Reports say the Government is about to increase the UK motorway speed limit to 80mph, the first change since 1965. What a wasted opportunity. Until 1965 there was no speed limit on UK motorways. Mind you, there weren’t many UK motorways to blat along in any case. The M1 was about it at the time, apart from odd bits […]
Rush hour roadworks to disappear?
Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, has announced plans to introduce lane rental schemes for roadworks. Little is more frustrating for a driver than encountering roadworks in rush hour. Even more frustrating are roadworks that seem to be inactive. But that could be about to change. Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, wants local authorities to introduce a ‘Lane Rental’ […]
The Alliance on Winter Tyres: The world’s gone MAD
The Alliance on Winter Tyres has been formed to look in to the issue of winter tyres in the UK. What a waste of money. Just advise everyone to fit them. We’ve banged on about Winter tyres to anyone who’ll listen – and those that won’t – for longer than we care to remember. And […]
Philip Hammond: Winter Tyres are no good in the UK. Wrong.
Philip Hammond – Secretary of State for Transport – tells the Commons that winter tyres are not suitable for the UK. Oh, dear. Throughout all of last year’s snow we lost count of the number of times we were asked if winter tyres were a good idea. You see, winter tyres are not something the Brits know much about. […]
Philip Hammond to announce end of M4 Bus Lane
Transport Minister Philip Hammond is to announce the scrapping of the M4 Bus Lane at the Tory Party conference. Philip Hammond was quick to announce that he intended to end the ‘War on Motorists’ when he was appointed Secretary of State for Transport back in May. And it was a good soundbite that resonated with […]
Drink Drive Limit Cut: Binned for now
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has ordered reports on the effect a proposed reduction in the drink drive limit would have on the rural economy. Having already criminalised a huge swathe of the motoring population of the UK by sticking endless ‘Safety’ Cameras anywhere they will catch drivers unaware and rake in huge fines, it seemed […]
UK Electric Car Subsidy: £5k for the first 8,600
The coalition Government are going to honour the subsidy commitment on electric cars. But only for the first 8,600. We expected more sanity from the coalition Government on all things motoring – especially after Transport Secretary Philip Hammond decreed the war on motorists to be over. And we also hoped for common sense all round on all […]
RAC Foundation – Road charging is inevitable
Well there’s a bit of good news. The RAC Foundation believes that road charging is ‘Inevitable’ and is the answer to our congested roads. Rubbish. According to RAC Foundation Director Stephen Glaister, a predicted 33% increase in traffic by 2025 and a reduction in road building schemes and cuts in general make a pay as you […]
Electric car range – time for some honesty
Cars UK is calling on Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond to address the false and misleading range claims by makers of electric cars. We reported last week that Gordon Murray – he of the McLaren F1 – has created what seems to us the ideal electric car – the Gordon Murray Design T.27 […]
The Guardian calls Cars UK “The Petrolheads’ favourite web site”
Cars UK has been called the petrolheads’ favourite website by the Guardian, in a piece condemning new Transport Minister Philip Hammond’s views as ‘Saloon Bar Ignorance’. Oh, dear. Being proclaimed the Petrolheads’ favourite website by the Guardian – not a newspaper renowned for its love of cars – we’ll take as a compliment. Although it […]