Latest car company news

Department for Transport: New car seat laws reduce number of child injuries

(06/10/2008)

New legislation was introduced in September 2006 making it compulsory for children under 12 and below 4ft 5in (1.35m) tall to use child car seats or booster seats. According to the latest figures, the number of children under 12 injured in car accidents in Great Britain fell by more than 1,000 in the first full year since the introduction of the new car seat law. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents welcomed the news as proof that the legislation was working and helping to red... [more]

DVLA: Converting your current car to run on LPG doesn't need to be a lengthy or costly process

(25/09/2008)

According to Autogas, converting your current car to run on LPG needn't be a lengthy or costly process and can offer both cost-saving and environmental benefits. Autogas National Marketing Coordinator, Chris Taylor, says many motorists consider the LPG conversion process to be complicated and expensive. The reality however is quite different. "LPG is by far the most widely available alternative fuel available in the UK, although it is surprising that so few manufacturers are currently prod... [more]

Diva: Younger females use their feminine charm to flirt their way out of a parking ticket

(22/08/2008)

A YouGov survey has revealed that one in four women drivers would give a bat of their eyelashes or a hint of cleavage as means of avoiding or reducing penalty points. In a survey of 2,181 drivers Diva found that 34% of 18-24 year olds said they’d give or would consider giving a traffic warden the come on – brandishing young women as the most brazen behind the wheel. The mature driver has more driving decorum, with 61% of over 45 year olds refusing to even consider flirting if caught flouti... [more]

Department for Transport: Number of foreign trucks entering Britain up 7 percent

(28/05/2008)

In his 2008 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government had abandoned plans to charge foreign vehicles for their use of UK roads through a time-based UK vignette. The latest data for 2007 from the Department for Transport shows the number of foreign trucks entering Britain on international journeys reaching an all-time high of 1,719,000 – up seven per cent on 2006. By contrast, the number of UK registered trucks travelling abroad has reached a 14 year low of just 400,000 vehicles. U... [more]

Driving Standards Agency DSA: Clampdown on illegal driving instructors

(22/05/2008)

Provisions under the Fraud Act 2006 mean the police now have increased powers to charge illegal instructors where it can be proved that they have misrepresented themselves by implying they are qualified. The DSA Fraud & Integrity Team (FIT) is currently investigating over 400 cases of suspected illegal driving instruction across the country. The agency is working closely with police forces at national, regional and local levels and they are urging the general public to put a stop to unqualifi... [more]

Department of Transport and Police Force: A significant number of London’s drivers are worryingly unsafe

(19/05/2008)

During a random check of drivers’ eyesight by Specsavers at a recent Drive Safe roadshow at Olympia, one in three London drivers failed a vision screening meaning they are endangering their own lives as well as those of other drivers and pedestrians. Of the 500 people checked, more than one third are falling way short of the legal minimum legal requirements set by the Department of Transport and Police Force. Despite their failing sight, an astonishing 92% of those drivers surveyed thought... [more]

Car sales dive 21% in September: industry body (AFP via Yahoo! News)

Germany's Car Industry Crashes (Time Magazine)

Super luxury car sales keep momentum (Business Standard India)

PRESS RELEASE: Fitch On European RV Sales In Auto Industry (Nasdaq)

Auto industry slows in dull economy (KXAN 36 Austin)

Used car sales up despite poor economy (WAOW Wausau)

Credit’s Crunch & Car Sales (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Czech car industry to grow despite demand slowdown (Reuters via Yahoo! Philippines News)

Downturn is hurting cities' car dealerships (Ventura County Star)

China's auto sales slump for second month as economy slows (People's Daily)