News

Plans to test the new electric Mini in Britain have been unveiled by BMW. It has already been announced that the iconic vehicle will be put through its paces in the US and Germany, but now it is also set to be driven along the roads of Oxford. The year-long tests will give engineers the opportunity to evaluate the Mini E, which will include...

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is backing the government’s latest proposal to automatically fine motorists who do not renew their insurance cover The IAM has welcomed the potential crackdown, saying that it will help those who have forgotten to renew their policy, but recognises that those who deliberately flout the law are...

A new design of three-point, 400-volt plug unveiled today in Germany is intended to be compatible with every electric car of the future. Leading car makers including Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Fiat, Toyota and Mitsubishi and energy companies have reached agreement on a common plug, although there is as yet no timeframe for its...

Campaigners in the south of England are urging authorities to review a road after several major accidents in five days.Four people have been killed, including a 14-year-old boy, in four incidents on the A38 near Plymouth since last Saturday (April 12th).Gary Streeter, member of parliament for South West Devon, described the road as "a...

Britons are leaving their cars at home and switching to pedal power during the credit crunch, Halfords claims. According to the retailer, it sells more than one million bicycles each year, with an upturn in commuters cutting costs by going green noted as a reason for these figures. The company also states schemes such as the government’s...

A parish council wants to slow speedy drivers by refusing to fill in potholes. The Navestock local authority regards the potholes as both a traffic calming measure and a way to cut costs. Essex County Council, which has responsibility for repairs to the roads concerned, says it has no plans to support the idea. A spokesperson for the...

The British government is to follow the lead of other countries including China and America and offer rebates of up to £5,000 to drivers who buy electric cars. The subsidy will be available to those buying cars that run entirely on electricity. The scheme, which would be enforced by setting a ceiling for the amount of carbon dioxide a car...

The government is to stop discouraging local authorities from implementing technology designed to minimise traffic congestion. ‘Green wave’ sensors detect vehicles travelling within the speed limit and trigger a succession of green lights. The system reduces fuel consumption by minimising stop/start driving. Congestion-easing technology...

New research suggests emissions from shipping are responsible for the premature deaths of an estimated 39,000 people across Europe. Britain and Ireland are particularly badly affected because they have long coastlines with some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes just offshore. According to The Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in...

New plans by London mayor, Boris Johnson could see cyclists around Britain being allowed to turn left at red traffic lights. Under the proposals cyclists would wait for a safe gap in the traffic and allow right of way to pedestrians – much the same as any other junction. However, the opportunity to pass through the red light would allow...