There have always been long debates as to who make better drivers – men or women.

Insurance companies continue to suggest that young males have riskier driving habits, generally men aged between 16-25 years old and this results in higher premiums.

Research by various organisations have also found the following:

Fatalities between 1999 and 2005 were around 175,000 for men and 82,000 for women. However, there are more males on the roads than females!!

Men are twice as likely to instigate road rage using gestures, which is not productive.

Women find manoeuvres more difficult especially reversing.

41% of men have admitted to reading a map whilst driving compared to 23% of women.

Men find breaking speed limits more acceptable – 53% of men compared to 22% of women.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: I guess we can say that this argument is like the chicken and the egg conundrum, the answer will never be known!

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Millions of motor insurance customers in the UK are running risks with their car maintenance in a bid to save money on motoring costs, it has been claimed.

Car manufacturer Ford found that one in five UK motor insurance policyholders have no breakdown cover.

Due to rising road tax and fuel costs, roadside assistance cover is neglected by younger car insurance holders, with 28 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds forgoing any cover.

All of this is surprising considering recent independent research from consumer group Which? revealed that one in six motor insurance customers experience at least one breakdown a year.

A nationwide motoring scam has been uncovered by police carrying out raids across Greater Manchester.

Two men were arrested in connection to the network, which has seen hundreds of motorists avoiding more than 2,000 penalty points and £40,000 in fines.
Police officers raided 11 homes in Tameside and Gorton, seizing computers and documents.

The detained men, both aged 39, have been arrested and are currently being questioned.

The scam centres on people who have avoided convictions for motoring offences – including bans – by making false nominations or causing false information to be provided to police on their behalf.

An expectant mother in Minnesota went from having labour pains at work to holding her baby whilst driving to the hospital.

The mother picked up the baby’s father on the way to the hospital and although being in discomfort continued to drive the journey as the baby’s father has a history of seizures and they thought it was safer for her to drive.

Ms McBride was driving when the baby simply slid out. The father had to then take the wheel as she cradled the baby in her arms. The baby boy named Joseph was a healthy baby weighing 8 pounds.

However, the hospital were shocked to discover that the mum was driving whilst in labour, which of course is not recommended and deemed extremely dangerous. If there is nobody that can take you to the hospital, the safest thing to do is call the ambulance service.

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At present the minimum age to obtain a license is 17 but is expected to rise to 18.

The government are looking to propose a number of changes such a 12 month training period for new drivers, meaning a 17 year old will not be able to obtain a full license.

They also want to introduce a zero alcohol policy for all new drivers regardless of their age. Anyone caught with alcohol in their system will be forced to retake their driving test.

Research suggests that by introducing the new age limit, more than 1000 deaths and 700 causalities could be avoided.

The government along with campaigners and insurers feel that the current process is just simply not safe. Many young drivers learn to drive within a six month period, meaning that they have never driven in certain weather conditions.

Most new drivers have never driven on the motorway and new drivers don’t seem to be taking up the opportunity to carry out the pass plus course, which is not only designed to help new drivers become safe and competent on the road but also to reduce insurance premiums.

It is important to point out that driving may be fun and give immense freedom but it also carries huge responsibility, hence these new rules and regulations. However, other forms of driving such as motorcycles would also need to be addressed otherwise young people might be inclined to learn to drive a bike instead of a car.

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A Spartanburg woman arrested after Union police clocked her Buick at 102 mph in a 45-mph zone Tuesday spent Wednesday trying to figure out how she wound up in Union.

Sandra Weiss Powell, 72, of 180 Hilltop Road, Spartanburg, told the Herald-Journal Wednesday that she left home to go to a hair appointment on East Main Street in Spartanburg, but turned right when she should have turned left.

“I really was out of it,” Powell said. “I don’t know how I got there. I don’t drive that fast. The best thing was that police stopped me, and the nightmare ended.”

A Union police officer met Powell on Highway 176 as she was driving toward Union, estimated her speed at 101 mph, measured it at 102 mph and turned around to follow her.

It is never a given that the price of a gadget includes the battery.

But in the world of car dealers, it seems selling the battery separately from the car it will power is a bad idea.

“Buying the car and leasing the battery would add confusion,” explains Simon Thomas, senior vice president, sales and marketing, at Nissan International.

The Japanese carmaker hopes to steal a march on its rivals in the race towards electric motoring when its Leaf electric car hits the road later this year.

So Nissan has ditched an earlier idea of leasing the battery to address any concerns about their life and quality.

“We didn’t think it was the right model for consumers,” said Mr Thomas.

Instead, the company has announced the on-the-road prices it will charge for its first electric car when it goes on sale in Europe later this year.

In most markets in Europe, the Leaf will cost less than 30,000 euros – in the UK the price will be £23,350 – once various government subsidies have been taken into account.

There might be areas when driving where you can scrimp and save but car insurance is not one of them. However, it doesn’t have to break the bank you just need to be clever about it.

Always shop around. I am sure when you took out car insurance for the first time, you looked for the best deal, so why not now. Don’t assume that your current insurances will offer you the best deal.

You will also save money by buying online. There are lots of websites that compare different companies, allowing you to enter your details only once and look for the best quote.

Go back to basics – when you buy a new car, think about the engine size. The faster and bigger the car, the higher the insurance premiums.

If you can park your car on a driveway or in a garage you will bring down the quote. Those that reduce the risk of damage to their car are rewarded with cheaper insurance. So make sure you have an alarm or immobiliser fitted, keep your mileage as low as possible – perhaps walk to the corner shop and make sure the car is always locked, it only takes a second for a thief to pounce.

If you are a safe and careful driver, you could consider upping the excess. If you agree to a higher excess, it can reduce you premiums by hundreds.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “Although we all like to save a few pounds, it is important not to compromise on adequate cover. It might seem like a good idea not to take out legal cover or protection for claims against uninsured drivers, but in the end it will cost you a fortune financially and emotionally.”

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Pass plus is aimed a new drivers to improve their driving, make them safe and skilful drivers and to gain more experience.

The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) along with insurance companies and driving instructors feel that although a new driver has the competence to pass the test, it would benefit them to take pass plus and deal with new situations.

There is no test to complete the pass plus, the instructor will assess your driving throughout and grade you.

The course is divided into six modules and they are listed as followed:

Driving around town

Complex junctions, public transport and lots of starting and stopping to contend with…

Assessed on: Observation and judgement / Consideration for other road users / Spatial awareness / Typical features of urban roads

All Weather driving

Come rain, snow, mist or sunshine you need to be prepared.

Assessed on: Vision – see and be seen / Skidding and avoidance / Speed and stopping distances

Countryside

Watch out for the tractors and the horses…

Assessed on: Rural hazards such as sharp bends and narrow lanes / Overtaking / Observation skills

Night time driving

Can you see me?

Assessed on: Vehicle lighting and use / Speed and stopping distances / Visibility / Parking

Dual Carriageways

Check your signs – are you travelling at the correct speed.

Assessed on: Joining, turning & leaving / Forward Planning / Overtaking

Motorways

The dreaded motorway…

Assessed on: Joining & leaving / Forward Planning and observation / Overtaking / Breakdowns and safety

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “Britannia offers pass plus to new pupils as well as existing pupils. More details can be found on our website by clicking on the pass plus link. What are you waiting for!?”

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Car and van sales could be better than had been feared this year, the motor industry suggested this week.

Although car sales will still dip by about 3.6 per cent compared to last year’s figures, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revised its initial, gloomy, 2010 forecast by 5.6 per cent, following better than expected first-quarter sales.

Total car sales should now total about 1.92 million for 2010, with new van registrations hitting 202,000, about 8.6 per cent better than the SMMT forecast earlier this year.

The SMMT said its revisions reflected increased confidence and stability and a sustained level of consumer demand.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: “Our latest forecasts reflect the better than expected results in the first quarter and improving consumer confidence. The coming months will be challenging now that the scrappage scheme has ended, but industry remains cautiously optimistic.