New plans to allow local councils in Britain to count down the number of road markings and signs were announced by Roads Minister Rob Goodwill on 1st May.

The changes are included in a new consultation which also outlines proposals for cleaner road markings and new low-level signals for cyclists which will help improve safety on the roads.

The consultation invites views on the revised Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2015 which has been put together following intensive consultation with DVSA stakeholders over the last few years. The proposals will incorporate the regulatory and presentations improvements for signage recommend in the policy paper ‘Signing the way’ which was a culmination of the traffic signs policy review that began in September 2008. The revisions are to provide greater flexibility and cut costs for local authorities and make a significant contribution to red tape.

The changes will mean road users will have signs that are easier to understand and could cut clutter on the roads. The proposals will also look to relax regulations for parking bays and yellow-box junctions to give local councils greater flexibility in designing road layouts and markings.

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Whilst it does not seem like two weeks since the last Bank Holiday, we find ourselves once again on the verge of another long weekend off from work. However, whatever you are doing this Bank Holiday, make sure that you are driving safely and responsibly.

Here are some of our tips for Bank Holiday driving:

– Perform all pre-flight checks before setting off. This goes double for long journeys – ensure to check your fuel, oil, tyre pressure, windscreen washer fluid, and all other features that you will need on a Bank Holiday voyage.

– Remove any extra weight from your car. Whilst this seems like it goes without saying, the vast majority of drivers still weight their cars down unnecessarily. Remove your roof box if not needed, and empty your boot of all the rubbish that has gathered in there over the last few years!

– Avoid traffic. Whilst traffic may seem unavoidable, it very often can be dodged with just a bit of forward thinking. Plan your journey in advance, such as avoiding motorways on Friday evening rush hour, as this will help you to beat the congestion and to start your Bank Holiday off to a flying start!

Safe driving this Bank Holiday from Britannia!

Professor Frank Kelly, chairman of the Department of Health’s committee on air pollution, has stated that ministers have created a public health crisis by ‘blindly’ promoting diesel cars. He argues that diesel engines are potentially responsible for more than 7000 deaths a year in Britain.

More than half of UK-registered cars are diesel which had been promoted in the 1970s since they generate far less carbon dioxide than petrol vehicles. However, scientists have realised that diesel produces more particles and nitrogen oxides that can cause a variety of long-term health problems.

While catalytic converters have rapidly improved in petrol cars, advances have been slower in diesel until very recently. The toxic fumes pumped out by diesel cars were behind the smog which blanketed Britain at the beginning of April.

According to health experts, air pollution can cause strokes, asthma and heart failure.

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Although we are all expecting Spring-time to appear at any moment, it is best to accept that even in the middle of the year, the rain is still likely to appear (this is Britain after all.)

Here are our top tips for driving in the rain:

– Drive slowly. In wet weather, you are much more likely to lose control of your vehicle, but driving even up to 5 mph slower reduces the risk of this greatly.

– Plan your journey. try to avoid roads that are likely to become waterlogged or flooded, as this will delay your journey time hugely, not to mention placing you in danger.

– Watch out for puddles. Britannia has reported in the past about drivers being penalised for driving through puddles. Drive as far from the pavement as possible.

– Check your windscreen wipers before setting off. Although it sounds obvious, a lot of accidents are caused by faulty or non-functioning windscreen wipers. Without these working fully, your vision is likely to become obscured, placing yourself and others in immediate danger.

Safe driving this wet summer from Britannia!

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Almost half of all motorists have admitted to using their phone whilst behind the wheel, despite mobile use while driving being banned for 10 years.

A survey by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line found three in 10 drivers send or read texts while driving, and one in eight use apps. The charity believes that the current ban on using hand-held devices behind the wheels has left many drivers unaware that using a hands-free mobile at the wheel is just as risky. However, studies have shown the risk of being in a crash that causes injury is increased four times for drivers on both hand-held and hands-free phones, with reactions 50% slower than under normal conditions.

It has been shown that the effect of using a phone whilst driving is greater than drinking certain levels of alcohol. Reaction times have been found to be 30% slower while using a hands-free phone than driving with a blood alcohol level of 80mg/100ml blood (the current UK limit).

A recent survey has found that phone use whilst driving is the UK’s most hated habit, with it appearing as more of a nuisance to older motorists.

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An innovative solution from tech giants Apple could soon put a stop to motorists who drive whilst texting.

The Apple patent, titled “Driver Handheld Computing Device lock-Out” was published on Tuesday, and suggests a variety of ways to limit those behind the wheel from using their phones.

One of the ways it would work is by using the phone’s in-built sensors to detect movement above a certain speed that would suggest the user is driving, or by using the phone’s camera to detect if the phone is being held by the driver.

If the phone recognises that its owner is indeed behind a wheel, it would automatically disable any other functions such as texting or calling.

Another concept proposed was that the phone would be silenced by the car itself – in that once the ignition is started, a signal would be sent to jam the phone until the engine has been shut off once more.

Whilst both ideas sound feasible, this technology may be a long way off hitting the market.

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Safe driving from Britannia!