by saying that the Government cannot eliminate diesel cars as quickly as they wanted to due to the fact that they are entrenched in our society, and that it will take years to significantly decrease the number of diesel vehicles on the UK’s roads.

What happens next?

It is argued by some motoring experts that the slump in new diesel car buying is only the beginning of the downward trend in diesel car use and that a small increase in diesel car use before the decline is logical, given the fact that more drivers are keeping hold of existing cars rather than trading up to a new one.

The Government are expected to launch a raft of new measures soon with their national Cleaner Air Initiative, which is likely to contain more limits and taxes on the use of older, high polluting vehicles to get them out of major cities. The measures implemented will start to have an effect and it will fall in 2018. Evidence of this is Jaguar Land Rover’s recent decision to lay off 1,000 staff, which they say is because of the fall in demand for new diesel cars.

Do you currently own a diesel car that you are keen to keep hold of and if so why are keeping it? Are you considering trading in your diesel car for a hybrid or electric alternative? Let us know in the comments below.

Installing a dashcam can reduce car insurance costs by up to 20%

Apr 18, 2018

The latest must-have gadget for your dashboard is one that could even save you money. The trend towards installing dashcams in your car is one many have adopted for a range of reasons. Moreover, it turns out that some insurers will now reduce the cost of your car insurance by up to 20% if you have one installed too.

It seems that the growth of dashcams has really taken off in the UK and there are now well over 1 million in use on the roads today. Insurance companies are also encouraging more drivers to install one in their car because it means they can save money on accident claims by using video evidence to speed up claim time and resolve costly decisions where there is split liability or claim fraud.

Catching the incident

People have taken to installing dashcams with the aim of avoiding being caught out in scams on the road. Moreover, they also appeal to insurers as they can record footage of an incident. It could prevent costly legal disputes about who was at fault by providing clear evidence of what happened. As a result, this could see a reduction of up to 20% in your premium when you install one.

The main reason people are installing them is to stop those dodgy insurance claims made against them. Recently footage was shown of a cyclist who threw himself in front of a Nottingham motorist and then ran off when he realised he was being filmed. It can also track attempts made by fraudulent drivers who brake very hard causing the car behind to crash into them from behind. This is known as a classic “forced rear-ending” or “crash for cash” scam; dashcams eliminate any chance you can be made to pay for this.

Combating the scams

While these scams are highlighted via YouTube, many others cannot be proven, and dodgy insurance claims are costing the industry £36 million a year. Dishonesty in the car insurance sector is the highest in any area of the industry. A total of 70,000 fraudulent claims were detected last year which was a drop of 2%. Moreover, measures such as the increased use of dashcams could help continue to bring this figure down.

The AA says that around 1 million people already have a dashcam installed in their car that records what happens on the road ahead. They predict that this figure will double in the next couple of years as manufacturers begin to install them as standard. It compares with the number from four years ago where just 300,000 drivers had the tech installed.

Visual deterrent

Not only does a dashcam help to stop fraudulent claims, but it is a general deterrent to bad behaviour on the roads. One driver from Surrey recounted how she paid £130 to have a dashcam installed in her Golf. While she has not seen a reduction in her insurance, she does believe it has stopped other drivers’ bad behaviour.

If someone is tailgating her or cuts her off, she merely points to the camera to make them aware that they are being filmed. It often results in a friendly wave and a more cautious approach due to being on camera.

Improving technology

The dashcam technology itself is also developing to make the devices more useful and cost-effective. They can be picked up for as little as £30 or up to around £200 and come with a pad to stick behind the rear-view mirror. They plug into the car charger socket.

Devices can run on an hour-long loop or even restart for each journey. Moreover, if you are involved in an incident, you can stop the recording to make sure that the event is saved in the memory. If you can make a 20% saving on your car insurance, the dashcam pays for itself in the first year.

If you are involved in a non-fault incident where you cannot prove you were not to blame, you will see a big increase in your insurance the next year – it can double in some cases. However, having a dashcam can prove cases where otherwise it would go against an innocent motorist.

Dashcam insurance policies

So far, only a few insurers have confirmed that they offer a discount for dashcam installation including AXA, Adrian Flux, SureThing, and Swiftcover. They offer discounts of between 10-20% for having the device installed and some now even come with a free dashcam, such as Co-Op Insurance. The added benefits include making the car less attractive to thieves who may not know if it is active. Moreover, the chance to catch out those scammers who cost us all money in higher insurance premiums is a definite positive to having a dashcam.

Great dashcam deals

PetrolPrices recommends two dashcams for members.

Roadhawk have a great range of dashcams for both car and bike, see the full range here

The DriveSmart Ultra HD 4K Dashcam is an amazing piece of kit, and with PetrolPrices you can get it for 47% off here

Have you installed a dashcam and own a dashcam car insurance policy? Would you consider it if it saved you up to 20% on your insurance? Let us know in the comments below.

Buying a car is cheaper than train ticket for some journeys

Apr 18, 2018

The point of public transport should be simple. It is cheaper and easier than private transport, more environmentally friendly and allows you to get where you need to be at a sensible cost and on a regular schedule. However, a case study by the co-owner of LatestDeals.co.uk shows that in some cases it’s more cost effective to buy a car and drive than it is to pay for a train ticket.

In theory, the idea of buying a car, making sure it is taxed, insured and with enough fuel should not come anywhere near the cost of travelling by train. The sad truth is that some train companies are profiteering on certain routes at peak times to such an extent that this has now become a reality.

London to Bristol – the story

Tom lived in London and wanted to visit another co-owner of the website who lives in Bristol. The quote for a return ticket at peak time from London to Bristol was £218.10. He decided to see if it was possible to buy a car and drive it for less than this quite substantial amount of money for such a short journey.

First, he did some research and found a car – a 1997 Honda Civic that he bought for just £80 with six months left on the MOT. The road tax for the vehicle was £81.38 and the cost of insuring it for a day was £20.43. The car used £25 worth of petrol for the journey. A total cost of £206.81 – saving £11.29 versus the cost of a train ticket.

The bigger picture

Added to this, Tom pointed out that at the end of the experiment he still had the car which could be resold for a similar amount or possibly more. The car ran well, and he was quite impressed with it.

Alternatively, if he wished to do so, he could continue to pay for the insurance and have use of the vehicle for longer. There are added costs to be considered with this, such as servicing and ongoing petrol costs, but ultimately using and driving a car on intercity routes in peak times beats trains on cost hands down.

Of course, this is not the whole picture. For starters, the experiment was based on peak time trains; if you travel at off-peak times, there can be a significant saving in the cost of the rail ticket. The Independent looked at the price and found an off-peak return was just £140.

Then there’s the time factor. Driving wasn’t an easy job because the M25 was very busy and there were accidents and roadworks on the M4. The journey in the car took 3 hours 30 minutes while the trip on the train was just 1 hour 43 minutes.

Other public transport options

While the case study is an interesting one, it doesn’t cover all the public transport options available. The rail journey in question is a straight route from the capital to Bristol. However, if you take a staggered trip, it can make a saving, as frequent rail users know. A journey that went via Salisbury, for example, cost £73.30 for an Anytime fare.

Then there’s the bus. National Express operates frequent services with flexible fares of £48.80 from Victoria Coach station to Bristol. There is a new on-demand service offered by Sn-Ap that has a maximum ticket price of £25 return

A growing problem

Tom’s experiment highlights an increasing problem across the UK, which is the fact that it can be cheaper to run a car than to use public transport and especially trains at peak times. Train fares at peak times are often price matched to plane fares to compete for the business traveller, and therefore the cost has been steadily increasing in recent years.

This rising price has also meant more people are doing just what Tom did, buying a car instead of using public transport. It is why there is a higher number of vehicles on the road than ever and why congestion and pollution problems are at an all-time high.

Figures show that the number of cars on UK roads reached a new highest figure in 2016 of 31.7 million, an increase from 31.5 million the previous year and from 29.9 million ten years before that. As more people turn to inexpensive and often polluting cars to avoid the higher cost of public transport, this figure could continue to grow.

If the Government are serious about tackling road pollution, they need to look at the cost of public transport during peak times and intercity routes. Train operators have been getting away with this for many years now.

Labour is looking at the drastic step of making all rail companies publicly owned again and reducing prices, so they are more in line with other Western European countries, such as France and German, both nationally owned where fares are 30-40% the price compared to the UK. Doing this one could have more environmental benefit and reduce pollution far more than taxing drivers of polluting cars to the hilt.

Do you know of a train route that costs over £200 return? Have you switched to driving because of the expense of rail? How did you feel about the cost of your journey or season ticket? Let us know in the comments.

AI technology to catch motorists on the phone while driving

Apr 18, 2018

Using a mobile device while driving is one of the most dangerous things that a motorist can do when behind the wheel, but it is thought that new AI technology could help police forces to crack down on this activity without the individual knowing.

The idea is that roadside camera detectors could be used to take photos of people using their phones or other devices while driving, as they will be intelligent enough to be able to both detect the exact vehicle which is being driven via ANPR and then identify the offence in action as the offender drives past.

Image recognition AI software

At present, it is not known exactly how this new AI technology will work, but it is understood that image recognition software will be part of it and police forces around the world are looking into how they could be using this technology to help them to detect and deter criminal activity.

Basic versions of AI are already being put to use in automatic number plate recognition technology, and advances in the development of long-range cameras and other high definition imagery can help police to get clear photos of those who are breaking the law while on the roads.

The police force in New South Wales, Australia, is backing a Government decision to find technology-based solutions which will help to address the problem of people using their phones while driving, and they are currently looking into solutions such as long-range cameras, and helmet cameras being worn by police on motorbikes.

They hope that machine learning systems could be taught to recognise mobile phones and other devices being used, and could then capture images of drivers using them while behind the wheel. This would then be linked to an automated number plate recognition system so they could track down the guilty motorist.

Camera trial reveals the extent of mobile use

A high definition camera placed on Sydney Harbour Bridge to capture images of motorists using mobile phones while driving ended up spotting someone committing the offence every 30 seconds, showing just how often this particular law is being broken.

The camera was in action on the 12th of December 2017 between the hours of 8 am and 2 pm, and during this time it snapped 743 motorists using their phone, which equates to 4% of all drivers.

This issue is at the forefront of the New South Wales police force’s agenda as 29 people died on their roads during the festive period last year which was almost twice as many as the year before. Using a mobile phone is becoming one of the most common reasons for people to be involved in a crash as it is a leading cause of driver distraction.

To really enforce how dangerous this activity is, Bernard Carlon who is the Executive Director at the Centre for Road Safety said that those who have a mobile phone offence are twice as likely to be killed or injured in a car crash. This doesn’t always match up with other data as many collisions involving mobile phones are unreported due to a lack of evidence.

Laws around using a mobile phone while driving

In the UK is it against the law to use your mobile phone, or another handheld device, while behind the wheel unless you are pulled over safely with the engine off, or are in an emergency situation when you need to call 999 and pulling over is not an option.

This means that it is illegal to use your mobile phone when stuck in traffic or waiting at traffic lights, and this can sometimes apply to hands-free devices too. In addition to this, devices such as sat navs and mobile phones which are attached to the windscreen should not obscure the area swept by your windscreen wipers. Turning the volume down on your mobile phone if its linked to the car audio system, or adjusting Google Maps on your phone while driving is also regarded as illegal.

Breaking these laws could land you with a £200 fine and 6 points on your driving license, so we suggest always keeping your phone out of reach if you find it difficult to avoid the temptation to check it when you are driving.

At the moment, using a handsfree kit connected to your mobile phone is legal, but if you then use your mobile phone in the process of using your handsfree kit, (such as turning off a call), this is illegal. It is this type of grey area which makes mobile phone use while driving one of the most contentious issues of the moment because many people don’t actually know what is and isn’t allowed.

Do you fully understand what is and isn’t allowed with mobile phone use while driving? Do you think that the introduction of AI technology will deter people from using their phones while driving? Let us know in the comments below.

Breaking: Oil prices soar leading to fears that petrol prices will rise

Apr 12, 2018

Overnight the price of Brent Crude oil rose dramatically in its biggest spike in months. This spike was due to the crisis in Syria and recent chemical weapons attack, which has stoked fears of a major war. As oil traders fretted over the possibility of a stand-off between the West and Russia in Syria, the oil price began to rise and went over the $70 per barrel mark.

The price of oil has a direct effect on the cost of petrol and diesel in the UK. It seems that the destabilising influence and risk of a much bigger war in Syria will mean that we will see an increase in the cost of fuel at the pumps in the coming weeks.

Some context to the situation

When the price of Brent Crude oil increases, the price of petrol and diesel in the UK increases as well. You can see the price charts from OilPrice.com below showing the price over the last week, month and year and the spike that happened last night.

Weekly price of brent crude oil per barrel increase, captured by OilPrice.com

Monthly price of brent crude oil per barrel increase, captured by OilPrice.com

Yearly price of brent crude oil per barrel increase, captured by OilPrice.com

It is produced in a wide range of areas, and therefore a wide range of factors affect the price. When there was an increase in supply in February with the reopening of the North Sea Forties pipeline, there was a slight drop in the price of petrol and diesel 2 weeks later.

Now, as fears mount over military action against Syria, with threats emerging from Donald Trump’s twitter timeline, and wonder over what the UK will do, the price of oil remains even more volatile than normal. It is believed that some form of action will be taken, but any form of military action in Syria will drive the oil prices up, and therefore affect our petrol and diesel prices.

What does this mean for drivers in the UK?

Over the next few weeks, it will most probably mean a rise of a few pence per litre at the pump, with industry experts predicting that we could see a rise of around 3p a litre. This rise will directly affect UK drivers, as the price of petrol has already been rising since July last year, and has been consistently hitting the 120 pence per litre mark for four months now.

The expected fallout of this oil price rise will affect motorists over the next few weeks, especially as decisions are made over military action towards Syria. The pump price rise could also be joined by a rise in energy prices if the oil continues to rise. This is joined by the British Gas increasing some of their tariffs by 5.5%, and all of this combines to be unwelcome news for drivers as the Easter holidays draw to a close.

Looking forward

The UK meets today (Thursday 12th April) along with the USA and France to discuss any proposed military actions they will take. They’re expected to release statements in the following day or two.
Some industry experts think that a sustained price jump could see prices similar to that of late 2014, around 123 pence per litre for unleaded and 127 pence per litre for diesel, which spells bad news for UK drivers.

Interestingly, OPEC has said that the recent price rises are largely due to stronger demand for oil rather than the threat of a war, or restrictions on production and that prices will continue to edge up slightly. They expect the price of oil to not to exceed the $80 per barrel mark, which roughly equates to a maximum price limit of 130 pence per litre for unleaded and 133 pence per litre for diesel for the rest of the year.

UPDATE: 10:30 am New analysis from the AA suggests that a rise of 2p a litre will hit the forecourts this weekend, and a rise of up to 5p per litre.

A 4p a litre increase in the wholesale price will filter down to forecourts, and as the oil price is not expected to fall below $70 until May.

OPEC has also noticed many blips across the oil-producing regions leading to much higher demand and therefore higher prices.

PetrolPrices will update this article as further developments appear, and we will keep you informed over the next few weeks as to the pump price

Feature update: New website & Plus features

Apr 11, 2018

Summary

PetrolPrices now has a new website, helping new members understand what we do and how we do it. We’ve enhanced existing features and created new ones, including:

  • Average price of standard unleaded and diesel by popular fuel retailers, calculated based on the mode average of prices (the frequency that particular price appears from that brand)
  • Average price of standard unleaded and diesel by major cities, calculated based on the mode average of prices (the frequency that particular price appears within the location)
  • Helping smaller independent retailers gain business insight
  • Improved readability of the articles and categorised existing guides

    • This is just one small step towards making the service smarter and more effective at saving you money on the road. It’ll probably be a bumpy ride, so put your seatbelt on and enjoy the trip.

    What Car? think the best time to buy a new car is now

    Apr 11, 2018

    With new car sales falling for the twelfth consecutive month in March and new registrations being down 16%, dealers are dramatically reducing their prices to encourage people into their showrooms and make some desperately needed sales.

    This drop is bad news for dealers and manufacturers, but great news for anyone who is in the market for a new vehicle as you are very likely able to pick up a great discount now. What Car? agree and they think that it’s a buyers’ market to the extent that anyone thinking about buying a new car should take advantage of this rare opportunity.

    Fantastic new car discounts available

    WhatCar? found that the average discount on a new car is currently 8.6% which equates to £2560, but some dealers will slash prices by up to 5x that amount with staff more willing to offer a greatly reduced price to boost sales.

    Not only are dealers feeling the pressure to sell cars due to falling sales overall, but discounts also need to be offered to those looking to buy due to the influx of new products on the market which is causing competition between dealerships.

    Nearly 25% of car manufacturers are now offering potential customers discounts in the double digits, with the Seat Toleda 1.6 TDI 115 SE being found to have the greatest price reduction as its price was almost halved by 42.3%.

    Other new cars which have been heavily discounted include the Fiat Punto 1.2 Pop+ 5dr (25.3%), the Seat Mii 1.0 Design Mii 5dr (25.3%), the Citroen Berlingo Multispace 1.2 PureTech Feel (22.7%), and the Volvo s60 T4 [190] SE Nav [Leather] (22.3%).

    The best time to buy a new car

    There are many people in the motor industry who agree that now is the best time to buy a new car.
    James Hind, founder of Carwow has pointed out that there are particularly great offers on diesel cars at the moment, as sales of this type of vehicle have taken a real hit recently, the usual price differential between petrol and diesel cars has been cut by around a third. He also added that motorists can get a great price on petrol cars too if they are savvy when choosing and purchasing their new vehicle.

    Director of Strategy at Close Brothers Motor Finance, Chris Bosworth, has taken this opportunity to say that dealers need to adapt to the changing market in order to get potential customers into their showrooms, and the best way to do this is to offer them a range of great finance options and a wide variety of cars, including petrol, diesel, and electric models.

    With so much focus on the falling sales of new cars it may have been missed that data from AA Cars has shown that sales of used cars are also on the rise, which is partly due to the fact that finance deals are now available for used cars when they used to be predominantly for new cars. This means that more people are able to afford the type of car that they want to drive without getting tied up in expensive car finance leasing deals, where they don’t own the vehicle they buy until full payment is made.

    Recommended deals from carwow

    Using carwow makes choosing and buying your perfect car easy and enjoyable. Their top-rated local and national dealers will send you their best offers to compare – meaning you get the car you want, from the dealer you like best, at a price that’s right for you.

    Jaguar E-pace £2140 average saving and additional £1000 off on deposit contribution.
    Audi A3 Sportsback £1738 average saving and additional £1000 off on deposit contribution.
    Land Rover Discovery Sport £2533 average saving and additional £500 off on deposit contribution.
    Skoda Citigo £840 average saving and additional £500 off for test driving.

    Find out more

    How to get a great deal

    If you are looking to buy a new car, take these main points into consideration which will help you to get a great deal:

  • Do your research – Work out exactly what you can afford and stick to this. The more specific you are the less likely it is that the salesperson will try to upsell and offer you vehicles or add-ons that are out of your budget.
  • Know the cars that hold value – new cars can lose 30% of their value the moment you drive off the forecourt. By choosing desirable cars at the start can help when you are the stage when you want to sell it years later.
  • Know how much it will cost to run – knowing the running costs, including insurance, road tax and fuel consumption, can make a vital difference in determining what is a deal worth doing and what it will cost each year.
  • Know when to shop – Prices will be lowest before registration changes and at the end of quarters as this will be when dealers are looking to pick up bonuses based on their sales.
  • Don’t be intimidated – Haggling a great deal can be hard if you are not used to it, but don’t be afraid to ask questions and ensure that you are getting the best price possible.
  • Check the paperwork and the warranty details – just before you are about to sign, make sure you know every detail of the finance agreement and what is inside and covered by the warranty.

    • Finally, don’t be afraid to get impartial advice. PetrolPrices has a partnership with Carkeys, they provide a free and impartial, no obligation telephone based advice service where they can help you find the very best new and used car deals out there at the moment, which can save you up to £3000 on a car. Click on start now and fill in your details and an adviser will call to assist you.

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    Are you currently hoping to take advantage of these great new car offers? Would you be tempted to change your car due to the massive reductions that are on offer? Let us know in the comments below.

    Drivers issued with one million penalties for driving in bus lanes last year

    Apr 11, 2018

    According to data obtained by the RAC, drivers in the 20 largest cities around the UK have received over one million penalty charge notices (PCNs) over the last year for driving in bus lanes. Figures from a Freedom of Information (FOI) enquiry showed that between 2015-17 over 3.4 million people received a fixed penalty notice for this.

    Bus lane penalties can be very different in cost, but the RAC estimates that these charges have amounted to a staggering £200 million across three years – around £68 million each year in extra income for local councils.

    A common mistake

    In their press release on the topic, the RAC looked at city councils in London and around the UK. It showed that there had been a 5% rise in the actual number of penalty charge notices issued for bus lane misuse from 2015 until 2017. This figure was higher outside London with a 9% increase over the time frame while inside the capital, the number had dropped by 5%.

    The greatest concern for the RAC is that many drivers aren’t deliberately misusing bus lanes but rather there is poor or confusing road signs meaning that it has become a common mistake. And it’s also one that local councils are quick to punish. That’s why they are calling for a review of national signage guidelines and other steps including the use of ‘smart bus lanes’ to make it easier and clearer for motorists.

    Varied picture across the country

    The picture when comparing the different cities presents a varied one. The data analysed by the RAC showed that Manchester City Council issued the most notices between 2015-17, totalling over 350,000 and a massive 172,311 in 2017 – an increase of 175% on the 2015 figure. Second place was Glasgow with over 339,000 across the two years. Followed by Cardiff (267,00+), Bradford (208,000+) and Nottingham (194,000+).

    Birmingham City Council topped the list of the councils that saw the highest increases. The city has 19 miles of bus lanes and sent out 2,368% more fines for infringements in 2017 than in 2015. It is despite there being no extra bus lanes or even any more cameras supervising them. Three of the London boroughs – Croydon, Havering, and Southwark – also saw increases of 787%, 439%, and 187% respectively.

    Overall, the picture in London was varied. Of the 33 local authorities, 27 provided information for the study. Of these, half had seen a rise in the number of bus lane fines while half had recorded a decrease in penalties for the period 2015-17.

    Confusing picture

    The complete picture is a confusing one. Bristol has the most enforcement cameras, numbering 51 and issued an average of 944 fines per camera. But Manchester had just 22 and issued the equivalent of 7,832 penalties per camera. Lewisham Council in London had the highest total number of PCNs per camera, with one bus lane camera issuing a shocking 9261 notices in a year.

    RAC spokesman, Simon Williams, admitted that bus lanes have a vital role to play in keeping city centres moving. But, the sheer number of fines that councils are issuing suggests there is a bigger problem. And, they firmly believe this is because people don’t realise they are breaking the rules.

    They are campaigning for better signage and a reduction of ‘clutter’ that can mean it is easy for drivers to miss them. They also advocate the use of modern technology that could make better use of available road space in a similar way to smart motorways.

    Handling a fine

    Fines for bus lane violations vary across councils with London the highest at £160, or £80 if paid quickly. Most cities average around £60. Motorists who receive one can often get a discounted rate if they pay speedily but need to be aware that the cost can increase if they take more than 28 days to pay.

    The only advice we can provide is to make sure you steer well clear of bus lanes if you know that they are in operation, many now have cameras monitoring their use as this research confirms, so don’t risk it. But also, be aware that if you are driving in an unfamiliar location and accidentally drive on a bus lane without realising, stating that you didn’t know it was there may be an acceptable defence if you appeal against the fine, but it is solely at the discretion of the council when you appeal.

    Have you ever had a penalty notice for driving in a bus lane? Did you know what you were doing or were you unaware until the fine came through? Do you think this is a cash cow for the councils and being misused? Let us know in the comments.

    Five medical conditions to declare before you can drive

    Apr 11, 2018

    In total there are 182 different medical conditions that need to be declared to the DVLA which they consider could affect someone’s ability to drive safely, but many of these are not as obvious as others and are not being declared by many motorists who suffer from them.

    If you suffer from one of these 182 different conditions and are involved in an accident, and have not notified the DVLA about this condition, you could face a £1,000 fine plus prosecution. It is important that all drivers are aware of exactly what they need to declare to avoid this.

    Five medical conditions you must declare

    The list of medical conditions which need to be declared to the DVLA consists of 182 separate issues, but many of these may not have been considered by motorists due to them not realising the affect they could have on their ability to drive.

    The website; LeaseCar.co.uk carried out research on the most common conditions that drivers may not be aware of which they need to declare to the DVLA and this is the top five which people should be alerted about:

    1. Déjà vu

    Although many people suffer from déjà vu every now and again the DVLA need to know if you have medically induced déjà vu which can be associated with epilepsy. This type of déjà vu is caused by a neurological anomaly which could affect an individual’s ability to drive, but those who get ‘standard’ déjà vu occasionally do not need to declare this.

    2. Labyrinthitis (ear-ache)

    Linked to an inflamed Labyrinth, which can be found deep within the ear, Labyrinthitis can cause headaches and hearing loss at different levels of severity, and often passes in a few weeks. However, it can also cause vertigo which may last a bit longer, and if a motorist is suffering from this it may make it dangerous for them to drive.

    3. Sleep apnoea (sleep apnea)

    A relatively common condition, sleep apnoea refers to when the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep which affects both breathing and sleeping patterns. This can lead to sleep deprivation which could result in the individual falling asleep behind the wheel. The DVLA have stated that anyone suffering from sleep deprivation for any reason should not be driving, whether this is due to sleep apnoea or any other condition. However, you can undergo treatment which will allow you to drive as normal, although the DVLA should still be informed.

    4. Eating disorders

    Due to causing the sufferer to feel weak and dizzy, those who have eating disorders may be unable to drive safely which is why if you have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, you must inform the DVLA in order to cover yourself should you be involved in an accident.

    5. Arthritis

    Another common condition, arthritis affects around 10 million people in the UK and causes pain and discomfort in the joints of the individual. Any pain felt in the joints of the hands, spine, knees and hips could mean that the sufferer is unable to drive safely, and the DVLA should be notified if you use special controls or if your doctor believes they should know.

    How to report a condition

    If you feel that you may have a condition which could affect your driving you can access the full list on the gov.uk website.

    If your condition does appear on this list you simply need to contact the DVLA who will be able to log this for you. You will be required to give up your driving licence if your doctor tells you that you must stop driving for 3 months or more, or if your medical condition means that you don’t meet the required standards for driving.

    It is also important to know that this may affect you even if you suffered from the condition historically, so it is always safest to check this with the DVLA if you are unsure.



    Were you aware of how many different conditions needed to be declared to the DVLA? Are there any on the list which surprise you? Let us know in the comments below.

    Car thefts triple in worst areas due to keyless technology

    Apr 4, 2018

    After steadily decreasing for 10 years, car thefts are now on the rise with the number of cars being stolen tripling in the worst affected areas. The leading cause of the increase in thefts is due to keyless car technology and the availability of technology bought online that can counteract it.

    Despite being designed to be convenient for motorists, keyless technology is actually causing security concerns as thieves are finding it easier to hack the systems used and steal cars from both driveways and public car parks, using technology that can be bought online.

    Car theft on the rise

    Car theft has been declining over the past decade due to vehicles being fitted with immobilisers, alarm systems, and tracking devices, but the introduction of keyless technology has seen incidents increasing with some areas experiencing 3 times as many car thefts than they did three years ago.

    There were 85,688 reported car thefts in 2016 which is up 30% on 2013’s figure of 65,783, and Warwickshire has seen a 189% increase in car theft over the past three years which makes it one of the most affected areas in the country.

    Other areas which have seen significant rises are Hampshire with a 59% increase, West Yorkshire with an increase of 57%, and Norfolk which has seen a 56% rise.

    In addition to this, Cleveland Police have stated that 90 keyless cars have been stolen in their region since December, and half of these were Ford Fiestas which have been the top-selling car for 10 years and are very popular with families.

    How cars are being stolen

    With the right equipment, a thief can steal a car in just 30 seconds, all they need to do is boost the key fob signal so that it reaches a device held by a second thief waiting by your car door. The first thief simply holds a relay box by the front door and this box can detect a keyless fob from up to 100 yards away.

    The car door will then unlock due to receiving the boosted signal from the fob, and the second thief can get into the car, press the ignition button, and drive away in no time at all.

    Relay boxes are not hard to get hold of and can be picked up from Amazon for £260.29 or eBay for £278.77 which makes them very accessible to those who want to steal keyless cars.

    Many of these stolen cars will then be taken to illegal ‘chop shops’ where they will be dismantled so that the parts can be sold. It is for this reason that cheaper, popular models such as Ford Fiestas are being chosen as there is a lot of demand for these spare parts.

    Despite 25% of all keyless car thefts in the West Midlands being Fords, Ford themselves have said that the numbers do not suggest that their cars are being targeted, and most car manufacturers currently say that cars are more secure now than they have been before.

    Tips for keeping your car safe from theft

    If you are concerned about your car being stolen there are things that you can do to ensure that you are keeping it as safe and secure as possible, both at home and when parked in a public place:

    • Invest in a steering or wheel lock as these are very obvious deterrents which thieves will want to avoid
    • Keep keyless fobs in metal tins or in a bag which will block its signal like a faraday cage so that it cannot be boosted via a relay box.
    • Don’t leave your car keys in the hallway at home with your other keys, wallet and coat as some enterprising thieves can grab it through the letterbox.
    • Always check that your car is locked before leaving it as thieves have also been found to use jamming gadgets to intercept the signal emitted when you try to lock the doors.
    • If your car is parked on a driveway make sure you have security lighting, you could also invest in a camera that triggers an alarm to your phone if there is a motion on the drive.

    The important thing is to be aware that car theft is on the rise across the country, make sure that you are aware of the car theft statistics in your local area, which should help you make an informed decision as to whether you need to be more protected in various ways from this rising threat. Investing in a metal box or faraday cage bag to put your keyless car fob in is probably the simplest and cheapest thing to do right now and costs around £10.

    Have you experienced any security issues due to keyless technology? Do you feel that cars are the most secure that they have ever been? Let us know in the comments below.