Monthly Archives: October 2014

October 2, 2014
Getting Stuck Behind Bin Lorries

If you’ve ever been stuck behind a bin lorry, either as a driver or a passenger, you know how annoying it can be. However, it has emerged that some drivers are too impatient, putting themselves and others in danger trying to get round them.

Island Waste Management, in The Isle Of Wight, created a montage of footage, taken between 2012 and 2013, which was then presented to Hampshire Police. Motorists were filmed mounting the pavement, swerving round lamp posts and careering into people’s gardens to get around the vehicle as rubbish collectors made their rounds. In one clip, a white van with a roof rack squeezes itself in between the lorry and a roadside shop, ploughing into its fabric canopy as it slowly pushes past. Dozens of other drivers mount the pavement on residential streets to get around the vehicle, forcing rubbish collectors to jump out of their path as they try to empty wheelie bins. One driver, somewhat unnecessarily, even careers into a front garden to scoot around the lorry.

Twenty of the drivers received a fixed penalty notice between £50-£100 and three points on their licence. Around six others were taken to court for dangerous driving placing serious or imminent risk to life. All pleaded guilty once shown the video evidence and were given six points and a fine of approximately £600.

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October 1, 2014
Goodbye Tax Disc!

The paper tax disc, first issued on January 1, 1921, has finally had its day after being in existence for 93 years. From today there will be no need for vehicle owners to display the tax disc on their windscreens but vehicle excise duty still needs to be paid. Motorists will now be offered the choice of applying for VED renewal online or by visiting a Post Office.

Critics said the physical paper disc in the windscreen was a timely reminder to drivers to pay their road tax. It also alerted house-holders to cars abandoned with expired tax discs in their street. Nearly three million used cars change hands each year, but a poll found fewer than half of drivers knew the change prevented car tax being passed to new owners.

Under the new system, drivers will be able to pay monthly by direct debit, although this will cost five per cent more than paying the full sum at once.

The DVLA has digital records of who has and has not paid vehicle tax and they will be spotted on automatic number plate recognition cameras or by police checking VED data information.

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