Oh no, I can’t quite believe that I am doing a post with the word Christmas been mentioned. But I am. I have too! It’s only around the corner. Where has this year gone? I know we say it every year but this year seems to have gone so fast.

During this time of year we all start to get a little Christmassy, even the most “bah hum-bug” of us all. But there invariably comes a time when we get a little stressed and realise we haven’t bought our most nearest and dearest presents.

Fortunately you’re not the only one; unfortunately this usually means heavy traffic. If you are driving during busy time it makes sense to prepare well. I suggest picking a day in advance, know that there will be some waiting around sitting in traffic. Try and go early in the morning to avoid the rush if you can. I always find that making a list really helps.

If you’re lazy like me, you’ll make good use of your sofa, your laptop and websites like www.amazon.co.uk to buy your presents.

Happy shopping.

A drink-driver has been jailed for eight years after he drove the wrong way along the M62, killing, Rebecca Caine, 20.

The crash took place on September 16th and the aspiring model died from multiple injuries, along with three others in the same vehicle sustaining injuries.

Wilfred Museka, had been to a family party in Manchester and was more than twice the drink-drive limit. He drove the wrong way along the exit slip road and continued for about half a mile before the collision occurred.

Museka, has a complete disregard for motoring rules and other road users safety, as courts heard that he had never held a full driving licence and had 11 previous convictions related to driving matters, including driving with excess alcohol.

Sgt Lee Westhead, of Greater Manchester Police praised Rebecca’s family for their ‘dignity and patience. He went on to say: “Their daughter was taken from them in a senseless and totally avoidable act by a selfish individual…”

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Yes, we know that it’s a cost we wish we didn’t have to pay. But we all need to take our driving insurance and pay to take out test.

Some people however, just don’t. They forget that if you drive without insurance you are breaking the law. Moreover, when been people have been banned from driving and are required to take their test again, some people don’t and just start driving again. But one must take their test again. The penalties can be severe.

Some people though either think that the law doesn’t apply to them, or they forget! TV comedian Omid Djalili is one person who has been breaking the law. The twice banned comedian, Djalili, 47, was first banned from driving in 2008 and never reapplied for his licence, and was banned from driving again just a month ago for driving his moped without insurance. Read the rest of the article here

So it appears that I am behind the times and have had my head in the sand, as I only just realised at the weekend that the cost of using the Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex has increased. There I was with my £1.50, when I saw signs saying cars cost £2!

It appears that it still remains free for motorcyclists or any vehicle using the crossing between 22:00 and 06:00 but the cost for cars has increased by 50p and a hefty £1.30 for heavy goods vehicles (HGV’s).

Road Minister Mr Hammond said: “What we are now doing is using the money that this raises to invest in the free-flowing (automated barriers) which will alleviate congestion and indeed looking at the other sort of transport infrastructure improvement that we want to put in place.”

However, if electronic charging is introduced in 2014 as planned, with vehicles not having to stop at barriers, the cost will increase even further. With the cost for cars set to rise to £2.50, 2 axle goods vehicles having to pay £3 and HGV’s £6.

The Labour leader for Thurrock Council, John Kent said: “I think the increase is entirely unjustifiable…there would be an outcry if we put up parking charges by that much.”

Local businesses are also against the new price plan, saying that it is unfair that local residents should receive discounts and not them. Chris Smart who is a Dartford-based haulier said that local hauliers and businesses within the local area should also benefit from sizeable discounts.

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A bus crash that occurred in Virginia last year saw survivors of the crash in court telling the judge of the disturbing day they experienced.

One passenger known as Karrica Finch said “It was almost as if you’re on a roller-coaster ride.”

In court, they described how the bus swerved from side to side and was changing speeds erratically before it crashed along Interstate 95.

The driver – Kin Yiu Cheung has been convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter after the crash left four passengers dead and many others injured.

Cheung wrote in a statement: “Maybe I feeling tired and sleepy time.” A passenger sitting behind Mr Cheung said she had heard him talking to someone on his phone stating he doesn’t get enough rest.

It appears that the driver did not intentionally cause the accident and it really was just a horrible accident. But it does highlight the importance of getting enough rest before you drive and pulling over if you feel tired or unwell.

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When you are a parent and your child has past their test for the first time, it’s a great moment. It’s shows them growing up and having their own independence. In about a year or so, they may be going onto university or spend a year backpacking around the globe. It’s the start of the new things.

With passing your test also comes great responsibility and it’s important to keep telling your children this. When you step into a car for the first time, one that you are able to drive, unsupervised – it is very liberating. Unfortunately though, there are too many accidents amongst younger drivers. Drivers who get too confident and feel that they can handle the car at high speeds.

I think that as parents we need to keep telling our children the importance of safe driving. And it’s not always telling them that counts, I think demonstrating that you are a good driver too, makes a big difference.

A driver of a school bus in Cleveland took matters into his own hands when he saw a driver continually drive on the pavement in order to avoid his bus which was unloading children.

Uriah Herron, filmed the driver and the women was taken to court. Shena Hardin, the 32 year old caught in the act, has been ordered to stand at a crossroad wearing a sign that reads: “Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.”

She will be made to stand wearing the sign between 7.45am and 8.45am for two days. She was also suspended for 30 days and ordered to pay court costs.

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There are 10 million Twitter users in the UK and nearly 30 million Facebook users.

We use social media to post things about our life, our break-ups, heart aches, holidays, and woes. But are you using social media when you are driving? For many people the answer is yes. When you are driving home and sitting in traffic it can be tempting to update your Facebook status, or when you’re driving a nice new car you may feel the urge to tweet a picture of it.

But don’t. Ever.

Remember, driving demands your attention, and as tempting as it is to start using your smart phones, you shouldn’t. You need to be able to concentrate on your driving all the time.

Another thing that can be dangerous is trying to change the CD whilst driving. It’s much safer to change the CD before you set out on your journey, that way you are not fumbling around looking for it when you are on the road.

Police officers who secretly filmed up to 500 motorists gathering for “street racing” in Birmingham, have identified over 400 drivers and fined around 200.

PC Paul Bieliauskas said: “Street racers have been making stretches of the A47…no-go roads on Sunday nights into the early hours.

The West Midlands force along with Birmingham City Council have issued around 120 injunctions against some of the motorists caught, prohibiting them from participating in or watching street racing.

Those that break their injunction will be banned from driving and could face fines of up to £5000.

The West Midlands Force wanted to come down heavy on these drivers, worried for the safety of spectators, motorists and innocent bystanders.

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The Institute of Advanced Driving (IAM) has called for British Summer Time (BST) to be changed to provide more daylight hours during the evenings in the later months.

Bringing the time zone forward an hour in both summer and winter would allow Britain to have lighter evenings in the hope that there would be fewer traffic accidents. Statistics from the Department for Transport show that the changing of daylight hours could potentially prevent 80 deaths and around 200 serious injuries on the roads each year.

With the arrival of the darker evenings, road casualty rates increase dramatically as shown by the 2011 figures:

• Pedestrians are 14% more likely to be killed or seriously injured in November compared to the monthly average.

• Cyclist casualties increase by 5%.

• The rate of motorcycle casualties per vehicle mile was 28% higher.

The chief executive of IAM said “Making evenings lighter would save lives. It would benefit all road users….We’d like to try doing a three year trial of the new daylight system. If the trial period proves the new daylight hours have a positive effect it becomes clear it is a system we should keep and continue with. With convincing evidence of the potential benefits, it is only right that we pilot a new system.”

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