With summer 2013 declaring itself firmly over once and for all, this also signals the end of summer driving. Whilst it may be a relief to not worry about cars overheating any more, do ensure that you are well equipped against the pitfalls of autumnal and winter driving.

More hours of poor light due to later dawns and earlier dusks is a common contributor to motoring accidents at this time of year. Another hazard to watch out for is wetter roads, which is well-known for causing a variety of road incidents, as well as the abundance of falling leaves, which, coupled with wet roads, contribute to a highly dangerous driving situation.

Also keep an eye out for the first onset of frost – as much as you refuse to accept it, it is coming! Prepare an emergency kit and keep this safe in your car, just to protect yourself against the eventuality of breaking down far from home. Finally, be aware that weather in the UK is highly unpredictable, especially at this time of year, and that with the conditions liable to change at any moment, you need to be fully prepared to deal with whatever nature can throw at you.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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The number of elderly drivers caught drink-driving has risen by 20% in the past two years with elderly drivers now accounting for a fifth of over-the-limit offenders. More than 230 over-75s were caught driving over the legal limit last year, including a 93-year-old stopped in Devon.

It has been argued that drink-driving does not hold the same stigma with the over 75s as it does with younger drivers since the majority of elderly drivers will have first learnt to drive in the 1950s whilst the legal alcohol limit was introduced in the UK in 1967.

Though there has been a downward trend in the number of collisions caused by drink-driving, this increase in drink-driving amongst the elderly is concerning and needs to be tackled.

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A lorry driver has been caught on camera brushing his teeth whilst driving. The footage shows a male driver with a tooth brush in one hand and a bottle of water in the other on a motorway.

The offence was one of 227 detected in a five-day police operation across the motorways of Hampshire and the Thames Valley. All drivers were given a £100 fine and three points on their licence.

Another clip shows a woman applying make-up in the car whilst driving on the M27 and a man on his mobile phone whilst driving.

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Would you admit to bad driving? If you would, unfortunately you wouldn’t be alone.

One in five drivers questioned by law firm Slater & Gordon have admitted to consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

The poll was aimed to reveal bad habits of drivers… and it returned some shocking results.

One in five was also guilty of falling asleep at the wheel, with a quarter describing themselves as a poor driver.

Eating and drinking were common misdemeanour’s, topped only by speeding and poor steering… but a whopping THIRD of all those questioned had hit another car whilst attempting to park, and a fifth had actually driven off after said accident.

Claimant personal injury specialist Paul Kitson, whose firm commissioned the poll, said of the findings:

“We work with clients who experience the life changing effects of bad driving every day… It’s important to remember that driving can have terrible consequences if you don’t take it seriously.”

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A fifth of motorists have admitted to driving over the limit whilst a similar number have admitted to have fallen asleep. One in four also regard themselves as a bad driver with the most common faults being speeding and poor use of steering followed by eating and drinking whilst driving.

A third have hit another car whilst parking, a fifth have damaged a car and driven off whilst one in four admit to have knowingly driven the wrong way down a one-way street.

It was also revealed that nearly one in three driver have admitted to being distracted by their children whilst driving, jumping red lights and deliberately ignoring stop signs.

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