Professional Cyclist Lance Armstrong has been charged with crashing into two parked cars in the Colorado ski resort town of Aspen, with his girlfriend initially telling authorities she was driving.

He was cited leaving the scene of an accident and driving too fast for the snowy conditions.

Police said a resident of the area called 911 to report a hit and run after hearing the crash and seeing two vehicles rented by his relatives were damaged. He said that Armstrong’s girlfriend quickly ran up from around a corner and apologised for hitting the vehicles, said she would pay for the damages, and left her contact information with him.

When questioned by the police Armstrong’s girlfriend said she had been driving because ‘Lance had a lit bit to drink’ and that she lost control of the vehicle on the icy road. The officer was suspicious who then checked with the hotel who said Armstrong was behind the wheel when the couple left the parking lot.

Armstrong is due in court on 17 March according to court records.

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A man who drove the wrong way for nine miles down the M25 has been sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders’ institute.

20-year-old Michael Lock from Kenley, South London was caught on CCTV cameras speeding down the wrong way in his BMW between junctions four and two of the M25 through Kent and onto the A2 road. Highways Agency CCTV operatives spotted him driving down the hard shoulder anti-clockwise on the clockwise carriageway close to junction four at sevenoakes.

People were calling 999 to inform that drivers were having to move out of the way of the ongoing car.  His ten-minute-long rampage finally came to an end when he smashed into two cars lawfully driving down a sliproad as he tried to get onto the A2 at Bean.

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More and more people are resorting to installing dash cams in their vehicles, especially cyclists. Some claim that the rise of drivers and cyclists using dash cams is a response to police resource cuts whilst other believe it is a response to a growing number of bogus insurance claims.

It has also emerged that very few police forces collated information about highway patrol hours. It was also confirmed that police forces are now using publicly-supplied footage to secure convictions.

A cyclist in Harlow in Essex arms his bike with three separate cameras and says his footage have led to more than 70 convictions for a variety of driving offences.  He said in the course of recording he has been driven off the road, sworn at, subjected to dangerously close passes and physically assaulted.

In addition to the peace of mind these dash cams offer, they can also save money on car insurance with a number of providers offering a reduction in your premium for having one. For example, Swiftcover offers a discount from 10%-12.5% if you install its recommended model.

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With temperatures plummeting this week, be sure to follow Britannia’s safe tips for driving in icy weather:

– Only drive where essential. More driving puts you in more risk, so only drive when absolutely necessary.

– Drive gently. Harsh braking or excessive steering will cause you to lose control on the icy roads, so make your moves slower and gentler than you normally would.

– Remember black ice. Ice on the roads can’t always be seen, so keep an eye out for loose braking, as you could be driving over an icy patch.

Safe driving from Britannia!

The Nelson Health Centre situated opposite our Head Office in Wimbledon is set to open in Spring 2015. It is described as a modern NHS facility providing integrated care for the local community.

The Cannon Hill Lane Medical Practice and Church Lane Practice will relocate here with the intention of forming a new single organisation bringing the best from both practices to deliver excellent care to their patients.

A range of services will be available from X-ray and ultrasound to outpatient clinics to a range of community mental health services.

This modern, innovative healthcare centre is a remarkable addition to the Merton area and we have been very interested in watching the project develop.

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Over 700 motorists were caught using their mobile phones while driving in a week long police enforcement campaign.

Thames Valley Police finished the joint operation with Hampshire Constabulary, on Saturday night.

Fixed penalty points and fines were handed out to drivers including 117 in Berkshire and 136 in Bucks.

This campaign served to remind motorists of the penalties of using a mobile phone whilst driving. Motorists are four times more likely to crash if using a mobile phone while driving and it slows the reaction time to 50%.

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Greater Manchester Police have launched a new initiative to apprehend any drivers up to misdemeanour’s behind the wheel – by dispatching a “spy” lorry to catch the unsuspecting perpetrators out.

The unmarked HGV will be on UK motorways from March onwards in an attempt to curb those who drive whilst on the phone, texting, drinking or up to any other bad behaviour behind the wheel.

Once an offender is spotted, a Police officer in the cab will record the offence for proof later on, and radio in to a regular police car on the ground to pull the dangerous driver in.

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Police, lawyers and motoring organisations warned that drivers who take Night Nurse could fall foul of new ‘Drug Driving’ Law even if they had taken it the night before driving.

It has been warned that certain legally obtainable drugs on the list can impair drivers’ judgment and slow their reactions because they contain substances such as morphine, methadone and diazepam.

The new laws, which will be enforced with roadside drug-testing kits issued to police, are modeled on drink-driving legislation.  Motoring lawyers have highlighted that it is now possible to take Night Nurse to get you through the work day and the law be able to prosecute you for being unfit to drive.

The laws are designed to reduce the toll of fatal accidents blamed on drug-driving – currently around 200 a year. They come into force on 2 March and carry the same penalties as drink-driving: a minimum 12-month ban plus a possible fine or prison term.

The reason behind this is that prescription and over-the-counter the medications can make drivers very drowsy and severely affect their driving. Therefore, in respect of driving, such medication are as fatal as illegal drugs.

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