Bedford Driving Lessons » Survey http://alphadrive.org/blog Tue, 22 May 2012 07:47:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 More than half of cyclists jump the lights http://alphadrive.org/blog/more-than-half-of-cyclists-jump-the-lights http://alphadrive.org/blog/more-than-half-of-cyclists-jump-the-lights#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 06:46:14 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=8016 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> According to a recent survey by the IAM 57% of cyclists either regular or occasional jumpers of red traffic lights. The major reason given for jumping the lights is that it is seen to be  safer to get ahead of other traffic.

Some of our roads (and users!) are nowhere near friendly enough for the high number of cyclists there are. Many cyclists do take a massive risk jumping the lights, not just because of motorists travelling towards them, but the lack of vision cyclists may have a some sets of traffic lights. A growing problem that all drivers need to be aware of.

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/more-than-half-of-cyclists-jump-the-lights/feed 0 Over half of cyclists jump red lights….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/over-half-of-cyclists-jump-red-lights http://alphadrive.org/blog/over-half-of-cyclists-jump-red-lights#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 06:37:00 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=8007 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A recent online survey by the IAM, has shown that 57% of cyclists have jumped a red light, with 14% regularly doing so. The main reason for jumping the lights for 38% of people is because they think it is safer to get ahead of the traffic.

Certainly is a problem locally, and much more common in busier inner cities. Most roads are not as cycle friendly as needed, which forces cyclists on the path as well. But cyclists do put themselves at risk of being hit by going incorrectly through red lights, as they are not expected (or seen) by the other vehicles, possibly moving quickly.

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/over-half-of-cyclists-jump-red-lights/feed 0 Motorists not prepared for flat tyres….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-not-prepared-for-flat-tyres http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-not-prepared-for-flat-tyres#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 08:35:35 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7969 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A recent survey by Kwikfit has shown that a high number of drivers are not ready to deal with a flat tyre, with some not knowing if they have a spare tyre!

About a quarter of motorists get a flat every year, and the survey showed that only around a third would not know how to change the tyre, even if they had all the correct equipment.

Kwik Fit’s communications director, Roger Griggs, is concerned by the findings.  He said ”It’s worrying how many drivers don’t know what provision they have for a puncture, but it’s even more of a concern to see how many have absolutely nothing in their car to deal with a deflated tyre”

Always important to have the knowledge, the correct tyre and equipment to change a tyre if needed. When you are in the middle of nowhere, it may take a long time for help to arrive!

See also:

  1. Motorists more likely to get flat tyre in London!
  2. Motorists clean their cars most often than they check the spare tyre!
  3. Under inflated tyres hits motorists in the pocket!
  4. More drivers taking dangerous risks with part worn tyres!
  5. Police replace all four tyres following one puncture!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-not-prepared-for-flat-tyres/feed 0 Survey highlights parents fears over children’s driving….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-highlights-parents-fears-over-childrens-driving http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-highlights-parents-fears-over-childrens-driving#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:29:44 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7944 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A poll by Good Egg Safety has shown that 78% of parents are worried that their children will be involved in a car crash. Additionally 29% of parents thought think that children drive too fast.

Parents will always worry about children, especially with the dangers of cars. Therefore to best way to keep children safe, is for their driver education and knowledge to be accurate. So taking the correct amount of training before a driving test will allow secure skills, and taking post test training (with the Drive iQ PRO or Pass Plus course), will help to build confidence and extra awareness of potential dangers.

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-highlights-parents-fears-over-childrens-driving/feed 0 The problems of one hand steering whilst eating and drinking….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/the-problems-of-one-hand-steering-whilst-eating-and-drinking http://alphadrive.org/blog/the-problems-of-one-hand-steering-whilst-eating-and-drinking#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:54:42 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7917 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A recent study by esure car insurance by the University of Leeds, found that reaction times while eating while driving is increased by a massive 44%, and drinking whilst driving 22%. They found that the reason for the increase would be do to the extra vision required to eat or drink, lessening the road vision. It also  found that drivers were 18%  more likely to struggle to keep in lane,  whilst drinking behind the wheel. The study also showed that 17% of motorists think it is acceptable to drive with just one hand on the wheel with almost half  admitting they do this regularly.

We don’t need a survey to tell us when you are performing an secondary task when driving, that your road vision and handling would be decreased, but the figures for those who think it is ok to put themselves and others at risk is worryingly high. More education is needed to help make drivers more aware.

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/the-problems-of-one-hand-steering-whilst-eating-and-drinking/feed 0 At the end of 2011, 28.5 million car on UK roads….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/at-the-end-of-2011-28-5-million-car-on-uk-roads http://alphadrive.org/blog/at-the-end-of-2011-28-5-million-car-on-uk-roads#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:26:48 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7915 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> From the Department of Transport

Overview

This publication presents information on motor vehicles in Great Britain that were licensed on the 31 December 2011 (the end of quarter 4/end of the year), or were registered for the first time during 2011. The statistics are derived from data held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which administers vehicle registration and licensing records in Great Britain.

Key findings include:

  • At the end of 2011 there were 34.2 million vehicles licensed for use on the roads in Great Britain, of which 28.5 million were cars.
  • Between 2010 and 2011 the total vehicle stock number increased by 0.3 per cent. Since the recession of 2008-09 the annual growth in licensed vehicles has only averaged 0.4 per cent, lower than the 2.4 per cent averaged between 1996 and 2007.
  • Just over 2.38 million vehicles were registered for the first time in Great Britain in 2011. This represents a 36 thousand vehicle, or 1.5 per cent, decrease from the previous year. However, the 2010 first registration figures received a boost from the previous government’s Vehicle Scrappage Scheme.
  • The number of newly registered cars powered by diesel has continued to rise. For the first time the proportion of cars registered for the first time that run on diesel has tipped over the 50 per cent mark.
  • Average emissions from all the licensed cars first registered from 2001 onwards was down by 1.5 per cent from 2010 to an average of 163 g/km. The average CO2 emissions from cars newly registered in the year fell by over 4 per cent from 2010 to an average figure of 138 g/km. Since 2001 the average emissions of new cars has fallen by over 21 per cent.
  • At the end of 2011, the most common car in Great Britain was the Ford Focus (1.4 million) followed by the Ford Fiesta (1.3 million).

Download full release

See also:

  1. £109M in change left in vehicles!
  2. Average new car CO2 emissions fall under 150 g/km CO2!
  3. There are now fewer cars on UK roads!
  4. Diesel cars now more popular than petrol!
  5. Road casualties rise for first time in five years!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/at-the-end-of-2011-28-5-million-car-on-uk-roads/feed 0 Mum and Dad taxi rides worth £32Million a year….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/mum-and-dad-taxi-rides-worth-32million-a-year http://alphadrive.org/blog/mum-and-dad-taxi-rides-worth-32million-a-year#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:34:41 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7885 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Research from Sainsbury’s car insurance, has shown that the value of the taxi service provided by parents could be over £32million a year, for the 230 million miles per week that are covered. Amazingly 5% of parents spend over a hundred miles a week driving their children to social and sporting events.

For some it can amount to a high cost in time and motoring expenses as well. Just show what parents do for their children!

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/mum-and-dad-taxi-rides-worth-32million-a-year/feed 0 Motorists favour car cleaning over checking the breaks are working….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-favour-car-cleaning-over-checking-the-breaks-are-working http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-favour-car-cleaning-over-checking-the-breaks-are-working#comments Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:03:46 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7822 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A recent survey by Kwik Fit showed that 73% do not check the brakes on their vehicles for ware, but 65% would give the motor a clean at least once a month. Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “Along with its tyres, a car’s brakes are the most important system in keeping a car safe on the road. However, it seems that for many cars, the only time they will be checked is during the annual MOT and service. With so few motorists checking their brakes, it suggests that many are waiting until the more obvious signs of deterioration appear – such as squealing, grinding, sponginess or worse, failure. Unfortunately this could be an all too costly delay.”

This suggests that there are many millions of vehicles on our streets, that may have some kind of problem that needs attention. Obviously not everyone is trained in car mechanics, so it’s wise for all drivers to seek advice as soon as a loss of performance, or any strange noises are heard, rather that wait months till the next routine service.

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-favour-car-cleaning-over-checking-the-breaks-are-working/feed 0 Survey shows many young drivers not properly prepared for the road….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-many-young-drivers-not-properly-prepared-for-the-road http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-many-young-drivers-not-properly-prepared-for-the-road#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:45:59 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7783 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A recent report from ingenie has highlighted that 89% of the thousand motorists surveyed half of those admitted to feeling nervous, scared and overwhelmed when taking to the road for the first time. Others admitted that they change their driving styles, when accompanied by different passengers.

It’s worth remembering that a proportion of driving lesson time is actually spent learning how to reverse and park the car, which leaves less actual ‘driving time’, which even lessens the experience of interacting with other motorists.

Always very important for all new drivers to get the correct education and experience for taking to the roads, because for those who manage to ‘scrape a pass’ will not be better drivers after passing their test, they will just be allowed to drive on their own will low skills. 

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-many-young-drivers-not-properly-prepared-for-the-road/feed 0 UK motorists spend a year of their life in stationary traffic….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/uk-motorists-spend-a-year-of-their-life-in-stationary-traffic http://alphadrive.org/blog/uk-motorists-spend-a-year-of-their-life-in-stationary-traffic#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:34:57 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7706 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> According to a study by continental tyres, will spend 58 working weeks in stationary traffic commuting to work. The study of 2,000 motorists for Continental Tyres established the routine and habits of commuters as well as their preferences. Tim Bailey, head of safety at Continental Tyres said: “People are clearly concerned about congestion and rising fuel costs, but using the car remains the preferred option for most. With 63 per cent of workers using their car on at least four of five days in the working week, planners and government need to recognise that the morning and evening rush-hour is going to be a feature of life in Britain for some time to come. For individuals it means frustration but for the economy as a whole it means lost productivity and increased emissions, so it remains a key issue to tackle.”

A substantial amount of time to take out of anyone’s life, and a massive potential loss to earnings and businesses. Many hold-ups on the road could easily be cured, with improvements to busy roundabouts and road junctions, where motorists are left frustrated every day, due to just volume of traffic.

See also:

  1. Kids not impressed with parents driving!
  2. Utility firms could have to pay to have roads closed for repairs!
  3. British motorists spend more time driving than socailising!
  4. Motorists favour car cleaning over checking the breaks are working…..
  5. High costs forces motorists off the road…..
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/uk-motorists-spend-a-year-of-their-life-in-stationary-traffic/feed 0 High costs forces motorists off the road….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/high-costs-forces-motorists-off-the-road http://alphadrive.org/blog/high-costs-forces-motorists-off-the-road#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:27:37 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7668 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A survey from AXA insurance, has shown the 40% will use their car less in 2012, due to increased car costs. The forever rising costs of fuel and insurance, means that 1 in 13 are forced to give up driving, and many enjoy their driving much less because of its expense.  Some  motorists,  may find no financial benefit from car ownership, perhaps hiring cars or taking taxi’s for their infrequent journeys.

Maybe to late for some, but things need to change to help the motorists, who are always on the sharp end of increased costs. The government needs to review their stance on fuel taxations, and also look at the current way that insurance companies operate.

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/high-costs-forces-motorists-off-the-road/feed 0 Motorists worry over car crime….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-worry-over-car-crime http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-worry-over-car-crime#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:04:25 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7628 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A survey of 2500 drivers recently commissioned by Admiral Insurance, has shown that three quarters worry about their vehicles being stolen or broken into. This is surprising considering that car crime is at a lower level now than it was ten years ago. Perhaps this heightened anxiety is due in part to the state of the country and economy, and their uncertain futures going forward.

Motorists expand a great deal of money on buying and running cars, so not understandable concerns. We can all do simple things to lessen the risk of car crime. Seems straightforward, but many cars may be stolen, if not locked or if the keys are left in the ignition, so remember to securely close windows and lock the vehicles. If you don’t leave valuables in the car, they won’t get stolen, so take all your electrical equipment with you.

See also:

  1. Key to preventing car theft begins at home!
  2. Drivers risk car safety overnight!
  3. Cats targeted by thieves!
  4. Stolen car log books causes massive vehicle fraud!
  5. Drivers ‘complacent’ over car crime!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-worry-over-car-crime/feed 0 New survey reveals two thirds of drivers unsure of road signs….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/new-survey-reveals-two-thirds-of-drivers-unsure-of-road-signs http://alphadrive.org/blog/new-survey-reveals-two-thirds-of-drivers-unsure-of-road-signs#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:48:39 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7611 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> New findings by oil firm Castrol show that many British motorists are not as clued in on road signs as they should be. Half surveyed did not know what give way signs meant, and a third admitted to following the car in front as they were not sure of what needed to be done. Additionally over half of those surveyed, said that they had not looked at their highway code since passing their theory test.

Its very worrying to think that many are not sure of what to do on the roads, especially in rights of way issues. There must be high numbers of crashes that can be avoided, saving lives and money. Many do not learn the highway code and its rules thoroughly, when learning to drive, just ‘doing enough to scrape a pass’. This lack of knowledge leads to firstly driving test fails, and a potential lack of safe and secure driving for years to come.

See also:

  1. Survey shows many young drivers not properly prepared for the road…..
  2. BMW drivers are quick to get on the horn….
  3. Drivers show lack of road sign knowledge!
  4. Survey highlights parents fears over children’s driving…..
  5. Happy 80th birthday to the highway code!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/new-survey-reveals-two-thirds-of-drivers-unsure-of-road-signs/feed 0 BMW drivers are quick to get on the horn…. http://alphadrive.org/blog/bmw-drivers-top-survey-for-horn-useage http://alphadrive.org/blog/bmw-drivers-top-survey-for-horn-useage#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:46:07 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7608 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A recent study of 2000 motorists by webuyanycar.com shows that 53% of BMW drivers are using their horn at least once a journey. Alternatively only 5% of Nissan drivers were likely to blast their horn unnecessarily. The main reasons reported for sounding the horn were vehicles pulling out in front of drivers and vehicles stationary at green traffic lights.

Motorists will sound their horns for many reasons, but if unsure when to honk, our friend the highway code gives us this advice from rule 112:

Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You MUST NOT use your horn

  • while stationary on the road
  • when driving in a built-up area between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7.00 am

except when another road user poses a danger.

 

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/bmw-drivers-top-survey-for-horn-useage/feed 0 Survey shows most drivers not sure of legal drink drive limit….. http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-most-drivers-not-sure-of-legal-drink-drive-limit http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-most-drivers-not-sure-of-legal-drink-drive-limit#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:41:42 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7557 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> It has been reported by Confused.com that 51% of drivers are not aware of the legal alcohol limit when driving. Even with the legal levels when the Police take samples, the actual amount of alcohol consumed by each individual to safely drive varies a great deal due to sex, age, weight and recent food intakes. Worryingly 44% of people know someone who has been caught drink driving. When convicted of drink driving  insuring a vehicle in the future, they will see premiums much increased, for many years after. Department of transport statistics show that 250 people were killed and 1230 injured in 2010 by drivers of the drink driving limit.

In some countries there is a zero figure for alcohol levels when driving, maybe we will find that level arrive here in the future. If not we need to educate drivers more, on the risks of drinking and driving, so that deaths and injuries from alcohol related crashes are reduced to zero.

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-most-drivers-not-sure-of-legal-drink-drive-limit/feed 0 Unreliability is motorists biggest regret! http://alphadrive.org/blog/unreliability-is-motorists-biggest-regret http://alphadrive.org/blog/unreliability-is-motorists-biggest-regret#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:26:54 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7485 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Unreliability and breakdowns soon after purchase are the biggest regrets revealed by motorists in a recent survey by Manheim Auctions. Nearly a third of all respondents mentioned that their biggest regret was buying an unreliable car and 24% claimed their car broke down soon after they bought it. Nearly 15% of motorists regretted buying a car because they found it to be too expensive to run while 11% admitted that they paid too much for their car. Only 3% of motorists did not like the colour of the car they had bought, proving that colour choice is a key buying decision factor. Least worrying to motorists was the car’s ‘green’ credentials with just 2% concerned that it was not as environmentally friendly as they had thought at the time of purchase. More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/unreliability-is-motorists-biggest-regret/feed 0 Sat-navs falling out of favour with motorists! http://alphadrive.org/blog/sat-navs-falling-out-of-favour-with-motorists http://alphadrive.org/blog/sat-navs-falling-out-of-favour-with-motorists#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:30:55 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7498 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Growing numbers of motorists are abandoning satellite navigation systems and returning to traditional maps, a report said yesterday. Maps are favoured by 81 per cent of drivers, who believe they can find their way without the help of the dashboard gadgets. The report, for Kia Motors, found that 34 per cent of the 1,100 UK drivers surveyed admitted losing their way despite using a Satnav. Some drivers said they had abandoned the devices because they preferred to listen to music rather than Satnav instructions. Steve Kitson, of Kia Motors, said: ‘Only one-fifth of us claim to be confident enough to find our own way based on knowledge alone, and with three-quarters of Brits abandoning using navigation systems this festive season let’s hope an A-Z is on the Christmas list.’   More

See also:

  1. Villages to get protection from satnav mayhem!
  2. Sat-Navs effected by stronger radiation from the sun!
  3. ‘Free’ mobile phone sat-navs rack up huge roaming charges!
  4. Norman Baker calls Satnav Summit to help motorists find way…..
  5. Drivers show lack of road sign knowledge!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/sat-navs-falling-out-of-favour-with-motorists/feed 0 Fuel duty rises cause 1 in 5 to cut back on food! http://alphadrive.org/blog/fuel-duty-rises-cause-1-in-5-to-cut-back-on-food http://alphadrive.org/blog/fuel-duty-rises-cause-1-in-5-to-cut-back-on-food#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 23:12:39 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7418 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Two fuel duty rises next year, with VAT adding 8p to petrol and diesel pump prices, will force 18% of AA members to cut back on grocery shopping, AA research reveals. That rises to 23% among women. Retailers will be further hit by the 23% who will abandon or delay spending on household goods, home improvements and luxury items. That rises to more than a third among those aged 18 to 34 years, the group looking to set up home and start families. The hardest hit will be young drivers aged 18 to 24, with 28% cutting back on groceries and 36% who will ditch plans to buy furniture, home entertainment and other household goods in the near future. AA members in Wales look set to suffer most with 22% cutting back on groceries and 27% on household and luxury goods. They are followed closely by drivers in the East Midlands, respectively 21% and 25%. Overall, only 20% of AA members would be unaffected by the duty increases – 24% among top managers and professionals but falling to 15% among skilled and unskilled manual and service workers.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/fuel-duty-rises-cause-1-in-5-to-cut-back-on-food/feed 0 Half of women say partners affect their driving http://alphadrive.org/blog/half-of-women-say-partners-affect-their-driving http://alphadrive.org/blog/half-of-women-say-partners-affect-their-driving#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:17:41 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7407 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Over half (53%) of women admit that having their partner in the car adversely affects their driving, making them feel stressed and nervous, according to new research.* Men are less likely to be affected by having their partner in the car (41%), with one in 10 saying they drive more carefully when their partner is in the car with them, according to a survey carried out for the UK’s largest insurer Aviva. However, the research also shows a similar number of men (9%) refuse to let their partner drive their car. Of these: A fifth (20%) say this is because they do not rate their partner’s driving abilities as highly as their own 26% believe their car is too powerful for their partner to drive 16% feel their partner suffers from a lack of confidence when driving. Despite men’s confidence in their own driving abilities, women do have some criticisms – 13% think their partner is overconfident on the roads while 10% say their partner drives too fast or recklessly. By comparison, 17% of men say they are a better driver than their partner and a further 16% do not think their partner is competent at parking.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/half-of-women-say-partners-affect-their-driving/feed 0 Survey highlights family members poor driving! http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-highlights-family-members-poor-driving http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-highlights-family-members-poor-driving#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:14:32 +0000 admin http://alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7420 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> According to research by AA Driving School, half (51%) of drivers have a family member who drives too fast. A quarter (26%) said they have a colleague who does this. Over half (56%) said that they have a family member who is scared of driving on motorways, while a third (35%) said that they have a family member who drives whilst using a mobile phone, eating, shaving or doing make-up. Half of us think a family member drives too fast. A third of drivers say someone in their family drives whilst using a mobile phone, eating, shaving or doing make-up.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-highlights-family-members-poor-driving/feed 0 1 in 10 attack others in road rage incidents! http://alphadrive.org/blog/1-in-10-attack-others-in-road-rage-incidents http://alphadrive.org/blog/1-in-10-attack-others-in-road-rage-incidents#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:13:41 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=7356 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A new study into road rage has revealed Britain is a nation of irate motorists with nearly three quarters admitting they get angry with other motorists when they’re behind the wheel. Even more worrying, more than one in ten have followed another driver and a similar number have even attacked another driver as a result of road rage. The poll of 3,000 UK motorists by insurance specialist Admiral has revealed while 72% of drivers admit they feel road rage, more than three quarters (76%) act by shouting at other drivers and more than half (52%) make offensive gestures. It’s not just your stereotypical aggressive male drivers who see red behind the wheel. The results reveal road rage affects both genders but although women are more likely to feel angry when driving, it is men who are the most likely to shout or gesticulate at motorists who annoy them. More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/1-in-10-attack-others-in-road-rage-incidents/feed 0 Survey shows alarming increase in mobile distractions! http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-alarming-increase-in-mobile-distractions http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-alarming-increase-in-mobile-distractions#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:51:50 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=6152 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Research released today by Confused.com reveals that UK drivers prioritise their social lives before saving lives on the road. Almost half 40% (38.95%) of motorists check their phones whilst driving, with 27% admitting to logging onto Facebook behind the wheel. The car insurance expert also found that nearly half (45%) will not start their journey unless they can see their phone. A lethal combination considering that drivers are four times more likely to crash when using a mobile phone. The increasing popularity of Facebook and Twitter means that the ‘Twitch Factor’ is on the rise, with one fifth of motorists not being able to last more than 15 minutes without checking their phones. 15% of workaholic motorists take advantage of time stuck in traffic to catch up on their work calls or emails, and over one fifth (21%) update their status whilst caught behind a red light.  More

See also:

  1. Countdowns for pedestrians trialled at London crossings!
  2. Beware of the amber gamblers!
  3. 1 in 10 admit to drug driving impairments!
  4. 300,000 get others to take their penalty points!
  5. Back seat drivers can cause major problems for drivers!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-alarming-increase-in-mobile-distractions/feed 0 300,000 get others to take their penalty points! http://alphadrive.org/blog/300000-get-others-to-take-their-penalty-points http://alphadrive.org/blog/300000-get-others-to-take-their-penalty-points#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:24:03 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=6127 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A new AA survey shows that up to 300,000 drivers (mainly males) may have persuaded others to take their penalty points for speeding. But drivers who look for someone else to take the blame and the penalty points for a speeding offence face a one in eight chance that they will be reported to the police – 12% of AA members said that if asked, they would not only refuse to say they were driving at the time of the offence but would also report the point-swapping attempt to the police.  More

See also:

  1. A fifth neglect basic car maintenance…..
  2. Segways banned from footpaths as first in UK rider is fined!
  3. North Wales Police Chief Constable to end ‘Traffic Taliban’!
  4. Beware of the amber gamblers!
  5. 1 in 10 admit to drug driving impairments!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/300000-get-others-to-take-their-penalty-points/feed 0 Daydreaming motorists give road safety concerns! http://alphadrive.org/blog/daydreaming-motorists-give-road-safety-concerns http://alphadrive.org/blog/daydreaming-motorists-give-road-safety-concerns#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:20:38 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=6125 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> As many as five million motorists suffer from “highway hypnosis” every day and can reach their destinations with no recollection of the journey they have taken. New research* from Halfords reveals more than a fifth of drivers (21%) switch to autopilot when on familiar routes, putting themselves and other road users at risk. Scientists say the problem, which is also known as “white line syndrome”, arises when those behind the wheel start day dreaming and are distracted by passengers, or start thinking about work and family problems or become engrossed in the radio. Dr Costas Karageorghis, Reader in Sport Psychology at Brunel University said: “It occurs when we become familiar with a route and there’s a lack of active processing, so the mind begins to drift, similar to the way in which we fall asleep.” One in 20 motorists (5%) involved in an accident have blamed it on a “loss of concentration”, according to the research. While there are no figures for the number of accidents caused by day dreaming, road safety experts consider driver fatigue a major factor in the 45,000 deaths and serious injuries to road users a year.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/daydreaming-motorists-give-road-safety-concerns/feed 0 Children are major source of road rage! http://alphadrive.org/blog/children-are-major-source-of-road-rage http://alphadrive.org/blog/children-are-major-source-of-road-rage#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:45:59 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=6103 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Back-seat squabbling, spilled drinks and “are we there yet?” can make driving with children particularly stressful for parents. Now a new survey has shown that little ones are the main cause of road rage. A third of men say they only get angry behind the wheel when their children are in the car, while one in four women admit to losing their cool on the school run. The online survey of 1,000 British drivers was conducted by used-car supermarket Carcraft. Comprehensive car insurance is especially important, as drivers need to protect themselves from the wrath of risky road rage drivers. Julia Dallimore, head of marketing at Carcraft, said: “The results of the survey weren’t entirely surprising as most parents will know that driving the kids can really drive mums and dads round the bend!” Psychologist Mike Guttridge said: “Having the kids in the car is distracting and, like being on the phone, may affect reaction times to stimulus on the roads.  More

See also:

  1. Kids not impressed with parents driving!
  2. 1 in 10 attack others in road rage incidents!
  3. Survey shows kids prefer mums driving to dads!
  4. Back seat drivers can cause major problems for drivers!
  5. Non prescription sun glasses could cause drivers problems!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/children-are-major-source-of-road-rage/feed 0 One in seven Britons eat while driving! http://alphadrive.org/blog/one-in-seven-britons-eat-while-driving http://alphadrive.org/blog/one-in-seven-britons-eat-while-driving#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:52:45 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=6107 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> As many as 28% now grab food while travelling at least once a week, with almost half of 18-24-year-olds eating in their vehicles weekly, the poll by the Calor Gas company found. The practice is rarer for those over 55, with only 21% of this age group being dashboard diners. Those under 24 have the messiest cars, with around a third admitting to having food packaging and empty bottles littering the bottoms of their cars.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/one-in-seven-britons-eat-while-driving/feed 0 Mobile phone texters threaten road safety! http://alphadrive.org/blog/mobile-phone-texters-threaten-road-safety http://alphadrive.org/blog/mobile-phone-texters-threaten-road-safety#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:36:52 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=6078 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Road safety charity Brake and Direct Line are warning of the danger of mobile phone addiction, as research out today reveals the shocking extent of driver distraction from texting, emailing and social networking. The survey revealed that nearly three in 10 drivers (28%) texts at the wheel and one in 13 (8%) do this at least once a week. One in 11 drivers (9%) surfs the web, emails, uses apps or social networking sites when driving. Texting has been found to make drivers 23 times more likely to cause a crash, potentially killing or maiming innocent road users. Using a phone to email or surf the web also causes serious distractions. In the United States, death from distracted driving has been increasing and researchers put this down to increases in drivers using smartphone technology. A recent Ofcom report warned of increasing levels of smartphone addiction in the UK by users who are unable to go without checking their phone even for short periods or through the night. Over a quarter of adults and nearly half of teenagers now own a smartphone and the volume of mobile data transferred over the UK’s mobile networks has increased forty-fold between 2007 and 2010.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/mobile-phone-texters-threaten-road-safety/feed 0 Regular servicing boost car values! http://alphadrive.org/blog/regular-servicing-boost-car-values http://alphadrive.org/blog/regular-servicing-boost-car-values#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:42:46 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=6086 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Having your car regularly serviced can add as much as 26 per cent to its sell-on value, according to research. With an average used car selling for £5,500, having a fully-stamped service book could be worth up to £1,500, said car parts company Kwik Fit. The company’s research found that 34 per cent would not buy a car unless it had a full service history, with those over-65 most keen to insist on this. Londoners were prepared to pay the most for a fully-serviced car, followed by Scottish drivers. Those in North East, the West Midlands and Wales were the most relaxed about a vehicle’s service history.  More

See also:

  1. Vauxhall announces lifetime new car warranty!
  2. Motorists more likely to get flat tyre in London!
  3. Fuel duty rises cause 1 in 5 to cut back on food!
  4. Expensive motorway services being avoided by motorists!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/regular-servicing-boost-car-values/feed 0 Big rise in blind spot crashes! http://alphadrive.org/blog/big-rise-in-blind-spot-crashes http://alphadrive.org/blog/big-rise-in-blind-spot-crashes#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:51:34 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=6049 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> An analysis of 50,000 crashes by Accident Exchange, a crash management company, has uncovered a 48 per cent rise between 2009 and 2011. In the majority of cases the collisions occur when drivers pull out unaware that that there is a car in their blind spot. Part of the problem has been caused by more stringent safety requirements imposed by the European Union. With cars now being built of lighter materials, they need to be reinforced to provide protection in the event of a crash.This has led to a thickening of the pillars, the metal structures between the front and back windows.. In 2005 the Driving Standards Agency banned the mini convertible from being used in tests after examiners complained about poor rear visibility. Related Articles Keeping track: Audi’s design blind spot 22 Dec 2001 Lorries to lose their blind spot 19 May 2007 A number of manufacturers are now devising new safety measures to minimise the problem. Volvo and Mercedes have blind spot cameras that flash a warning onto the car mirror if they detect another vehicle. Mercedes and Citroen have lane departure warning systems that shake the steering wheel if the car is drifting. “Visibility and awareness are key contributors to maintaining safety,” said Robert Gifford, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety “All drivers need to be aware that every vehicle has its blind spots and that these will always be different.  More

See also:

  1. New technology will eliminate driver blind spot!
  2. Poorer all-round car visibility leads to safety concerns!
  3. Blind driver aims for 200mph!
  4. Car clutter in windscreens compromises road safety!
  5. Half of motorists don’t know when a red light is on the way!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/big-rise-in-blind-spot-crashes/feed 0 Second hand car seats gives safety issues for children! http://alphadrive.org/blog/second-hand-car-seats-gives-safety-issues-for-children http://alphadrive.org/blog/second-hand-car-seats-gives-safety-issues-for-children#comments Sun, 28 Aug 2011 19:02:28 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5985 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Cash strapped parents could be putting their children’s safety at risk by buying second hand infant car seats, industry experts have warned. New figures show that purchases of pre-owned child travel seats are rising, as families struggle to cope with today’s difficult economic conditions. Car accessories retailer Halfords reports that 7% of its customers admit they have recently bought second hand car seats for their children, a rise of 2% compared to figures from its 2009 customer survey. This is despite the fact that it can be virtually impossible to tell how old a second hand child car seat is, if it has been involved in an accident, or even how to fit it, as most are rarely sold with the original fitting instructions or safety manuals. “A lot of wear-and-tear on a pre-owned child car seat may not be visible to the untrained eye and buckles and straps that look fine at first glance may actually be so damaged that they could fail during an accident,” warned Halfords Child Travel Expert Samantha Preece.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/second-hand-car-seats-gives-safety-issues-for-children/feed 0 Cameras’s cause more accidents than they stop! http://alphadrive.org/blog/camerass-cause-more-accidents-than-they-stop http://alphadrive.org/blog/camerass-cause-more-accidents-than-they-stop#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:35:51 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5998 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Many speed cameras have not cut accident rates and may even have increased them, figures reveal for the first time today. Statistics published by the Department for Transport show many cameras have done little or nothing to improve accident rates, but have proved highly effective in clocking up speeding fines. Only a small number of councils have agreed to publish the full data on each speed camera in their area. But ministers will today urge all councils to follow suit – saying motorists have a right to know whether local speed cameras are justified. Road safety minister Mike Penning said: ‘We are shining the light of transparency on the performance of speed cameras. ‘People want to know that if their tax money is being spent on speed cameras that they are actually making their roads safer, not just raising money.  More

See also:

  1. Ministers to end funding for cash-cow speed cameras!
  2. New transparency rules for speed cameras!
  3. Speed cameras face the axe in government funding cuts!
  4. Less motorists now being caught by speed cameras!
  5. 800 could be killed if all UK speed camera’s turned off!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/camerass-cause-more-accidents-than-they-stop/feed 0 Motorists drive through 278 red traffic lights a minute! http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-drive-through-278-red-traffic-lights-a-minute http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-drive-through-278-red-traffic-lights-a-minute#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:58:24 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5951 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Motorists are driving through 12 million red lights each month on British roads – the equivalent of running 278 red lights every minute, according to research from Direct Line Car Insurance. Over 5.2 million (14 per cent) motorists admit that they drive through an average of two red traffic lights each month. Over 760,000 (two per cent) motorists habitually drive through red lights if they feel the road is clear and there is no traffic. As a result of their reckless behaviour at red lights, drivers risk clocking up over 36 million penalty points (three for each offence) and fines from fixed penalty notices totalling £721 million every month. A worryingly high number of motorists, dubbed ‘amber gamblers’, are putting their lives and other road-users at risk by failing to slow down for traffic lights about to turn red. Almost one in ten (nine per cent) motorists don’t reduce their speed when approaching amber lights, with four per cent admitting to putting the accelerator to the floor to race through the lights. Over 1.5 million (four per cent) motorists admit to getting ‘a thrill’ when driving through amber traffic lights that they know will have turned red before they have passed through the crossing or junction. Over 500,000 drivers risk being ‘rear ended’ as they stamp on their brakes as an automatic response whenever they see amber traffic lights.  More

See also:

  1. Beware of the amber gamblers!
  2. Half of motorists don’t know when a red light is on the way!
  3. More than half of cyclists jump the lights
  4. Traffic lights to flash amber at night in new trial!
  5. Report shows the rise and rise of the traffic light!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/motorists-drive-through-278-red-traffic-lights-a-minute/feed 0 Beware of the amber gamblers! http://alphadrive.org/blog/beware-of-the-amber-gamblers http://alphadrive.org/blog/beware-of-the-amber-gamblers#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:29:00 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5947 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> 85% of drivers gamble amber lights

35% didn’t know it was an offence

88% 17 year olds have had an accident or near miss when ignoring the lights

A craze of risky amber gamblers is sweeping the nation as hasty drivers admit to breaking the law and steaming through traffic light signals because they haven‟t got time to stop, new research reveals. A poll of 3,000 motorists by Thrifty Car & Van Rental reveals a staggering eight out of ten (85%) drivers admit to gambling amber lights in an attempt to race through 2 the traffic, with nearly four out of ten (38%) saying they rarely stop if the lights are on amber. Sixteen per cent (16%) even confess that amber is like a green light to them. Worryingly more than one in ten (13%) motorists has had an accident or near miss as a result of belting through an amber signal. Half (50%) have been shouted at by their passenger and more than a quarter (26%) have been sworn or beeped at by other drivers. If a driver crosses a light on amber, it is an offence, unless they can show that it was unsafe to stop. For some time The Department for Transport has been researching the use of continuous flashing amber signals on traffic lights at quiet times, in a bid to ease traffic flow.   More

See also:

  1. 1 in 10 admit to drug driving impairments!
  2. A fifth neglect basic car maintenance…..
  3. Back seat drivers can cause major problems for drivers!
  4. Non prescription sun glasses could cause drivers problems!
  5. Rail operator wants new driver testing on level crossings!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/beware-of-the-amber-gamblers/feed 0 Cluttered dashboards cause vans and truckers to have near misses! http://alphadrive.org/blog/cluttered-dashboards-cause-vans-and-truckers-to-have-near-misses http://alphadrive.org/blog/cluttered-dashboards-cause-vans-and-truckers-to-have-near-misses#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:42:15 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5936 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A third of white van men and lorry drivers have admitted almost crashing upto 30 times in the past year because of dashboard clutter in their vehicles, according to a new survey issued by Autoglass® today. They have confessed to only narrowly avoiding accidents after having had their visibility impaired so much by the rubbish piling up in front of them. The poll found 33% of white van men and 34% of truck drivers had had between 11-30 near misses because their view had been obstructed – with 27% of WVM and 26% of truckers saying they had nearly crashed between 6-10 times. The survey of 2,000 drivers, carried out by the UK’s leading vehicle glass repair and replacement specialist, also revealed that more than a third of white van men (34%) have fast food packaging on their dashboards, nearly a quarter (24%) had cuddly toys or tacky accessories, 21% newspapers and 19% coffee cups.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/cluttered-dashboards-cause-vans-and-truckers-to-have-near-misses/feed 0 Non prescription sun glasses could cause drivers problems! http://alphadrive.org/blog/non-prescription-sun-glasses-could-cause-drivers-problems http://alphadrive.org/blog/non-prescription-sun-glasses-could-cause-drivers-problems#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:53:15 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5990 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> According to a new survey, only 27 per cent of Britons own prescription sunglasses and opt for style over safety when they get behind the wheel in the sunshine, while 53 per cent of the 1,000 people interviewed admitted to not owning prescription sunglasses and wearing normal sunglasses to drive in. If drivers wear glasses or corrective lenses, the law requires that they wear them whenever they are driving. The DVLA requires motorists to be able to see from a distance of 20 metres, hence many motorists wear glasses for driving. However, fashionable sunglasses without prescription lenses can seriously affect vision, meaning increased risk. Further danger comes from the potential damage poor quality sunglasses can do to eyes. In the survey, 36 per cent of survey respondents don’t know if their sunglasses have UV filters. Without UV filters, the sun can potentially damage eyes and further risk is posed on the roads when bright sunshine obstructs vision.  More

See also:

  1. 1 in 10 admit to drug driving impairments!
  2. Back seat drivers can cause major problems for drivers!
  3. Nearly a fifth of drivers don’t belt up all the time!
  4. The problems of one hand steering whilst eating and drinking…..
  5. A fifth neglect basic car maintenance…..
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/non-prescription-sun-glasses-could-cause-drivers-problems/feed 0 Charlie and Ruby revealed as the UK’s most popular car names! http://alphadrive.org/blog/charlie-and-ruby-revealed-as-the-uk-most-popular-car-names http://alphadrive.org/blog/charlie-and-ruby-revealed-as-the-uk-most-popular-car-names#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:18:58 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5924 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Research released today reveals over a quarter of UK motorists have a pet name for their beloved cars. The survey by car insurance experts Confused.com has identified the most popular car names as Charlie and Ruby. With nearly half of drivers describing their cars as ‘part of the family’, the Confused.com research reveals that 33% of car owners initiate a daily car-versation with their motors, talking to them not only about day-to-day matters and their frustrations on the road, but also about relationships and personal problems. The average UK motorist considers their car to be female, with a personality that is sensible (25%), cute (8%) or playful (7%). Findings also confirm that 16% of men see their cars as women, choosing words such as sexy (6%) and mischievous (5%) to describe the personality of their vehicles.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/charlie-and-ruby-revealed-as-the-uk-most-popular-car-names/feed 0 Survey shows what the average motorist does in a lifetime! http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-what-the-average-motorist-does-in-a-lifetime http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-what-the-average-motorist-does-in-a-lifetime#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:16:55 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5889 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> The average motorist breaks the speed limit an astonishing 18,000 times during his or her lifetime, a report claims. The figure is released as the road safety charity Brake calls on drivers to slow down for children during the summer holidays. It wants motorists to drive at 20mph or below in built-up areas to help reduce road deaths. The report makes shocking reading for parents – four out of five of whom are already worried about letting their children play outside due to the threat of speeding traffic. It shows the average motorist will have 81 near misses and will be involved in up to 35 minor accidents such as bumps and scrapes. It also reveals the activities, apart from driving, which are carried out at the wheel.  More

See also:

  1. Drivers support lower speed limits despite speeding themselves!
  2. Survey highlights parents fears over children’s driving…..
  3. Kids not impressed with parents driving!
  4. 20mph zones not enforceable says Police!
  5. Drivers ‘must not be complacent about speeding’!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-what-the-average-motorist-does-in-a-lifetime/feed 0 Driving too fast causes most ‘carguments’! http://alphadrive.org/blog/driving-too-fast-causes-most-carguments http://alphadrive.org/blog/driving-too-fast-causes-most-carguments#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:45:24 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5865 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Driving too fast is the biggest cause of arguments between partners on car journeys, according to research by the online used car channel, Tesco Cars. In a survey conducted by the website, speeding (22%) was a bigger source of in-car spats than getting directions wrong (18%), tailgating (13%) and parking prowess (5%). Men and women alike admitted kicking up a fuss about their partners breaking the speed limit. Twenty one percent of female drivers cited it as the most likely thing to trigger a fight, compared with one in four men.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/driving-too-fast-causes-most-carguments/feed 0 Kids not impressed with parents driving! http://alphadrive.org/blog/kids-not-impressed-with-parents-driving http://alphadrive.org/blog/kids-not-impressed-with-parents-driving#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:03:02 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5828 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Nearly two-thirds of children admit their mums and dads are aggressive drivers, according to a poll by a leading tyres manufacturer. And the survey carried out for Continental tyres also revealed that 13 per cent are scared or embarrassed by their parents performance behind the wheel of a car, while 23 per cent of the children said that they had been in an accident with either mum or dad driving. Continental tyres surveyed 1,000 children between the ages of four and 16 and asked them to report what they had witnessed and to say how they felt about their parents driving – and the results might make mum and dad think twice about their behaviour. When 1,000 children between the ages of four and 16 were polled with 63 per cent revealling their parents shout at other road users and one in five reported that their ‘responsible adult’ used a mobile phone while driving despite this being banned in December 2003. More

See also:

  1. Children are major source of road rage!
  2. Survey shows kids prefer mums driving to dads!
  3. Survey highlights parents fears over children’s driving…..
  4. British pedestrians have forgotten how to cross the road safely!
  5. Mum and Dad taxi rides worth £32Million a year…..
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/kids-not-impressed-with-parents-driving/feed 0 Buying a new car more important than finding a house! http://alphadrive.org/blog/buying-a-new-car-more-important-than-finding-a-house http://alphadrive.org/blog/buying-a-new-car-more-important-than-finding-a-house#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:33:22 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5815 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Buying a new car is one of the most significant purchases anyone can make but some motorists in NORTH WEST considered it more important than choosing a new house, picking their own children’s names and even deciding who to marry, according to a new study. On average local drivers take just under three months (2.74) to decide what new motor to buy, while almost a quarter (23.77%) need up to six months to choose before they commit to one. The national average is 2.94 months. One in nine NORTH WEST car owners confessed that they spent longer deciding their next choice of car, than they did choosing a new house. And more than one in ten (10.59%) said they spent more time picking a motor than they did deciding what names to call their own children. Meanwhile seven per cent of women from the NORTH WEST said they spent longer choosing a car than they did picking their wedding dress. More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/buying-a-new-car-more-important-than-finding-a-house/feed 0 Back seat drivers can cause major problems for drivers! http://alphadrive.org/blog/back-seat-drivers-can-cause-major-problems-for-drivers http://alphadrive.org/blog/back-seat-drivers-can-cause-major-problems-for-drivers#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:21:31 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5792 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Britain is turning into a nation of ‘Hyacinth Bouquet’ backseat drivers with one in seven motorists having a road accident or near miss caused by a distraction from a rear passenger, a new study reveals today. Partners are cited as the worst culprits for back seat comments, but women are revealed as being most likely to get angry at criticism of their driving. Many drivers – of both sexes – admit they are even reduced to tears by the comments from the back seat. But the study reveals that it is men who are most likely to take their eyes off the road to chat to passengers. The survey of more than 1,000 motorists found they are 60 per cent more likely to have a serious crash if driving with passengers. And young motorists are the most distracted with more than half taking their eyes off the road whilst driving to chat to passengers – the highest of any age group on the road. The ‘Driver Distraction’ study, commissioned by esure car insurance revealed that 14 per cent of motorists have had an accident or near miss due to being distracted by a back-seat driver. More

See also:

  1. Beware of the amber gamblers!
  2. Non prescription sun glasses could cause drivers problems!
  3. Drivers are getting too easily distracted survey shows!
  4. 1 in 3 not happy with partners driving!
  5. One in 12 motorists admits crashing after rowing with a loved one!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/back-seat-drivers-can-cause-major-problems-for-drivers/feed 0 Survey shows women drivers take more risks! http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-women-drivers-take-more-risks http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-women-drivers-take-more-risks#comments Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:04:58 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5748 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Middle aged women are more likely to try to risk driving illegally through a level crossing than any other motorists, a study has found. They are more than twice as likely as young “boy racers” to jump the red lights or try to skip through the barriers as they come down. The trend was discovered by British Transport Police after the force sent out a marked van to monitor 43 crossings across south east England. Since January it has caught and prosecuted 1,131 motorists from offences including jumping the lights, driving through crossings as barriers come down and striking barriers. Women aged 50 to 65 accounted for 27 per cent of offences and men of the same age 19 per cent, meaning that middle aged motorists were responsible for nearly half the cases caught by the police van. Young male drivers aged 17-25, who normally are considered the most reckless behind the wheel, accounted for only eight per cent of those caught by the BTP van. More

See also:

  1. Half of motorists don’t know when a red light is on the way!
  2. Young drivers cause more than a third of pedestrian casualties!
  3. Survey shows young drivers think speeding is ok!
  4. Guys get stressed more in traffic jams!
  5. Rail operator wants new driver testing on level crossings!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-women-drivers-take-more-risks/feed 0 Not having correct change for parking costs each motorist £80 a year! http://alphadrive.org/blog/not-having-correct-change-for-parking-costs-each-motorist-80-a-year http://alphadrive.org/blog/not-having-correct-change-for-parking-costs-each-motorist-80-a-year#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:37:12 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5671 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> You only want to park for a short period but you don’t have the right change for the pay and display machine – and so you pay more than necessary. Congratulations – you have just contributed to an astonishing £2.4billion a year overspend by the nation’s motorists, a survey has revealed. This equates to an average overpayment of £1.51 per driver per week – or nearly £80 a year – said the study by Direct Line. Typically, a motorist might only want a one-hour ticket for 60p, but ends up paying £1 for two hours instead because the only change to hand is a pound coin. More than half of drivers (56 per cent) regularly pay for more parking time than they need, said the insurer which questioned more than 1,300 motorists.” More

See also:

  1. Drivers could get back £60m through unfair parking ticket appeals!
  2. British motorists spend more time driving than socailising!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/not-having-correct-change-for-parking-costs-each-motorist-80-a-year/feed 0 Guys get stressed more in traffic jams! http://alphadrive.org/blog/guys-get-stressed-more-in-traffic-jams http://alphadrive.org/blog/guys-get-stressed-more-in-traffic-jams#comments Thu, 26 May 2011 18:13:17 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5664 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Female motorists are much better at coping with the stress of being caught up in a traffic jam than their male counterparts, according to a study by satnav firm TomTom. The study, which involved analysing the increase in stress chemicals in the saliva of motorists when stuck in heavy traffic, showed that the rise in men’s stress levels was seven times higher than a woman’s. Researchers found that stress levels rose 8.7% in women when caught up in a traffic jam, while they were up 60% in men. Two thirds of the women and half of the men who took part in the study reported not feeling stressed out at all after spending 20 minutes in heavy traffic, despite their chemical indicators shooting up. Nearly 50% of all adults commute to work by car on a daily basis and those who are constantly stuck behind the wheel are at a higher risk of developing stress-related health problems. More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/guys-get-stressed-more-in-traffic-jams/feed 0 Survey shows young drivers think speeding is ok! http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-young-drivers-think-speeding-is-ok http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-young-drivers-think-speeding-is-ok#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 22:58:55 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5766 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Two out of five young drivers think it is all right to break the 30mph limit by 10mph or more, according to a survey. And 24% of these drivers, aged 16 to 21, see nothing wrong in drinking up to one and a half pints of beer, or equivalent alcohol, before taking to the wheel. The survey results were issued as a campaign to overhaul the learning-to-drive system was launched by road safety charity Brake, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Co-operative Insurance Company. The launch of the campaign marked the start of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. The poll of 500 people aged 16 to 21 showed that 9% of males in this age range thought it was all right to drink more than the equivalent of one and a half pints of beer before driving. Also, 58% of the young people polled reckoned young drivers behaved more dangerously while carrying young passengers’ More

See also:

  1. Could ‘graduated driver licensing’ save lives?
  2. More help needed to keep newly qualified young drivers safe!
  3. iPods and texting while driving blamed for many fatal crashes!
  4. 1 in 10 admit to drug driving impairments!
  5. Report shows the rise and rise of the traffic light!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/survey-shows-young-drivers-think-speeding-is-ok/feed 0 British pedestrians have forgotten how to cross the road safely! http://alphadrive.org/blog/british-pedestrians-have-forgotten-how-to-cross-the-road-safely http://alphadrive.org/blog/british-pedestrians-have-forgotten-how-to-cross-the-road-safely#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 21:11:22 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5617 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Stop, look and listen: the three words that used to be drilled in to children every time they cross the road are now ignored by almost two thirds (64 per cent) of British adults according to new research out today). The ‘Street Walk’ study, commissioned by Sheilas’ Wheels car insurance, shows that a ‘just-step-out’ generation has grown up in the UK with nearly half of adults (49 per cent) saying they do not listen before crossing the road, 46 per cent do not stop, while nearly a quarter (23 per cent) do not look both ways. This is even more alarming as 71 per cent of those polled did not know that traffic came from the right in the UK when crossing a road. The results of this road-blindness are alarming with one in ten Brits (nine per cent) saying they have come into contact with a moving vehicle while crossing the road while a quarter (25 per cent) have had a near miss. Eight per cent of Brits have had a collision with a bicycle while crossing the road and this rises in major cities with the highest bike collision rate in London (at 16 per cent.) More

See also:

  1. Half of motorists don’t know when a red light is on the way!
  2. Men end up lost for longer than women!
  3. Kids not impressed with parents driving!
  4. Survey shows women drivers take more risks!
  5. British motorists spend more time driving than socailising!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/british-pedestrians-have-forgotten-how-to-cross-the-road-safely/feed 0 Drivers risk car safety overnight! http://alphadrive.org/blog/drivers-risk-car-safety-overnight http://alphadrive.org/blog/drivers-risk-car-safety-overnight#comments Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:46:45 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5576 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Mobile phones, handbags and portable sat navs are among the most common items left overnight in a car, a survey has revealed. It found they leave more than £3 billion worth of belongings in their car overnight and yet half of drivers do not lock their car while they are sleeping. Other expensive items left in vehicles overnight include MP3 players, golf clubs, cameras and sunglasses, according to the research by Your Cover, part of Allianz Insurance. It also revealed some of the more unusual items left in cars, including a spare set of false teeth, air beds and vacuum cleaners. The most popular items that women keep in the car are make-up and spare shoes while for men it is sports and car equipment. One in three women confess they consider their cares to be a ‘dumping ground’ for things they did not want to keep in the house, compared to one in four men. More

See also:

  1. Bizarre items left in rental cars!
  2. Motorists worry over car crime…..
  3. Drivers travelling to France warned to take breathalyser…..
  4. Drivers ‘complacent’ over car crime!
  5. Swan gets frozen to driveway!
]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/drivers-risk-car-safety-overnight/feed 0 80% wound up by partner’s driving! http://alphadrive.org/blog/80-wound-up-by-partners-driving http://alphadrive.org/blog/80-wound-up-by-partners-driving#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:12:45 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5484 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> Four in five motorists get annoyed by their partner’s in-car behaviour, a new poll has shown. The survey of 2,000 adults by Kwik Fit found that characteristics of motorists that especially irritated their partners include poor performance behind the wheel, impatience with other road users, tailgating and the speed of driving. The findings revealed that 15% of those surveyed said they were unhappy with their partner’s driving performance.A lack of patience with other road users emerged as the main complaint from women, with more than one in five (21%) saying they were upset about this.  More

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/80-wound-up-by-partners-driving/feed 0 New survey shows motorists motorway worries! http://alphadrive.org/blog/new-survey-shows-motorists-motorway-worries http://alphadrive.org/blog/new-survey-shows-motorists-motorway-worries#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:13:25 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=5199 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> A survey carried out by breakdown and road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist today revealed that UK motorists believe tailgating is the most serious offence committed on a motorway with 85% saying it causes highly dangerous situations. Driving whilst using your mobile phone came in a close second with 66% agreeing it would put lives at serious risk and nearly two thirds believe that driving in the middle lane when the left hand lane is empty is dangerous and should be more strictly enforced. Interestingly only 20% of those surveyed said that speeding should be more closely monitored and over half of drivers surveyed went as far to say that the national speed limit should actually be increased. This is not the result GEM wanted to hear, as it, and other road safety organisations are strongly against the government campaign to raise the motorway speed limit to 80 MPH by this summer. More and top10

]]> http://alphadrive.org/blog/new-survey-shows-motorists-motorway-worries/feed 0 Many motorists unable to fill up with fuel or fluids! http://alphadrive.org/blog/many-motorists-unable-to-fill-up-with-fuel-or-fluids http://alphadrive.org/blog/many-motorists-unable-to-fill-up-with-fuel-or-fluids#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:02:03 +0000 admin http://www.alphadrive.org/blog/?p=4522 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> As a nation we’re highly dependent on our cars, but a staggering 30 per cent of UK drivers admit they don’t even know how to fill up with fuel and windscreen washer fluid. New research also reveals that millions don’t know what the warning lights on their dashboard mean – or even how to check their tyre tread depth. Kärcher, the pressure washer manufacturer, surveyed 2,000 people on their motoring knowledge and concluded that millions are risking their lives on a daily basis by failing to carry out even the most basic of car maintenance checks. “While the majority of us (71 per cent) believe we can capably fill up fuel and windscreen washer fluid, almost 30 per cent of us can’t and only a third of us would know how to charge the battery,” said a Kärcher spokesperson. “About the same number (38 per cent) don’t know how to replace their windscreen wipers and less than half are confident enough to check the tyre tread.” More

See also:

  1. Frank Skinner ordered to take breath-test!
  2. Motorists face hefty bills for not checking engine oil levels!
  3. Motorists clean their cars most often than they check the spare tyre!
  4. A fifth neglect basic car maintenance…..
  5. Motorists drive through 278 red traffic lights a minute!
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