Author Archives: Kerry Smith

LOCK AND ROAD Drivers racing at THREE TIMES speed limit on empty coronavirus lockdown roads with one clocked at 134mph in 40mph zone

RECKLESS drivers have been speeding at over three times the limit on empty roads during the coronavirus lockdown.

Police chiefs have slammed the speed demons for using empty motorways as a “personal racetrack”, as one driver from London was recently clocked doing 134mph in a 40mph zone.

While data from the Department of Transport has shown a decrease in motor vehicle use of two thirds over the past month, senior officers say that speeding is up by nearly 50 per cent, the Daily Telegraph reported. Police have warned that incidents caused by speeding could take up “vital resources” in the NHS and the police that are already stretched by the coronavirus crisis.

Superintendent Julie Ellison, from the Greater Manchester Police, said the force had seen “a massive increase in speeding offences” since the beginning of the lockdown. She added that one driver in the city was recorded doing 115mph on a 40mph road, with another reaching speeds of 129mph on the M62.

It comes as the Metropolitan Police are even set to launch a special unit to crack down on speeders in the capital, which has seen seven people killed in road traffic accidents since the beginning of the lockdown. Superintendent Andy Cox, from the Met Police, will be heading the unit and vowed that police would come down hard on “unacceptable” speeding. He told the Telegraph: “In some roads where we have checks, the average speed has increased by more than 50 per cent and one 20mph road is averaging 40mph. “Such behaviour is totally unacceptable and increases the chances of a serious collision.

It comes after police arrested a biker who was caught doing 150mph on a motorway earlier this month. Police followed the bike off the M23 to Fulking, West Sussex, where the rider momentarily managed to slip out of sight. Chief Inspector Michael Hodder said the biker was “lucky to be alive” and urged drivers not to speed on empty roads.

It was revealed today drivers booked on speed awareness courses will be taken online as all class based courses are suspended until June.

PUMP WARS Petrol prices set to be slashed at historic levels due to coronavirus – with 10p discounted per litre

PETROL prices across the country are set to be cut at historic levels following the coronavirus outbreak, experts reveal. Forecourts around the country are under more pressure than any point in the past seven years to slash the cost of fuel.

The recent figures from the RAC reveal the price of oil has dropped more than $50 a barrel to just $30 in the past week. This results in the gap between what UK petrol stations are paying and what drivers are being charged is at the widest in recent history. In some cases, this difference is around 12p per litre for petrol and 9p per litre for diesel. Despite this difference, the RAC is expecting big price cuts to take effect from as early as next week.

If retailers reduce pump prices to reflect what they’ve been buying on the wholesale market, around 10p per litre should come off the price of fuel. This should mean average unleaded prices would drop to around 112p per litre and diesel to 115p per litre, prices which we last saw in late 2016.

Supermarket chains are expected to be the first to reduce their fuel prices during periods of declining wholesale prices. Normally, cuts of around 2p per litre are announced first, although last month Asda cut diesel prices by up to 4p in a single day. This is an indication that the major retailers are expected to cut further in one go than they have ever before.

It currently costs an average of £67 to fill a standard 55-litre car with unleaded petrol, and £68.50 with diesel. But if prices fall as they’re expected, this would save drivers around £5.40 per tank of petrol and £5.30 per tank of diesel.

Decreasing consumption of oil as a result of the coronavirus is considered to be the biggest reason for the cheaper fuel prices. Simon Williams, fuel spokesman for the RAC, said: “The oil price has fallen dramatically as a result of several major oil-producing countries ramping up supply at a time when demand is reducing due to the coronavirus outbreak.

This has led to wholesale petrol prices dropping to their lowest levels in four years and means there is now enormous pressure for pump prices in the UK to drop significantly, by around 10p a litre from where they are today. A drop of this size would see average petrol prices fall to 112p per litre, and diesel to 115p per litre, and we’d expect supermarkets to sell the fuels for as little as 108p and 111p respectively.

All eyes are now on the UK’s fuel retailers, large and small, to cut fuel prices considerably, and fast. It is vital that drivers are given a fair deal and retailers accurately reflect the lower wholesale prices at their forecourts.

Driverless vans that deliver medical supplies and food see demand surge during coronavirus outbreak

DRIVERLESS delivery vans that transport goods are being used to help restrict physical contact during the coronavirus outbreak. Chinese start-up Neolix has experienced a huge increase in sales since the virus shocked the country earlier this year. The four-wheeled robots are being used to transport medicine, food and other goods across city centres.

The tiny autonomous vehicles are capable of navigating any environment without a driver at the wheel. The Bejing-based company has taken orders for more than 200 vehicles in the past two months, according to its founder Yu Enyuan. Before the virus outbreak, it had only produced 125 units since manufacturing began last May 2019.

They are also being used to sterilise abandoned streets, after thousands of workers were forced to be quarantined. The use of driverless vehicles was previously limited in China, but these rules have been relaxed since the outbreak has made the streets virtually empty.

The Chinese Government is even offering to subsidise the cost of the driverless vans, with discounts of up to 60 per cent in some areas. Yu Enyuan, the founder of Neolix, told Bloomberg: “Demand has been surging since the virus outbreak and more importantly, people’s perception toward driverless delivery has had a complete 180-degree shift.

People realise that such vehicles can get things done when it is risky for a human being to do so.

The industry has entered into a fast expansion phase because of the virus. He expects the company’s production to increase to 1,000 units.

Learner driver given £800 fine for going for lesson with mum during lockdown

A teenager has been slapped with a $1,600 fine – about £800 – after going out for a driving lesson with her mum during the coronavirus lockdown. Hunter Reynolds and her mother Sharee were pulled over by a police officer in Victoria, Australia at the weekend

The 17-year-old student was given the on-the-spot fine for breaching the “stage-three coronavirus restrictions” in place across the country. Under the restrictions, people should only be out driving to buy food or other necessary goods, to attend work or education, for an emergency or to provide care.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton says driving lessons do not count as education under the Covid-19 restrictions set by Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. He said: “This isn’t driving around the corner, it was driving 40 minutes from Hampton down to the Peninsula Link.

“It’s quite possible it will be withdrawn because the public is now aware they can’t be doing that activity, unless of course it’s mixed in with driving to the shops where you are exempt to go and buy food.”

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville said people should not go looking for loopholes in the restrictions to avoid fines.

More than 100 fines were issued from nearly 1,000 spot checks in the 24 hours to 8am on Monday.

Hunter said she did not initially understand what they had done wrong as the learner plates were correctly displayed, she was observing the speed limit and they were not stopping anywhere.

“That’s not exempt and it’s not lawful to occur.

“Are we able to send a message to the public without having to fine in this circumstance? The fact it’s been raised has given actual clarity of the circumstance.

“(The police officer) said it was because of unnecessary travel,” Hunter told Seven news in Australia.

“I’ve been following all the Covid-19 guidelines – so I thought – I haven’t been seeing anyone or anything, so I was really surprised.”

Australia has more than 5,700 confirmed coronavirus cases, and its death toll rose to 40 on Monday after five additional deaths were recorded overnight.

Never Pay by Bank Transfer For Lessons, Find Out Why…

Kate Danby’s 19-year-old daughter Brook Mather learnt the hard way how ruthless the market can be. She booked a course of lessons with Drive Dynamics and was asked to pay by bank transfer.

The lessons never materialized and nor did a refund. Her bank couldn’t reclaim the money as it wasn’t a credit or debit card transaction.

“She was thrilled at the prospect of passing her driving test and in excitement, she didn’t research how long the company had been established,” says Kate. “She had saved hard for the money and was proud that she had organized her lessons and test herself, so the loss has left her devastated.”

Emily at Britannia Driving School Says: “be suspicious if you are asked to prepay for your lessons by bank transfer rather than a card, because if your lessons don’t materialize you will not be able to reclaim your money from the instructor’s bank. Also make sure when you get a quote for lessons that it’s for one hour lessons and not just 45 minutes.”

Coronavirus Car Cleaning Tips

Cleaning your car is a fast, simple, low cost job that might minimise the spread of coronavirus and keep loved ones safe. Handy if there are ‘essential’ trips that cannot be avoided. So, how might you clean your vehicle to minimise the spread of coronavirus?

Clean first (then disinfect). It is hard to find disinfectant in the shops, so preserve resources and remove any typical dirt with standard vehicle cleaning products (or soapy water).
Disinfect after cleaning. Isopropyl alcohol is among the disinfectants that might kill coronavirus in your car.
Test disinfectant. Whatever disinfectant you choose, test it on a small, hidden part of each type of material in the car before applying throughout. Why? Because some disinfectants can be problematic. Bleach can discolour plastic, for example.
Focus effort. Whereas it is preferable to clean the whole vehicle, focus primarily on the parts that get touched most frequently. These include the: steering wheel, gear stick, parking brake, door handles, seatbelts, heater controls, etc.
Feed the leather. Consider whether your cleaning product has removed moisture from leather upholstery. If so, feed the leather to keep it comfortable, flexible, and attractive.
Beware moisture. Minimise how much moisture gets close to electrical items such as your window switches, heater controls, and stereo. Damp electrical components tend to behave erratically. Also, moisture can stain fabric seats.
Protect yourself. Wear gloves while cleaning the vehicle and wash your hands afterwards (with soap for twenty seconds).

Note too that coronavirus is a new, unprecedented issue and our understanding of it is still evolving. This article does not therefore contain medical advice. The National Health Service is the best place for that. However, car cleaning might be a further tool to tackle this virus and minimise casualties. Happy scrubbing!

Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020

If your car,motorcycle or light van has an MOT due on or after 30th March 2020, Your car, motorcycle or light vans MOT expiry date will automatically extended by 6 months, You will have a valid MOT certificate for an extra 6 months.

You will not have to do anything for this extension of MOT but you must make your vehicle is safe to drive and roadworthy. It can be unsafe even if your MOT expiry date has been extended.

Check your vehicle is safe to drive

Checks you should carry out

Every time you drive you should check:

the windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean
all lights work
the brakes work

Your vehicle’s handbook will tell you how often to check the:

engine oil
water level in the radiator or expansion tank
brake fluid level
battery
windscreen and rear window washer bottles – top up with windscreen washer fluid if necessary
tyres – they must have the correct tread depth and be free of cuts and defects

The handbook will also tell you when your vehicle needs to be serviced.

Example Your vehicle’s MOT was due to expire on 3 April 2020. This will automatically be extended to 3 October 2020. You will need to get your MOT by this date. Your MOT expiry date will usually be updated on the day your MOT is due to expire. However, it might be done up to a few days before.You can check your MOT history to see when your MOT expiry date has been extended. Keep checking back if your new expiry date is not showing yet.

You can Tax your vehicle as soon as the expiry date on the MOT has been extended.

Can i drive my car during lockdown?

There are no rules that ban anyone from driving their car during the lockdown period, Boris Johnson announced a very specific number of reasons people should leave their homes on Monday 23rd March 2020.As long as people are only driving for one of these four reasons, they’re allowed to be on the roads.

Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible, one form of exercise a day including a run,walk or cycle, this can be alone or with other members of your family, any medical need, providing help or care for a vulnerable person, travelling to and from work but this should be only be where this cannot be done at home.

“You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can. If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

Is Boris Johnson closing roads and motorways?

There are no plans to close roads or motorways just yet. These new measures to keep people in their homes for at least 3 weeks will hopefully lad to a drop in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the UK, In three weeks time the prime minster will hope to ease some of the measures rather than adding further restrictions.

What about public transport?

Public transport remains open to help key workers such as doctors and nurses but parts of this could be closed as well, in London commuters are struggling with the underground service being reduce, thus meaning the remaining carriages are even busier.

Can I drive to perform exercise in other locations?

Many people, particularly in crowded cities, have been keen to drive elsewhere to perform their daily piece of exercise in more isolated locations. The government measures only state the reasons for which people are allowed to leave their homes and do not place any official restrictions on when and where people can perform exercise However, certain police forces have stated that you should not be driving to another location to perform exercise and North Yorkshire Police have been manning checkpoints and stopping vehicles to ask where drivers are going.

Derbyshire Police were heavily criticised after posting a video on Twitter with drone footage from the Peak District, in which they criticised a couple out walking their dog.

How long will this lockdown last?

Johnson announced that these measures are in place for three weeks and they will be reviewed afterwards. The length of the lockdown will depend on how the UK responds to the measures. if coronavirus cases and deaths drop, the lockdown measures could be lifted when next reviewed.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): driving tests and theory tests

Theory tests

Theory tests are suspended up to and including 20 April 2020.

You’ll get an email to tell you that your test has been cancelled.

You’ll automatically get a refund. You’ll get an email to confirm this has been done – this may take a few weeks to arrive.

You’ll then have to book a new theory test for a date and time after 20 April 2020 that suits you.

You can still book, change or cancel tests for 21 April 2020 onwards.

Driving tests

Driving tests are suspended for up to 3 months.

You’ll get an email to tell you that your test has been rebooked. It will tell you the new date and time of your test.

You will not get this email immediately – it should arrive around 2 weeks before your original test date.

In the meantime, do not call the DVSA customer service centre. They will not be able to help you.

It’s likely that your new test date will be around 3 months after your original date.

If you want to cancel your test

You can cancel your test if you want to get a full refund now. Email the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to request this.

You need to include your full name and 2 of the following pieces of information:

your driving licence number
your theory test pass certificate number
your driving test booking reference

DVSA customer services
customerservices@dvsa.gov.uk

You cannot book a future driving test date

If you have not booked a driving test, you’ll be unable to do so at the moment.

When driving tests start again, priority will be given to people who had their test cancelled. This means you will have to wait longer than usual.

Check back for the latest updates.

If your theory test certificate expires soon

Legally, your theory test certificate cannot be extended in any circumstances.

You’ll need to book and pay to take another theory test.

You need to pass this before you can book your driving test.

Book an emergency test if you’re a critical worker

You can still get an emergency test during the suspension period if your work is critical to the COVID-19 response, or you work in a critical sector. These include:

health and social care
education and childcare
key public services
local and national government
food and other necessary goods
public safety and national security
transport
utilities, communication and financial services

Book an emergency theory test

Email DVSA to ask for an emergency theory test.

You must send a photo or scanned image of valid ID such as your work ID badge.

If you do not have an ID badge you can send:

an email from a work email address
evidence from your employer, such as email or scanned document including company letterhead
a scan of your payslip

This is not an exhaustive list and evidence will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

You also need to tell us:

your telephone number and preferred contact time
which test centre you want to take your test at (currently only Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Ballymena)
the type of theory test you would like to take (car, car and trailer, motorcycle, lorry, bus or coach)
your driving licence number

If you meet the critical worker criteria, DVSA will contact you to explain what happens next.

Emergency theory tests
critical.worker.theory.test@dvsa.gov.uk

Book an emergency driving test

Email DVSA to ask for an emergency driving test.

You must send a photo or a scanned image of a valid ID such as your work ID badge.

If you do not have an ID badge you can send:

an email from a work email address
evidence from your employer, such as an email or scanned document including company letterhead
a scan of your payslip

This is not an exhaustive list and evidence will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

You also need to tell us:

your telephone number
your preferred test location
the type of driving test you would like to take (car, car and trailer, motorcycle, lorry, bus or coach)
your driving licence number
the driving test reference number (if you have one)
your theory test certificate number

If you meet the critical worker criteria, DVSA will contact you with a test date.

This may take a while, please do not send another request.

Drinking coffee or water while driving could see you hit with £5,000 fine and nine penalty points

MILLIONS of UK drivers sip on a coffee or bottle of water when behind the wheel. Brits risk being hit with hefty penalties if they take their eyes off the road to have a drink when driving.

While it’s not illegal to have a non-alcoholic beverage when driving, drivers can be hit with a careless driving charge if it causes them to be distracted.If you take your attention off the road to have a refreshment, police officers can deem you were “driving without due care and attention”

Motorists can also find themselves in trouble if they’re seen eating behind the wheel.Driving without due care and attention, or careless driving, carries a £100 on-the-spot fine and up to three penalty points on your licence.

But in more serious cases where someone has been injured, you could face an unlimited fine, up to nine penalty points and even a court-imposed driving ban – although for the majority of motorists, the fine won’t exceed £5,000.An Australian man was recently fined $173 (£94) for drinking water behind the wheel on a 39-degree day.Another Aussie was threatened with a $500 (£256) fine and three penalty points on her licence because she was drinking a coffee when driving.

While officers are more likely to give a warning than a fine, it is essential to keep your concentration on other road users.If you need a drink or something to eat, you should do it when you’ve completely stopped or pulled over.Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “Eating at the wheel is just another classic example of multi-tasking that can take your attention away from safe driving.

“Obvious cases such as juggling hot drinks or a sandwich can be easily spotted by traffic police who can issue an on the spot ticket for careless driving.”That quick snack could end up costing you £100 fine plus three points on your licence so it’s always worth taking a proper break.

“Even if you try to hide that swift chocolate bar you are eating if it leads to a loss of control crash and a more serious charge, then the courts may take the fact you were eating into account and increase your fine and ban.

“It is always worth remembering with careless driving it is the impact on your driving and how it is seen by the police to effect other road users that leads to the charge, so any form of eating could land you in trouble if you end up swerving or weaving across the road.”

Check your vehicle is safe to drive

Checks you should carry out

Is Boris Johnson closing roads and motorways?

What about public transport?

Can I drive to perform exercise in other locations?

How long will this lockdown last?

Theory tests

Driving tests

If you want to cancel your test

You cannot book a future driving test date

If your theory test certificate expires soon

Book an emergency test if you’re a critical worker

Book an emergency theory test

Book an emergency driving test

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