Twelve new cycle paths are set to be introduced in the capital and stimulate a cycling revolution, making it safer and easier to commute.

As part of the funding for Barclays Cycle Superhighways, Transport for London will be installing over 5,000 cycle parking space and putting money into cycle training and cycle lane maintenance.

The new cycle lanes are thought to encourage more people to travel in an environmentally friendly and healthy way, helping to improve air quality, cut CO2 and reduce congestion – especially in central London.

Two of the twelve routes are already in place, running from Wimbledon to Bank via the A24 and A3 and Barking (East London) to Tower Gateway via the A13.

It is thought that the distinctive blue colour will show that cyclists have just as much priority as drivers. The lanes will also have consistent and easy to follow road marking and the road surfaces will mean no accidents with potholes.

As well as installing these new cycle lanes, there are plans to update existing ones. Plans include:

Providing space for cyclists ahead of vehicles at traffic lights

Installing cycle safety mirrors so that large vehicles can see cyclists more easily

Resurfacing cycle pathways to make it a smoother journey

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “The new cycle paths will hopefully encourage more people to be active and help reduce carbon emissions and hopefully the new structures in place will make it safe for cyclists and drivers alike. However, my only worry is how many drivers know what the blue lane is yet and if the Superhighway cycle lanes do not entice us to use them, they may just add to the congestion problem.”

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An Albanian man told driving test staff English food had changed the shape of his ears – after they spotted he was impersonating someone.

Lefter Duka, 33, booked a theory test but the man who showed up to take it did not look like the photo on his licence.

The man told staff last July, his diet changed his looks. Mr Duka, who insisted the man had attended the centre as his interpreter, was arrested after failing his test in January.

Gloucester magistrates yesterday cleared Mr Duka of letting “Mr X” impersonate him. Bench chair Gordon Ferris said: “We find the case has not been proved.”

Road tax used to be a standard charge based on the size of your car’s engine however, now it’s a little more complicated.

Tax rates can range from £940 to nothing at all. The rates are calculated by assessing the car’s CO2 emission level. The lower the car’s emission levels the cheaper the road tax. You can normally find the car’s CO2 emission details in the logbook or registration certificate (V5C).

The tax will also now depend on how old the vehicle is. Vehicles registered after March 2001 will be taxed differently to those registered before.

Vehicles registered before March 2001 will continue to be taxed based on the engine size with those over 1549cc paying more than those will a smaller engine.

You can visit the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) website for a full breakdown of costs.

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A disabled farmer who was more than three times over the drink-drive limit while driving his mobility scooter has been banned from driving.

Glendale Rice, 58, was spotted by police as he weaved across a narrow country lane on a five miles-per-hour trip to the shops.

When the woman officer spoke to him they could smell alcohol on his breath so made him take a breathalyser test.

The results showed he was three time the legal limit for driving and at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court he was banned from driving a car for a year.

Bizarrely JPs said he could still use his scooter, which he needs to get around on because of his arthritis problems.

Rice, a former market trader, says he is crippled by arthritis and lives alone in a remote caravan with his pet hen Limpy.

Outside court he admitted that the police had been right to pull him over on Monday.
He said: ‘It was fair enough really, but the scooter only does a maximum of 5mph and it takes me an hour to get to

Abbeytown and an hour to get to Silloth.
‘It’s important to me. I wasn’t wobbling on the scooter when I was on it, and when I got to Abbeytown the shop was shut anyway.

‘The police said I can still use it but I shouldn’t drink anything beforehand.

Dangerous or careless driving no matter whether the driver believes they are acting this way or not can have serious consequences and often involves fatalities.

Dangerous driving is where an individual falls FAR below the standard of a competent driver and can include:

Racing or travelling too fast, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, ignoring traffic signs or lights, undertaking dangerously, knowing the vehicle has dangerous faults, talking on a mobile phone or reading.

Careless driving is where an individual is driving carelessly and their standard of driving is below the minimum acceptable standard of a competent driver, this can include:

Driving too closely to other vehicles, driving through a red light whether it be by mistake or not, being distracted by the radio or another passenger, overtaking on the inside.

Inconsiderate driving can have just as serious consequences and can include:

Flashing lights inappropriately, misusing lanes, braking sharply or driving too slowly.

The penalties for these offences hold prison sentences of up to 14 years, unlimited fines and disqualification from driving for up to two years.

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A special officer from Suffolk attended court for the charge of dangerous driving.

The officer had been perusing a drunk driver when he used his patrol vehicle to block the road causing an accident.

The jury have found him not guilty of dangerous driving but he has been fined £1000 and given a six month driving ban for careless driving. Suffolk police have said that he should not have taken part in such a pursuit and it put many lives at risk including his colleague, the driver being pursued and members of the public.

He now faces an internal disciplinary hearing but will continue working as the injuries he sustained meant he was unable to continue carrying out operational duties.

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A 38-year-old man has been arrested in Des Moines, Iowa after being caught drink-driving on his tractor.

Robert Grimstad was picked up by officers at the crossing of 300th Street and Iowa Highway 17 near Madrid, the Des Moines Register reports.

Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr admitted that he did not know how fast Grimstad was travelling without his lights on the six-speed Bolens lawn tractor.

“I don’t know. How fast can a lawn mower go?” he said.

Fehr added that is an offence to drive any vehicle anywhere while under the influence of alcohol. When tested, Grimstad’s blood-alcohol concentration was found to be .190.

Insurance policies can vary from one insurer to the next.

Each policy will depend on the type of car being insured and more importantly the person. The person’s age, gender and history all play a part in calculating the premiums.

It is already common knowledge that new drivers, particularly those under the age of 25 are charged higher rates, but it now emerges that the older driver is being stung with high rates also.

Many insurers will refuse quotes to the over 65’s however, those that can find an insurer will get a raw deal simply because of their age.

Research shows that an annual policy with one insurer (who specialise in insurance for older drivers) for a 75 year old women would cost in the region of £700, but for an 85 year old women more than £1200.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “My advice is to shop around – online quotes often beat telephone quotes despite offering the same cover. No matter what your age, you can never predict what will happen on the roads so make sure you get yourself covered.”

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With Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton flying highest in the F1 rankings, Britain has a good chance of celebrating a home winner at this weekend’s home Grand Prix.

The McLaren-Mercedes team-mates have proved a successful formula so far, leading the way in the Drivers’ Championship with two race wins each.

The top performances have dispelled pre-season predictions the union of the two world champions was destined to fail.

But is there any love lost between Button and Hamilton off the track – and when Sunday’s race arrives, which driver will triumph?

In the time it takes to lap the redesigned Silverstone circuit (one minute and 25 seconds approximately), Sky News sports presenter Jon Desborough quizzed the duo on the race and their relationship.

The first traffic lights were introduced in 1868 outside the Houses of Parliament in London. The lights used red and green gas lamps with a lever at the base to show the appropriate light. However, this exploded shortly after and it was not until 1912 that the first electric traffic light was invented.

The first three-colour traffic light, much like we use today was introduced in 1920.

The colour red and green used to represent stop and go is thought to derive from maritime rules whereby, port (red) and starboard (green).

You will find that the red light contains some orange in it and the green contains some blue, this is in place to support those with red-green colour blindness.

Alarmingly over half of the UK population do not know their traffic light sequence.

Surveys have revealed that only 48% of those asked correctly identified that the colour that follows an amber light is red. The rest of the population thought it was a green light that followed an amber signal. This is extremely worrying when amber is preparing us to stop.

The correct traffic light sequence is as follows:

Red: Stop and wait behind the stop line

Red and Amber: Stop at the stop line. Do not pass until the green light shows

Green: You may continue ahead if the way forward is clear

Amber: Stop at the stop line. You can only pass through an amber light if you have already crossed the stop line or are so close that to stop might cause an accident

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “Interestingly in the Philippines on a Sunday, they often turn the traffic light off. However, this is only as dangerous as over half the UK population not knowing the correct traffic light sequence. If you are a car or motorcycle driver and feel rusty, take a look at the Highway Code and familiarise yourself with the rules of the road, you may be surprised at how much you had forgotten.”

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