Volvo’s specially adapted V60 (the ‘driverless’ car) has been tested for the first time on British Roads.

At the press of two buttons, the car takes control of the brakes, engine and steering ensuring that the car keeps a safe distance from the car in front. The driver can take back control at any time, however.

The technology is designed as a safety net namely on long tedious journeys where the driver’s attention can wander. In particular, it is designed to make long motorway journeys more relaxed. Volvo aims to include this technology in all future models in the hope that no one will be killed or seriously injured in one of their cars by 2020.

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Transport for London is in talks with the government to introduce Dutch-style traffic lights for cyclists. The traffic lights would be set at eye-level with the green light featuring a bicycle logo. The lights would be staggered to give bicycles a head start from light controlled junctions.

The number of deaths among cyclists has risen at the same time as road deaths have fallen, suggesting that a change in the law should be made to make cycling safer.

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Most drivers will only fill up their car when they absolutely have to; for many, the warning light is not warning enough, and they will continue to cruise around in their cars until they feel their motor could literally give up at any moment.

Many will argue against filling a tank up to the brim, as this adds unnecessary weight to a car and therefore a larger proportion of this fuel will be wasted. However take a second to consider if driving with next to nothing in your tank is healthy for your car or yourself too.

Research has shown that by driving with very little fuel in your car leads to sediment building up in the bottom of the tank. Over time this sediment amalgamates and can clog your fuel filter, leading to costly repairs. Too little fuel will also expose your fuel pump, which is intended to be submerged in fuel, which can lead to this overheating and again be very expensive to fix.

Also bear in mind that if your tank far too dry, this can ultimately lead to the brakes and power steering ceasing to function. Imagine that happening on a motorway…

Don’t take the risk. Keep a decent amount of fuel in your car at all times. You will be glad you did.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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If so, you could face a fine of £100 and three penalty points. New laws to tackle anti-social drivers who among other things, hog the middle lane, cut up other drivers and tailgate, allow police officers to issue fixed penalty notices on the spot.

Hogging the middle lane we believe will be the most controversial, with many drivers doing it despite The Highway Code states that this lane should only be used for overtaking. This has long been a problem on the motorway and something many drivers find extremely frustrating. If you choose to overtake a car, when it’s safe to do so, one should return to the left lane to clear the overtaking lane. Hogging the middle lane causes congestion and this is something we can all do without.

If you’re unsure how to effectively drive on the motorway talk to a driving instructor and book a few lessons. Your instructor will teach you how to properly make use of the lanes, when and how to overtake, and be an overall safer driver on the motorway.

It would appear that people are taking the issue of using their mobile phone while driving seriously.

The latest figures show that the number of people penalised for using their mobile when driving has dropped from this time last year.

We all know the statistics, you are 4 times more likely to crash if you are using a phone while driving and the reaction time for drivers who use their mobile phone when driving is 50% slower than normal driving. It’s obvious that using your phone when you’re behind the wheel is a recipe for disaster – and should always be avoided.

Time and time again we hear people say that the call is important. But the truth is that your life is more important. You should only answer your phone when you are parked in a safe and convenient place. It’s never worth risking yours and other people’s lives.

Six out of ten drivers are reducing car trips because of escalating motoring costs says a leading insurer.

In a survey by specialist broker Adrian Flux, 60% of those questioned said they were using their car less than before the financial crisis started to bite.

Petrol   prices have risen 37% since 2007, with diesel up 43% over the same period.

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As money is tight for so many families all over Britain, people are been stretched to do whatever they can to save some pennies.

One way that people are trying to save money is by lying on their car insurance forms. An estimated one in 12 drivers admit to lying about their details to insurers to save money.

When it comes to something as important as car insurance it pays to be honest. You don’t want to run risk of having your insurance been revoked. Car insurance needs to be taken seriously.

To get yourself the best deal, ensure that you always shop around for the best insurance package. Price comparison websites are great for this. Simply enter in your details and see what is been offered, then phone up the company which is offering the best deal and see if you can negotiate a better price. This sounds easy, and it is, but it is surprising how few people do try it.

Looking to upgrade your model? The best way to ensure that the your potential new car is perfect for you is to give it a test drive… but this would be useless if you did not know what you were looking for, or what possible dangers could lie ahead.

Here are Britannia’s top tips for Test Drives:

– Ensure you are insured. If you are buying from a dealer, their insurance will probably cover you, though it is always worth double-checking. However if you are buying from a private owner, always remember to give your insurers a call beforehand to see what extent you are covered to for a test drive. Should the worst happen and you have an accident behind the wheel in your potential new car, it will give you good peace of mind to know you are covered.

– Is it suited to your needs? Whilst most men would love a sleek new sports car, is this really feasible if you have a wife and children to taxi around constantly? Likewise, don’t go for a car that is too big either, as you will be wasting unnecessary fuel if you always drive alone. Give careful thought to what activities you are likely to use the car for, and consider is this vehicle is suitable.

– Keep a look-out for problems. Is the bonnet warm? This could mean the current owner is having problems starting it, and so has let the engine run for a while to avoid you finding this out before you buy. Check all the features: electrics, brakes, lights, air-con, tyres, seat-belts, glove-box, radio, everything – the last thing you want is to buy a new car and then have to fork out extra cash to fix issues that shouldn’t even be there!

– Don’t be afraid to say no. Many people find it hard to refuse a purchase after trying it out, and this is what often leads to problems in the future. Don’t buckle to pressure from the seller – if the car is not right for you, ask for another test drive, or just say no!

Happy driving from Britannia!

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New government guidelines to back people who rent out their driveways to commuters after councils have reportedly threatened to levy fines if planning permission is not obtained.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has backed households who rent out their driveways for helping working people park easier and cheaply and providing families with a means to make spare cash. The guidance states that homeowners can rent a single parking space without planning permission ‘provided there is no public nuisance to neighbours, or other substantive concerns’ making a clear distinction between renting out a single space and commercial use.

It is clear that there are concerns about people changing gardens into car parks with a spokesman from the Local Government Association highlighting the purpose of the council to ensure that people are not altering the character of the neighbourhood. He stated ‘people don’t want to wake up one morning to find that their neighbour is operating a parking lot.’

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