New data from the RAC reveals that 20% of UK drivers under the age of 44 have cut costs by skipping legally required MOTs or delaying tyre replacements, raising significant safety concerns. The cost-of-living crisis has also driven 19% of all drivers to reduce or halt car servicing and repairs …
Read More »Busiest August bank holiday on record predicted
The RAC reckons the August bank holiday weekend will be the busiest in nine years with an estimated 19.2m leisure journeys by car as drivers go ‘day trip crazy’. Saturday 24 August is set to be the busiest on the roads with 3.7m getaway trips planned, slightly ahead of the …
Read More »It’s official – UK has most expensive diesel in Europe
The average price of diesel at UK pumps is now higher than anywhere else in Europe, according to new data from the RAC. Despite the current 5p-a-litre fuel duty discount introduced in March 2022, the average price of 155p is 5p more expensive than both Ireland and Belgium, for instance. …
Read More »Most drivers think headlights are too bright
New research has found that 85% of motorists think the problem of headlight glare is getting worse. An RAC survey of 2,000 drivers found a huge nine-in-10 (89%) think at least some headlights on cars on the road today are too bright, of which three-in-10 (28%) – a higher proportion …
Read More »End of an era: Just 3% of new cars come with a spare wheel
A review of 313 new cars across 28 brands by the RAC found that just eight models came with a spare wheel as standard. The trend means there are an increasing number of breakdowns where drivers need help in the event of a unrepairable flat tyre. The dramatic decline of …
Read More »Worst speed limit breakers: Cars, vans or lorries?
Half (50%) of car drivers broke the speed limit on 30mph roads in 2022 compared to 45% on motorways and 11% on national speed limit single carriageway roads, according to new data from the Department for Transport. The DfT figures also revealed that 48% of vans exceeded the speed limit …
Read More »Be prepared for the big Easter getaway
Drivers are set to embark on up to 17 million leisure trips by car this Easter bank holiday, with Good Friday and Easter Sunday set to see the largest number of journeys made. Research by the RAC and data from transport analytics experts INRIX suggests there may be long delays …
Read More »Top reasons for cars failing MOTs
Lamps, reflectors and indicators continue to be the most frequent reasons for vehicles fail their MOTs, according to DVSA data analysed by the RAC. However, brakes and tyres overwhelmingly that are more likely to cause the most “dangerous” MOT failures. Failures for non-working headlights, indicators and reflectors accounted for just …
Read More »Number of speeding drivers in the countryside accelerates
Nearly a half of all motorists admit to breaking the speed limit on 60mph country roads – the highest level since 2016, according to new RAC data. Some 48% of the 3,102 drivers questioned for the RAC Report on Motoring say they have driven faster than the limit in the …
Read More »Drivers ‘should make sure passengers belt up’
More than two-thirds of motorists believe drivers should be responsible for ensuring all their passengers wear seatbelts, according to new RAC research. The study coincides with the 40th anniversary of a UK law coming into force requiring drivers to wear seat belts. Currently, drivers only have responsibility to make sure …
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