It has been found that more than half of motorists’ appeals against fines are found in their favour but few motorists do in fact appeal.

Barrie Segal, owner of the campaigning website AppealNow, has reviewed roughly 60,000 parking tickets on behalf of motorists and has found a number of ‘scams’. One in particular is the ‘ghost ticket’ trick where a driver is sent details of a fine in the post without being handed a ticket by a parking warden.

Penalty charge notices are fines issued by local councils or the police with a discount offered to those who pay early. However, if a motorist is convinced the fine is unfair the advice is not to pay and to appeal to the council that issued the penalty quickly. Providing supporting evidence, such as photographs, could improve chances of the appeal’s success.

Private property charges, such as those issued in shopping centre car parks, represent a breach of contract between the motorist and the land owner allowing the land owner to legally issue a ticket. However, if the contract terms are deemed unfair, such as if there is no way to pay, the motorist can choose to appeal or not do anything. Segal recommends that motorists refuse to pay those tickets that have been unfairly issued and ignore threats of court action since few cases end up in court.

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It has been found that women in the West Yorkshire town of Heckmondwike are the worst learners in the country. The test centre has a pass rate of 39.8 per cent, much below the national average of 47.1 per cent. The test routes used are amongst the most difficult in the country, with narrow, rural roads, bad surfaces and busy junctions including the Gildersome Roundabout, the most dangerous roundabout in West Yorkshire.

Five women in the town, aged between 35 and 48, have been found to take 158 practical driving tests between them. One of the women took 34 attempts to pass, whilst two others took 32 and the other two women took 30 attempts.

The record for the most practical test failures is held by a 40-year-old man in Stoke-On-Trent who eventually passed on his 37th attempt. A record number of failures has also been set for the theory test by a 28-year-old woman from London who found herself taking the test 110 times.

The DSA has commented that pass rates are influenced by a number of factors including nerves and that examiners are trained to a high standard and are consistently monitored.

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One in five motorists have confessed to using drugs whilst driving.

The price comparison online site Confused.com carried out the poll of 2,000 UK residents. Of this number, almost 20% admitted to using drugs whilst behind the wheel – 7% of which included illegal drugs.

Despite this number, the total amount of convictions in England and Wales of drivers using cannabis, heroin, cocaine and ecstasy in the UK has dropped by 12%, with 164 less cases reported in 2012 compared to the previous year.

This number also fell by 67 in Scotland in the same year.

Almost a third of those questioned claimed to be aware of someone who uses drugs whilst driving, with over half over of those who had been convicted admitting having been prosecuted on more than one occasion, with 20% of this number having been found guilty of the offence three or more times.

The age group most likely to commit this crime was found to be drivers aged 18-24, with a quarter of this demographic admitting the offence.

Driving groups are now calling for the laws regarding drug-driving to be altered to make it easier to catch those guilty. Currently the laws only deem it possible to prosecute when the user can be proved to be impaired due to drugs – however proving that the user is impaired can require extensive testing.

The new rules, once brought into action, will allow prosecutors to convict those guilty simply by finding the specified substance in their body – which can be found by a much simpler test – regardless of whether they are deemed to be “impaired” or not.

Drug-driving is no safer than drink-driving – even legal prescription medications should not be taken when you are planning to drive.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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Tim Clarke, 19, is unable to afford car insurance due to extortionate insurance fees despite driving for a living, possessing a clean driving licence and a Certificate of Professional Competence. In attempting to insure his 1.3 Suzuki Jimny he was quoted between £3,000 and £5,000 and was turned down by Direct Line due to his ‘lack of experience’.

Clarke feels that age is the sole factor being taken into account when determining the price of car insurance. He recommends that driving qualifications and skills should also be taken into account. He now has to rely on his parents and public transport and will wait another year before trying to insure his car again.

Direct Line have responded by stating that age and experience are two of the most significant factors involved in determining the price of car insurance. This is due to the fact that young drivers are involved in 25 per cent of road deaths and serious injuries. It then follows that a young person with less than a year’s experience will still be determined at a higher risk than an experienced older driver despite driving for their job.

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West Midlands Police received a phone call from a learner driver complaining that his instructor turned up late. Upon arrival of his instructor, the learner had been involved in a confrontation with her after which she cancelled the lesson.

This prompted the learner’s call to 999 explaining that the instructor had asked him to get out of the car. The operator was less than sympathetic stating ‘Well, then you get out her car. That’s her right if it’s her car.’ Though the learner was persistent in his complaint, the operator warned him that 999 should not be used to complain about his instructor being late.

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A review is being considered on parking restrictions on double yellow lines. Currently, parking is prohibited, unless stated, on double yellow lines for all vehicles apart from blue badge holders, emergency services and those making commercial deliveries and pick-ups. It has now been suggested that unaffordable town centre parking is a significant contributor to the failing of the High Street.

The Conservatives are keen to issue new guidelines which would encourage councils to allow a grace period of between five and fifteen minutes on double yellow lines. Lib Dem ministers, on the other hand, have their reservations on interfering with councils’ parking policies but have confirmed that a review of the maximum and minimum fine levels set by the government will be made.

It is hoped that a slight lifting of restrictions on parking on double yellow lines will improve trade for stores on the high street as opposed to encouraging the public to shop online or in out-of-town shopping centres.

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Ever feel tense behind the wheel? Do other drivers annoy you, and you can feel your frustration growing and growing, ready to explode at any minute?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Road rage affects many drivers, and unfortunately it is just as much a part of today’s driving as the traffic jam. But there are ways in which you can avoid this. Here are Britannia’s top tips for avoiding road rage:

– Drive with manners. Allow other motorists sufficient time and courtesy, try not to pull out on anyone or rush any other drivers. Follow the rules of the road, and treat other drivers with respect, and you will get the same consideration.

– Make your car a happy place. It doesn’t matter if you’re into Death Metal or a bubblegum pop fan; listen to music that calms you down. In-car music has been proven to have an effect on the way you drive, with drivers that listen to more aggressive music becoming less safe on the roads, and therefore more likely to suffer road rage. Also keep your car clean and tidy- you need to feel relaxed in your own car to avoid road rage.

– Ignore other driver’s road rages. Don’t rise to them; if another driver swears at you or makes threatening gestures, simply drive on. Responding to their actions will only increase your stress behind the wheel, and higher your chances of suffering road rage and having an accident. It’s nothing personal – so don’t let it get to you.

– Plan ahead: one of the main factors in road rage is the driver in question rushing to get somewhere. The combination of rushing and stress very often leads to road rage and accidents, so give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to, and arrive at your destination calm and relaxed.

– Drive safe: Stay focused on the roads, don’t mess about with passengers in the car, talk on the phone, or eat or drink. These factors will only contribute to a higher likelihood of accidents and increase your risk of road rage.

Safe driving from Britannia!

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