The survey was designed to discover the reasons for purchasing low carbon vans compared to owners that bought normal vans and what incentives may persuade the owners of non-low carbon vans to purchase a greener more efficient variety. The primary reason for not purchasing a low carbon van was the initial high purchase cost and the impression that reliability and performance may be a problem. Reduced operating costs and concerns over the environment were the main reasons for using a low carbon vehicle. Read the full results from the study at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/freight/lowcarbonvan

It has been estimated that eco-driving could cut fuel costs by £300 million and save 3 million tonnes of CO2 over 5 years. The eco-training could benefit 90% of lorry drivers and be implemented as a mandatory part of the EU Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC).

The man was playing Human by The Killers on his way home from work when Police stopped him and charged him of driving a vehicle with excessive noise emanating from it, under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations Act 1986. He challenged the fine in court and it was dropped by the prosecution.

The signs were ordered after an alarming increase in accidents involving pedestrians that had ‘one too many’. The signs depict a person on their knees with a glass in one hand, the writing underneath states ‘Attention – Drunks’. The idea came from a town in Germany that had implemented something similar.

Investigators at the scene suggest the van caught fire because of an electrical fault in the vehicles wiring. The fire service was quick on the scene and rapidly put out the blaze, unfortunately the van suffered heavy fire damage.

A company located in the city produced the original series of Tomb Raider computer games, which were later made into movies and the idea of naming a road after the character seems to have really captured the imagination of residents.

If you have discovered a pothole or see one regularly on your journey into work there are some actions you can take to report a pothole and make a claim against the council for damage to tyres and wheels. There is a great website, www.potholes.co.uk, that offers a ton of information to road users affected by potholes. Their council contacts page gives you the details of every council in Britain and where available the direct link to a ‘report a problem’ page, where you can complete a form for a specific highways problem. If you are a motorcyclist and have been involved in an accident due to a pothole, we recommend you contact our sister organisation, White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors for advice.

They are calling for two things to happen; the introduction and approval of drug testing kits to Police forces nationwide to allow Police to gather statistical information from the road side in an easy and simple manner for further use in courts, and; a new drug driving offence on the level of drunk driving. It is hoped that a formal government consultation will steer legislation and enforcement.

Included within the measures to improve safety for mobility scooter users, pedestrians and other road users are:

1. Alterations to how a mobility scooter is legally defined
2. Changes to the weight and top speed of scooters
3. Assess whether scooters should be limited to transporting only one person
4. Updating the registration requirements for a mobility scooter, either through the DVLA or a more local path
5. Mandatory rather than optional insurance for scooters
6. Better methods for collecting data on scooter usage and safety

The DfT has recognised a sharp increase in the use of mobility scooters and with a statistically ageing population, the issue will only get bigger.

The iPhone app which gives users live traffic information uses data collected from the Highways Agencies sensors, CCTV stations and patrols to give drivers an opportunity to plan their journey and avoid delays such as congestion and road works. In the first few days since the app was launched, it attracted 50,000 downloads taking it to fourth place in the iPhone app download chart. The Highways Agency official traffic information website allows you to zoom in on a particular area and assess any potential road problems