All posts tagged: motorists

Number of UK motorists using phones illegally while driving reaches eight-year high

Number of UK motorists using phones illegally while driving reaches eight-year high

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get our weekly Drive Smart newsletter for motoring news, reviews and advice from EV editor Steve Fowler Get motoring news, reviews and advice from EV editor Steve Fowler Get our EV editor’s weekly Drive Smart newsletter Illegal phone use by drivers for activities beyond voice calls has reached an eight-year high, a new survey suggests. The poll of 2,238 motorists, commissioned by the RAC, found 15 per cent admitted to using a phone to browse the internet, text, or post on social media while driving. This figure matches the 2018 peak, having fallen to a low of 7 per cent in 2021. More concerningly, one in 11 (9 per cent) respondents reported watching or recording a video, or livestreaming, while driving in the past 12 months, up from 5 per cent in 2024. This dangerous trend is most prevalent among under-25s, with the proportion rising from 23 per cent in 2024 to 27 per cent. The only type of illegal phone use which has declined this year is making or receiving a voice call without …

Motorists ‘to be hit by’ new MOT penalties after key DfT plan deadline

Motorists ‘to be hit by’ new MOT penalties after key DfT plan deadline

Published by Sam Flores

Police and road safety groups have told the government they are concerned that some offences do not carry extra penalties, such as penalty points or vehicle seizure. The government has been carrying out a consultation on its Road Safety Strategy – and the deadline for responses passed last week. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport Lilian Greenwood MP said it was aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on the road – and making sure teh police have the powers they need which also fit the crime. She said in a forward to the consultation: “In 2024, there were 1,602 deaths on our roads – an average of around 30 a week, or 4 to 5 per day. There were also 27,865 serious injuries on our roads. Although the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, these figures remain far too high, and this government does not accept that these deaths and serious injuries are inevitable. “With the number of UK road deaths having plateaued since 2010, it’s clear that strong, …

New rule means UK motorists could lose licence for this offence

New rule means UK motorists could lose licence for this offence

Published by Sam Flores

Drivers who have never broken a motoring law could still find themselves banned from the road under a tough new crackdown. Ministers are arming courts with the power to hand out penalty points to people convicted of illegally dumping rubbish – meaning persistent offenders could ultimately lose their driving licences altogether. Under the new rules, introduced through the Policing and Crime Act, courts will be able to impose between three and nine penalty points for fly-tipping offences. That puts offenders on a direct path to disqualification if they rack up 12 points within three years even though the crime has nothing to do with driving itself. In some cases, a single incident could result in as many as nine points, leaving offenders just one step away from an automatic ban. The measures form a key plank of the Government’s Waste Crime Action Plan, which aims to clamp down on the blight of dumped rubbish in streets, lay-bys and the countryside. Ministers believe targeting drivers is the most effective way to deter the crime, with most …

Motorists should ‘fill up as normal’ despite fuel prices soaring, minister says | Politics News

Motorists should ‘fill up as normal’ despite fuel prices soaring, minister says | Politics News

Published by Sam Flores

Motorists should “fill up as normal” as the government is “well prepared” for disruption, a senior minister has said as fuel prices soar. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips the public should listen to trade bodies, such as the RAC, as the cost of petrol climbed above an average of 150p per litre – an increase of more than 17p since the Iran war started at the end of February. Politics Latest: Badenoch accuses PM of ‘flip-flopping’ over Iran war “They’ve been absolutely clear that if you go to the pump, just fill up as normal, continue as you are,” she said. “We’ve got the security of what is coming in, and production isn’t affected. “I think people should take note of what those trade bodies are saying.” She insisted the government “will always plan for what we need to do” in the event of any disruption, adding: “We are well prepared.” More on Bridget Phillipson However, energy economist Nick Butler told Sky News there will be shortages due to …

DVSA confirms dates for major driving test changes for new motorists

DVSA confirms dates for major driving test changes for new motorists

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get Travel Insider with Simon Calder. A newsletter packed with tips, deals, inspiration, and the latest travel news Get the Travel Insider newsletter with Simon Calder Get the Travel Insider newsletter with Simon Calder Significant changes to the driving test booking system are set to be rolled out this month, aiming to curb widespread misuse. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced that from March 31, learners will be limited to just two booking changes, down from the current six. As of 12 May, only the learner themselves will be permitted to book or modify a car driving test, removing the current ability for instructors to do so. A further restriction, effective on 9 June, will cap location changes for booked tests to the three closest test centres. These measures are designed to thwart individuals who exploit automated programmes, or ‘bots’, to snap up available slots and resell them at inflated prices. While the official test fee stands at £62, a National Audit Office (NAO) report from December revealed learners are being forced to …

Motorists left out of pocket by car insurance over key policy

Motorists left out of pocket by car insurance over key policy

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get our weekly Drive Smart newsletter for motoring news, reviews and advice from EV editor Steve Fowler Get motoring news, reviews and advice from EV editor Steve Fowler Get our EV editor’s weekly Drive Smart newsletter Motorists could face significant financial losses if valuable possessions such as mobile phones, laptops, or important documents are stolen from their vehicles, a new investigation by consumer champion Which? has warned. The analysis of car insurance policies found that while the vehicle itself is typically covered, protection for personal belongings is often far less clear-cut. This issue is particularly pertinent given that one in ten claims in Which?’s most recent survey of car insurance customers involved burglary or theft. When Which? reviewed 66 car insurance policies last November, it discovered that most included some level of personal belongings cover. However, the consumer group highlighted that policyholders might find only specific items are protected. While handbags, shopping, and pushchairs were covered by all 55 policies that offered personal belongings protection, many failed to include other valuables often targeted by thieves. …

How motorists can claim money back if wrongly caught speeding

How motorists can claim money back if wrongly caught speeding

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Thousands of motorists wrongly caught speeding could claim compensation if they prove financial losses stemming from a National Highways error. The agency has identified around 2,650 incorrect camera activations since 2021, attributing them to a technical fault. Not all flashes led to fines, as camera activations are not always enforced. However, for those erroneously caught, “points doesn’t mean prizes,” Lord Burnett of Maldon noted. The crossbench peer and former lord chief justice said: “It means increased insurance premiums, and it can be extremely difficult for any of us to understand precisely why an insurance premium from one year to another has increased. “Will the Government be sympathetic to those who are unable to produce precise figures because their insurers won’t give them to them?” Transport minister Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill said: “I think the Government has to be a good custodian of public money, …