The AnswerBank Articles

New Car Prices May Rise Under 'Super Dealers'

What Car has warned that drivers could face higher prices for new cars if more motor dealerships merge. The consumer watchdog has issued its warning after a national dealer group announced that it was considering the purchase of one of its largest competitors. If successful, the merger would create a massive network...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Learner Drivers To Receive Eco Testing

Learner drivers are to face a new challenge when they sit their driving test: they will be judged on how environmentally friendly their driving is. In a departure from traditional motor insurance concerns of safety, drivers will be judged on their ability to conserve fuel while driving. This will be doing things like...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Dangerous Driver Training "Doesn't Work"

Dangerous drivers who are given extra training instead of being prosecuted for driving offences show no improvement in their driving, Fleetnews Net reports. Research by the Department of Transport found that drivers who undertook the two-day motor insurance recommended National Driver Improvement Scheme (NDIS) were no...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Driver Association Accused Of Encouraging Speeding

The AA has been accused of encouraging speeding by selling devices which alert drivers of nearby speed cameras, the Independent has reported. Although the organisation does not sell radar or camera detectors, it retails navigational devices which can warn drivers of speed cameras which lie ahead. The list of cameras ...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Small Accidents Lead To Bigger Accidents

Drivers who regularly bump or scrape their cars are more likely to go on to have a serious crash say motor insurance companies. The finding has led to calls for those who have a series of a small motor insurance claims to be treated in the same way as someone who has had one large accident. After causing a major acci...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Going Online Makes Safer Drivers

Driver training specialists and motor insurance companies have developed an online psychometric test designed to predict how motorists are likely to behave at the wheel. The Driver Risk Index has been developed by Cranford University to assess driver behaviour, highlight potential risk factors and recommend further tr...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Ten Million Admit Thought Of Motorway Driving Causes Cold Sweat

Ten million drivers in the UK admit that just the thought of venturing onto a motorway is enough to bring them out in a cold sweat, reveals motor insurance research. One in five women told motor insurance researchers that they simply avoid motorways altogether. Motor insurance companies believe that these drivers are...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Road Rage Can Cause Damage to Cars

Drivers on UK roads are afflicted so badly by road rage that they have begun taking it out on their vehicles, says motor insurance research. A third say that they regularly punch their steering wheel to release some stress. More than ten per cent admitted getting out to give their wheels a kicking. A cup of camomile ...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Learner Drivers To Get Black Box Help

Learner drivers are to get help from aeroplane style "black box" recorders, one of the UK's largest driving schools has announced. The recorders will provide printouts of all manoeuvres made at the end of every lesson so that learners are able to keep track of their progress and see where they need to improv...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Millions Lose Out On Motor Insurance

Millions of drivers in the UK are paying too much for their motor insurance because they do not bother to search out the best motor insurance quotes. Research has shown that 15 million motorists renew their motor insurance every year without searching for another motor insurance quote. "In both the home and moto...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Hundreds Of Millions Wasted On Shoddy Mechanics

Drivers and motor insurance companies pay out more than £300 million every year for inadequate work by mechanics, new research has revealed. Thousands of motorists have been forced to employ a second mechanic just to fix botched jobs on their cars, at an average cost of around £470 per vehicle say motor in...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

UK Car Repair Industry Promises Code Of Conduct

The UK motor industry has announced plans for a national code of conduct and service levels for the motor repair industry. UK mechanics have been repeatedly hit by scandals about pricing, rip-offs and below standard workmanship. An area particularly focused on is the cost of servicing, which can vary by as much as sev...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Up to 10 Million Still Using Phones At Wheel

Millions of motorists are still putting their lives and others in jeopardy by using mobiles at the wheel, says a motor insurance survey. Government figures have put the number of drivers breaking the law by chatting on their mobiles while driving at just 1.5 per cent since the law was changed to illegalise it. But the...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Lotus plans refinement with Europa S

Lotus is well known for its style and quality. Lotus has a fascinating and outstanding pedigree; with more than 50 years in the industry they know what they are doing behind the wheel. Their vehicles are built by hand and this shows in the individuality and performance of Lotus cars. Lotus has unveiled its Europa S mo...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Act Now On Motor Insurance Or Face The Penalties

Motorists who are at risk of being caught up in the latest blitz on the uninsured on our roads should act now if they want to keep their cars, the motor insurance industry has warned. The motor insurance industry estimates that as many as 1.2 million are driving without insurance in the UK. Their chances of being caug...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Nearly Half Of Young Drivers Carry Weapons

A recent motor insurance survey has found that almost half of all young motorists are carrying a weapon in their car because they are insecure about crime. Nearly 60 per cent say that they had previously had their vehicles vandalised, and nearly 50 per cent said that they have had something stolen from their car. Mot...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

UK Set For A ‘Plague’ Of Speed Cameras

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has slated the government for the "plague of speed cameras" spreading across the country alongside unnecessarily low speed limits. IAM training is unanimously recommended by the motor insurance industry as one of the best ways to lower motor insurance quotes. It is o...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Motor Repairers Hit Back Against Criticism

In the ongoing debate about standards of service and rip off pricing in the motor repair industry, the engineers have struck back. The Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) evaluates skills and competence and makes members sign a code of conduct on the level of service they provide, supported by the motor insuranc...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Just One Drink Can Cause A Car Accident

The motor insurance industry and safety campaigners are warning that even having just one drink can greatly increase the chances of having a road accident. Seasonal drink driving campaigns have always concentrated on drivers who are recklessly over the limit. But party goers are being warned that even spending your e...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

DVLA Earns Millions From Phone Lines

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has earned an extraordinary £1.3 million by charging callers to its general enquiry line. The agency has a 0870 number, charging eight pence a minute, for which it receives a cut. The DVLA defended its extremely lucrative policy by claiming that a local number woul...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010