Thousands in line to be let off speeding fines

Have you been convicted of a speeding offence recently? If so, you may be able to contest your conviction due to a technical error involving many of the UK’s road signs.

The Crown Prosecution Service says a cock-up on the M42 in Warwickshire means many of the speeding tickets issued on two stretches of road could be voided because the variable speed-limit signs didn’t meet traffic regulations. Some of the electronic signs which inform drivers of changing speed limits – Advanced Motorway Indicators – are said to have been in the wrong sized font.

  

This may seem like a triviality, and it is. But there could be a lot to gain from this little loophole. Thousands of people were caught by speed cameras on that stretch of road – between junctions 3a to 7 and junctions 7 to 9 – until November 2012, when Warwickshire police stopped using the signs and halted prosecutions.

It’s estimated as many as 11,000 people could be entitled to claim back their fines and have their points reinstated. The Highways Agency says the signs did comply with the regulations, although the CPS and Warwickshire Police are advising people who were nabbed on the M42 before November last year to seek independent advice, as they could have been falsely prosecuted.

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Best and worst service stations in the UK

Every driver will sooner or later have to familiarise themselves with the motorway service station. This will mean getting used to poor quality food at rip-off prices in an environment of unbearable drabness. You may not think it, but some are actually better than the others. But seeing as they all blend into one identikit, low-roofed hut in our imaginations, it’s often difficult to remember which ones were worth holding on for, and which should be skipped.

Thankfully one loveable anorak has put together a rankings system for every motorway convenience in the UK. What emerges from the results is that – perhaps unsurprisingly – they're all mostly terrible, with very little to distinguish between the awful and mediocre.

By popular consensus, the best roadside convenience in the UK is the Tebay, on the M6 near Penrith in the north west of England. So far apart from its peers is Tebay that it is described as the Keira Knightley of service stations. It boasts unusually clean toilets, a decent array of health food, a children’s play area, and even a butcher’s onsite. In short, it’s everything we’ve come to expect a service station not to be.

Unfortunately, Penrith is only one of two independent service stations in the UK. The other is Cairn Lodge on the M74 in Scotland, but the reviews suggest this one’s no better than its big corporate rivals. Of the big chains, facilities run by Moto are scored highest, while Welcome Break is considerably worse, and Road Chef outright dismal.

Next time you need a break, consider this, and hope you’re in the vicinity of Penrith near the Lake District, or at least an establishment run by Moto.

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McLaren unveils new green P1 at Geneva Motor Show

It’s only February, but already there’s a contender for the year’s best super car. And not just any top-end speed monster, either – the McLaren P1 is a green machine. And since the press shots show a yellow paint-job, this can only mean ‘green’ as in eco-friendly.

Even though it can hit 62mph in three seconds, the impact of revving it up can be consolidated by the P1’s innovative energy-saving technology. Running on petrol with an additional electric motor, its CO2 emissions will be way below that of most other super cars. At 200g/km, it’s 10-20% greener than its competitors, and even includes an electric-only mode with zero emissions, which runs for around six miles.

Then take a look at the thing – a snarling speed buggy that outstrips even the “best car in the world,” McLaren’s own 12C Spider, in the cosmetics department. True, it’s almost exactly the same as the prototypes revealed last year – the only difference being a couple of air vents ahead of the front wheels. But with the look of a Lotus Elise reimagined by George Lucas, this is the motor that really looks like it’s operating in another dimension. Unfortunately, this kind of whizz-bang doesn’t come cheap, even by super-car standards.

Limited to a fleet of 375, the McLaren P1 will set you back £866,000 when it hits the mega-exclusive forecourts this Autumn. A first glimpse of the P1 is being offered to attendees of the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Ask a mechanic nicely and he may let you take one for a spin – or not.

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Why more people are buying new

Despite tight economic conditions, new-car sales continue to rise. More vehicles were driven off the forecourt than the previous months in January, an 11% increase on 2012. This is the eleventh consecutive rise in monthly sales. There are a number of reasons this is happening.

It’s cheaper (sometimes)

It can actually be cheaper to buy new if you’re paying through a finance scheme. Auto Express recently compared the prices of new and used versions of the same vehicle, and found that with cheaper and mid-range models such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Scirocco, customers saved up to £3,200 with a new car. Combined with increased warranties and better insurance deals, it’s no wonder 70 per cent of new cars are now bought this way.

Technology

"Some motorists are looking to the new car market to take advantage of the latest technologies that offer enhanced fuel efficiency and lower running costs," a spokesperson for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders told the Guardian. "Very little movement in the housing market may have also shifted focus to new car replacement."

New-car smell 

There aren’t any figures relating to the number of people who buy a new car for its unique scent. But the new-car smell is certainly a factor in the emotional appeal of buying a new car. Getting a whiff of that leathery freshness signifies success, security and freedom.

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Petrol price looking to go up 4p in the next few days

Campaigners are warning the public that petrol prices may increase by 4p a litre in the next couple of days.

The Petrol Retailers Association has reported that a review of the wholesale fuel market was needed as "despite recent arctic weather cutting fuel demand across northern Europe and refinery chiefs complaining at their glut of petrol capacity" wholesale costs of petrol have risen 5p a litre in the four weeks after Christmas.

PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: "The shock rise in wholesale costs is just one of the reasons why the Petrol Retailers' Association has been knocking on the door of the Office for Fair Trading, since this time last year, to demand a full investigation into the workings of the UK market for road fuel".

Motoring journalist Quentin Wilson said: "A 4p rise is going to be cataclysmic for motorists, for families, for businesses across the UK. In some parts of the country we are seeing diesel as high as 148p so this will tip it over the psychological threshold of 150p...and it's unsupportable."

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The best of the 2013 Detroit Auto Show!

The two day event has come to an end and we have pulled ourselves together to sit down and bring you the best bits and top news from the spectacle.


Shelby GT500 & Super Snake Widebody

Can we just say… WOW! Shelby are known for retuning Ford products into racing demons and they’ve done it again with their Ford Focus ST. With an upgraded suspension, hard hitting breaks and exhaust system, the car is a beast of a machine. 

 Buyers can upgrade the 252 horespower output to over 300 and production of these cars will be limited to 500 units.

Along with the internal upgrades, Shelby released a new body kit, the Super Snake, which is a wider option that will accommodate the 10 inch front and 13inch back wheels.

To get your hands on one of these beauts prepare to spend around £22,000 for the Ford Focus ST and then another $14,995 for the original kit and $28,995 for the Super Snake.

 

Acura NSX Concept Car

Don’t expect to get your hands on this gem for a few years, but Acura’s hybrid supercar is still pulling in admiration. The exterior is sleek and almost Batman like while the interior reveals maroon leather bucket seats and a “human connected space” which we determine means loads of snazzy buttons and high tech amenities. 

Lexus Entry Level Sports Car

Lexus are keeping their word on broadening their market by introducing affordable, yet stylish vehicles. The new Sedan’s design is sleek and flawless and will be available from 2014. 

2013 Bentley GT Speed Convertible

This car left tongues wagging and soft whimpers escaped the crowds of admirers that surrounded Bentley’s new speed devil.  With 616-horsepower, 6.0 liter W12 engine and top speed of 202mph, we dare you not to be impressed. The latest ME17 engine management system, capable of performing 180 million individual calculations per second, provides enhanced turbocharger control and torque management, enhancing drive ability. In common with all W12-engined models, the GT Speed convertible features an energy recuperation system.

2014 BMW Z4

While we aren’t into the current Hyper Orange package on display, the new Z4’s 335 horsepower, 332 pound-feet of torque and a 7-speed DCT gearbox totally makes up for it. 

2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray

We left the best for last here! The C7 seemed to take on a life of its own at the show and like a giant magnet, drew us in and never let us go.  Slightly smaller than previous models and with a slick, aerodynamic design, this machine will give the appearance of flight down an empty highway. Boasting 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque to the promised 0-60 mph of under four seconds, what more could we really ask for? Oh, Did we mention the four massive rear end valves?

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MINI JCW Paceman Photos Revealed!

Released just ahead of the Detroit Motor Show!

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1 in 16 Commuters sleep in car to save cash

RAC and FairFuel UK launched a survey recently which discovered that 1 in 16 commuters have resorted to sleeping in their cars in order to save money on fuel. A further 3% have admitted to camping out near work to avoid the skyrocketing petrol prices.

 A spokesman for FairFuelUK, Quentin Willson said: “As a society, we’ve never seen this financial pressure on personal mobility.

Last year, Brits spent an incredible £26 billion in fuel, nearly three times more than in 1990.

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Peugeot Onyx - Supercar?

When thinking of Peugeot, your mind may wander from the bicycles they began manufacturing, to the reliable yet not so flashy cars we see on our streets today. But with the Peugeot Onyx, comes some serious supercar competition.

It’s exterior, made up of a sleek smooth shell of carbon fiber covered in a matte black finish and sheets of gleaming copper give the Onyx it’s empowering presence. Peugeot also claim that the copper panels on the outside will develop a patina over time, which makes this car ever changing. The French automakers stunned all at the 2012 Paris Motor Show with this desirable alternative power-train concept car. Weighing in at 1,100kgs, and fitted with a lithium-ion battery powered electric system, this car’s 3.7-liter V8 powers out a seemingly effortless 600 horsepower. And as you thought it simply could not get any better, you take a peek inside to discover a cabin fit for a king, equip with wool, felt and more glorious copper. 

Stepping inside, you find a floor to ceiling coverage of French’s finest, which is just as outrageous yet mouthwatering as the exterior. To sum up the inside, Onyx’s interior stylist, Julien Cueff stated, “I was inspired by an everday object, the egg box”. But rest assured, this is no egg box. 

There is no better word to describe this breathtaking concept car but the ‘future’.  So for all those with money to spare, speed and luxury on their minds, the Peugeot Onyx is a head turner, and for the rest of us, we best start saving up.

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Two-Tier Vehicle Tax System Considered

It has come to light that one of the Treasury’s think tanks has had the wonderful idea of introducing a two-tiered form of vehicle excise duty (VED) and the reform plans have sent many economists and the general public up in arms.

The plan is to charge a higher rate of road tax for those drivers wanting to use ‘high-traffic roads’ including the UK’s main motorways. Another standard tax rate would see the lower tier of drivers consigned to local and B-roads.

Currently the VED brings in £6 billion a year for the Treasury, but even with year-on-year increases as more people take to the roads it is still not enough to mitigate the budget cuts that have to be made. On top of this, while more people are heading onto the roads, larger families are buying cars that incur less road tax due to being hybrid or environmentally-friendly cars.

This is only a natural thing, in fact the policies that they benefit from were introduced to try and reduce the UK’s carbon footprint and getting more people using green vehicles. It has had an impact on the VED income though and the Treasury have been trying to figure out how to make back the shortfall.

This two-tier system was one of their plans, and would see a staggered road tax system for green cars, like before, but it will also have a higher-tax band for those wishing to use motorways. Some left-wing commentators have pointed out the issues of having the richer motorists commuting on faster routes, leaving those with lower salaries struggling to get to work as quickly because of using B-roads and increased congestion along those routes.

Thos travelling on motorways without the proper road tax could be caught out by traffic cameras and licence-plate readers and levied with considerable fines.

Another alternative from the Treasury is creating more toll roads, privatising large amounts of the UK’s motorways and road system. They feel that they could generate almost £150 billion from the sale of such roads and save money as private companies become responsible for the upkeep of high-traffic areas. It would also fall to local communities to take care and maintain their local roads (as is the case in Sweden).

Again, this idea has been met with fierce resistance as the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), who proposed these ideas,  is a free-market think tank that would expect these companies to remain unregulated and hindered by government intervention. We could see a huge expansion in our road systems, but as America has seen with its highway system, more lanes does not mean less congestion. In fact, it can cause quite the opposite.

Either way, times are worrying for prospective drivers who already have to face soaring petrol prices and insurance premiums (even with comparison sites being more popular than ever) and it seems there’s no easy way out of this.

If the two-tier VED does become implemented, we are sure to see a huge physical backlash and resistance of the ideas.

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