IT’S official — women can’t park and men go too fast, driving test figures show.

More females fail for struggling to reverse, with accelerating too quickly one of the main reasons for blokes flunking, the stats show.

Last year, there were 936,000 serious or dangerous test errors by women and 694,000 by men.

Just one of these errors is a fail but some L-platers will clock up several in their exam.

The fifth most likely fault for women is reverse parking, with them picking up 43,130 faults for the manoeuvre.

But the same fault is not in men’s top ten.

The third most common slip-up for fellas is not moving off safely, often caused by accelerating too fast, with men netting 38,636 faults in the category.

That is only the seventh top fault for women. Males are also more likely to get a fault for speeding.

The most common failure reason for both was observation at junctions.

It echoes a 2018 survey which found men were more likely to tailgate, undertake, smoke or vape while at the wheel and not wear a seat belt.

The five top fail errors are,

The Treasury is desperately looking for ways to plug a £40billion black hole created by the switch away from petrol and diesel vehicles.

Charging drivers to use roads would be like a “poll tax on wheels”, a leading motoring campaigner warned today.

Drivers could be forced to pay fees for using Britain’s roads under plans reportedly being considered by Chancellor Rishi  Sunak.

The move is being considered to plug a £40billion Treasury black hole caused by the rise in popularity of electric cars.

The switch to greener vehicles is hammering government revenue from fuel duty.

As more motorists buy electrical cars, taxes generated by petrol and diesel sales falls.

Currently motorists pay 57.95p in fuel duty for each litre of petrol and diesel they buy – a figure which has been frozen since March 2011.

This brings in £28bn a year, or 1.3% of national income, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, while VAT on fuel and vehicle excise duty also raises funds for the Treasury.

A ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars could be brought forward by a decade from 2040 to 2030 as part of efforts to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Asked if the Government would be charging people to use the roads, Mr Sunak said: “I wouldn’t comment on future fiscal policy but this week the Prime Minister will be publishing our plan for our ‘green revolution’ as he likes to describe it.”

The UK currently only has one major toll road – the M6 Toll in the West Midlands.

Drivers also face levies when using some tunnels and bridges.

Motoring organisations were braced for an overhaul.

AA President Edmund King said: “The Government can’t afford to lose £40bn from fuel duty and car tax when the electric revolution arrives.

“It is always assumed that road pricing would be the solution but that has been raised every five years since 1964 and is still perceived by most as a ‘poll tax on wheels’.”

He said the country needed an “imaginative solution”, highlighting a 2017 plan where drivers would receive a 3,000-mile free allowance, with any mile over that subject to fees.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “As more electric vehicles come on to our roads, revenue from fuel duty will decline so it’s inevitable a new system will have to be developed.

“While not paying car tax is clearly an incentive to go fully electric at the moment, we will very soon need a system that can levy tax on both conventionally-fuelled and battery electric vehicles fairly.

“If this isn’t addressed, we risk finding ourselves in a situation where petrol and diesel drivers continue to pay all the tax for using the roads, which is unsustainable.

“But drivers are firm in their views that any new system must not be used as a way to increase the tax burden on them.”

FairFuelUK Founder Howard Cox said: “Drivers will worry about privacy issues from tracking devices being fitted to cars, which no doubt will resurface if road pricing takes over fuel duty.

“Road pricing will be a costly and meddling system that’s costly to administer.

“It may be revenue neutral, but it isn’t cost neutral.”

He added: “The possibility of road pricing has always proven to be detested – so unpopular that in 2007 almost two million people signed a Downing Street petition against a national road pricing plan.

“If the Government decide on road pricing as the answer, they could face a fierce backlash from the public, small businesses and the haulage industry.”

“Changes to the tax system must support that change while keeping the public finances on a stable footing.”

Friends of the Earth head of science Mike Childs said: “Bringing in a mileage-based charging system for driving would help people to choose greener means for a lot of journeys, especially if some of the money raised were used to slash the cost of public transport and invest in safe cycle routes.

“We’ve seen communities around the world benefit from systems like this, with safer streets, thriving local business, healthier people, cleaner air and lower planet-wrecking emissions.

“Road-user charging would be a game changer here, and would really show that the UK is serious about fighting the climate crisis as we count down to hosting next year’s UN climate talks.”

Green Party co-leader Sian Berry said: “This could be done well or very badly and the Government’s recent record on delivering new initiatives really concerns me.

Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon said: “The Government should be encouraging people to make the switch to low emission vehicles.

“Unless the process is devolved there is a very real threat that all the funds would go to the Treasury.

“Every penny raised must go to cities and regions so they can improve and invest in public transport and alternatives to driving, and help reduce the need to travel too with more public services within easy reach.”

SOME motorists drive their passengers to distraction with how untidy their car is.

But it turns out piles of litter in the footwell and dirty splodges on the upholstery are nowhere near as grim as what’s lurking in messy cars when you look at them under the microscope.

To find out exactly how filthy the average UK car is, used car dealer Cazoo carried out a forensic analysis on one woman’s motor.

The swabs found the steering wheel, door handles and gear stick covered in organisms usually found in animal guts.

And they also showed mould spreading through the seats.

“I was pretty shocked – it’s not nice at all,” Elysha Sevier, who owns the tested car.

“I was pretty grossed out, I’m not going to lie.”

But with the average UK driver cleaning their car fewer than five times a year on average, microscopic nasties can be found in cars up and down the country.

Here’s how filthy your car really is.

‘Poo bacteria’ infestation

Elysha, 30, describes herself as a generally clean and tidy person – but nothing could have prepared her for what the team found on swabs collected from her Citroën C2.

The results found her car covered in organisms called coliforms, normally found in the guts of humans and animals – and their waste.

“I myself work at a forensic lab,” Elysha says. “It’s not completely what I’m used to, but I am used to quite shocking things.”

Although coliforms aren’t usually harmful to people, they can cause disease if found in large numbers and also if someone has a weakened immune system.

Exactly how they’d managed to build up in Oxfordshire-based Eylsha’s car might have something to do with her cleaning regime.

“I do pretty much nothing,” Elysha says.

“I’ve just turned 30, and I’ve had that car since I was 21.

“I reckon it’s probably been cleaned maybe a dozen times in that time.

Elysha also thinks mould detected on her seats could have something to do with muddy paw prints caused by her Jack Russell terrier, Khyro.

“We walk in a field that’s always getting churned up and turned over so I’m assuming that whatever’s on his paws then goes on to my front seat, and that’s how they got the results,” Elysha says.

Filthy habits

But Elysha’s car cleaning regimen is fairly typical of drivers all over the UK.

According to Cazoo’s survey of 2,000 Brit motorists, owners only fully clean their car on average once every 11 weeks.

Worse still, almost one in five say they only ever clean their car if someone else is getting into it.

And 20 per cent of all drivers say they won’t bother to mop up a drink if they spill it in their car.

Who’s the messiest?

It turns out just how messy your car is can be linked with where you live – and even what colour car you have.

Red cars were found to be the dirtiest by End of Tenancy Cleaning, while black and silver car drivers are the second and third worst for cleaning.

On the hand, yellow car drivers are the tidiest, according to the pool.

Cazoo’s research also showed differences in car cleanliness depending on where the owner lives.

Residents in Gloucester have were the dirtiest car owners, admitting they only clean their entire car every 22 weeks.

Drivers in Coventry and Oxford came in as the second and third most slovenly, only dulling a proper clean of their vehicles every 17 weeks.

Whereas drivers in Scotland are the cleanest – thoroughly smartening up their motor every seven weeks.

How to properly clean your car

There’s a few extremely easy things you can do to get the grime out of your car more easily.

Always start washing your car on the roof – let gravity do some of the work for you by allowing the suds to roll down the outside while you clean elsewhere.

It’s also much more efficient to start cleaning the roof of the inside of your car first so any disturbed dust and dirt that falls in the cleaning process can be vacumed up later.

If you do have a dog, using a squeegee or washing up glove is an excellent way to get hairs off seats.

And using antibacterial wipes will kill off those gut organisms that go roaming about your dashboard.

“The importance of hygiene has significantly increased in 2020 for obvious reasons,” said Neil Smith, Retail Director at Cazoo.

“Although it’s great to see such a large proportion (76 per cent) of drivers personally washing their cars, there is always more we can do to keep our cars as clean as possible.

“Setting aside a small amount of time each week will help you stay on top of your cleaning.

“Whether that’s wiping down the inside of your car with an anti-bacterial wipe or spending time at the weekend clearing out any clutter, it can really make a big difference.”

NEW legislation means that motorists will face a £200 fine and six points on their licence if they are caught TOUCHING their phone behind the wheel.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere unveiled the latest law on 17 October 2020 – making all hand-held mobile activity while driving illegal.

Can you use a mobile phone while driving?

No, you can’t use a mobile phone while you are driving.

It has been illegal to touch a mobile phone – even with a hands-free set – while driving since 2003.

This includes using a mobile to follow a map, read a text or check social media.

The law applies even if you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic as your engine is still running.

You can only use a handheld phone if you are safely parked or need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe or impractical to stop.

Drivers can also use their mobiles for contactless payments if a vehicle is stationary at a drive-thru takeaway.

Close-up Of A Person’s Hand Sending Text Message By Mobile Phone While Driving Car

Can I play games and take photos while driving?

No, you can’t play games or take photos on a phone while driving.

The new rules will end a loophole that formerly allowed drivers to use a hand-held device to play games or take a picture while behind the wheel.

You also can’t scroll through music while driving under the new law.

When does the new ban start?

The new law will be enacted next year, making it illegal for anyone to touch or pick up their mobile phone while driving.

Can you use hands-free?

You can use hands-free phones – as long as you don’t press any buttons  – sat navs and two-way radios when you’re driving or riding.

But if the police think you’re distracted and not in control of your vehicle you could still get stopped and penalised. The law also applies to those riding a motorcycle.

Any hands-free devices should be fully set up before you start your ride.

What are the fines for using a mobile phone while driving?

The fines for using your phone while driving is now set at £200.

If caught, you will receive six penalty points on your licence too.

You will also lose your driving licence if you passed your test in the last two years.

If you’re caught using a mobile while driving, how many points do you get on your licence?

Previously, drivers caught on their phones received three penalty points.

But government legislation doubled the amount to six points.

As new drivers only start with six points for their first two years on the road, a conviction will mean your licence being revoked – meaning you have to retake both your theory and practical test.

Previously, motorists in some police force areas could avoid points by taking a remedial driving course.

But ministers believed it wasn’t tough enough so now those caught using a mobile phone for the first time will automatically receive six penalty points.

What are the risks of using a phone while driving?

Drivers using mobile phones were responsible for 33 deaths on Britain’s roads in 2017 alone.

More than 200 people have been killed by drivers distracted by their devices in the last 10 years.

In 2019, research from the Department of Transport suggested that nearly half a million people were using mobile phones while driving.

What is the roadside detection system?

Motorists who use mobiles at the wheel will be shamed by a roadside detection system which can sense if a phone is in use in a car.

If the scanner senses a phone in use in a car, a symbol of a mobile with a line through it then flashes up on a sign as drivers pass.

It will not record plates or issue fines, but data will be shared with police.

The scanner is unable to tell whether a driver or passenger is using a handset, but officials hope the kit will help remind people of the dangers of using phones while driving.

Norfolk County Council’s Road Safety team has developed the technology in partnership with vehicle sign technology firm Westcotec.

How many people are caught using a mobile while driving each year?

The number has fallen 84 per cent in five years, with just 16,900 receiving fixed penalty notices in 2015  compared to 123,100 in 2011.

But 11 million drivers have admitted to using their phone while driving.

Just 13,000 motorists are convicted for using – or causing others to use – a mobile phone when they’re at the controls of a car in Britain each year.

This has resulted in combined fines of £2 million annually, Direct Line said in 2019.

More than a quarter of motorists in 2019 used their phone behind the wheel, be it for calls, messaging or checking updates, according to its survey of 2,000 drivers.

This amounts to nearly 11million individuals, or a motorist using their phone every three seconds on Britain’s roads.

Trials of a 60mph limit will assess how slower speeds affect pollution levels next to junctions or on routes to towns and cities.

More than 40,000 premature deaths a year are linked to poor air quality and the government has identified 101 parts of England’s strategic road network that potentially exceed recommended NO2 levels.

It’s the first time that lower limits will be introduced to tackle emissions alone and the new measures could be rolled out to more locations.

A 60mph limit will be enforced for 24 hours a day on the following motorways:

• M6 between junctions 6 and 7 (near Birmingham)
• M1 between junctions 33 and 34 (at Rotherham, South Yorkshire)
• M602 between junctions 1 and 3 (near Eccles, Greater Manchester)
• M5 between junctions 1 and 2 (at Oldbury, West Midlands)The signposted speed limits will remain on stretches of road up to 4.5 miles long for at least 12 months with a chance of extension if air quality improves.

  Drivers caught breaking the new 60mph limit could face a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

  Although Highways England expect a drop in NO2 levels they confirmed that if lower limits were “not having the desired impact after 12 to 15 months then we’ll remove them and look at alternative ways to tackle air quality in that area”.

  They say initial assessments show that a 60mph limit led to an average 17% reduction in emissions.

  Another four locations with poor air quality already have lower speed limits, mainly implemented because of roadworks. There are restrictions at the M32 in Bristol; the A1 in Blaydon, Tyneside; the M4 in Harlington, London; and the M621 near Leeds.

  A separate plan to test pollution barriers is already in place

  Ivan Le Fevre, head of environment at Highways England, said: “Ultimately the air-quality challenge will be solved ‘at the tailpipe’ by vehicle manufacturers and changes in vehicle use. Until this happens we will continue our programme of research and solutions.”

  

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  RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Drivers will already be getting used to speed limits lower than 70mph on stretches of motorway that have been converted to ‘smart motorways’, so targeted speed reductions to reduce emissions in many ways makes sense – so long as doing so doesn’t lead to congestion, and therefore poorer air quality, elsewhere.

  “However it’s also right that all options are considered when it comes to tackling air pollution hotspots on major roads, so in time we look forward to seeing how effective both lower speed limits and pollution barriers prove to be.”

  Over the past 20 years, traffic on motorways has risen by almost a quarter, twice the increase for all roads. The chancellor has promised a £27 billion investment to upgrade motorways and A-roads until 2025.