The latest technology about to hit the road is the web-enabled vehicle.

Ford and Audi have found a niche in the market and are set to release a new gadget in their vehicles. With more car dealers set to follow.

The small monitor meant to be introduced in 2011, will enable drivers to access the internet, send emails, surf the web and use skype. It will also double up as Sat Nav, with drivers being able to access Google maps and get directions.

The monitor will act as a wireless hotspot throughout the car. It will allow drivers to get work done whilst on the roads and may replace the use of laptops for the more frequent travellers.

However, there are safety campaigners who have expressed their concerns and pointed out the danger the latest technology could cause. Many accidents are caused every year due to mobile phone use and this will just act as another distraction for drivers.

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MORE than five million British motorists are currently breaking the law by driving unsafe vehicles, according to new research.
And the number of dangerous cars on the road may have been boosted by people keeping older cars for longer to benefit from the government’s scrappage scheme, claim insurers.

The most common repair faults identified include worn tyres (12 per cent), defective brakes (9 per cent) and faulty exhaust pipes (6 per cent), according to a poll of more than 3,200 motorists conducted by breakdown service Britannia Rescue.

One in 20 cars has broken or missing wing mirrors and a similar number (5 per cent) have broken head or tail lights, the study revealed.

Simon Stevens, general manager of Britannia Rescue, said: “It’s concerning so many motorists drive dangerous vehicles in need of repair. Some repairs may appear to be minor but they could still turn a car into a death-trap.”

Researchers calculated that of 33.8 million drivers in the UK, according to the most recent census, 16 per cent, or 5.4 million, admit currently driving a damaged vehicle with faults.

Drinking and driving a golf buggy is, like drinking and driving a car, something which may well attract the long arm of the law.

The same goes for those navigating a quad bike or mini motorbike while under the influence.

But in these scenarios there is no strict alcohol limit, as there is with when driving a car.

So South Wales Police have charged rugby player Andy Powell with “driving a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit through drink”, under the Road Traffic Act 1988. In such cases, it is up to the court to decide what constitutes being unfit to drive on a road or other public place.

“This could lead to an anomaly where somebody is driving a mechanically propelled vehicle which is not a motor vehicle, whilst over the prescribed limit, for example a golf buggy,” says Nick Freeman, the lawyer known as Mr Loophole for his skill at finding ways to get celebrity clients off driving offences. “That person might be over the prescribed limit, but not unfit to drive… and therefore escape prosecution.”

A CCTV camera in London picked up a hit and run…on a snowman.
 
The snow has caused disruption for many people across the country however, for many it has provided fun and games. Children and adults alike, have played in the snow, sledging down hills and building snowmen.
 
However, some take it to the extreme, when a camera caught a car driving into and knocking down a snowman. Although it seems harmless, it could have had some serious consciences.
 
Not only could people walking close by to the snowman have been injured, even if the vehicle had been travelling at low speeds, the impact could have caused serious damage to the vehicle and the occupants.
 
Drivers are warned to be extra vigilant in these bad weather conditions, keeping a safe distance from other vehicles, reducing your speed and being more aware of your surroundings.
 
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Many accidents occur every year due to drivers not leaving enough distance between themselves and the vehicle in front.

Braking distance refers to the distance a vehicle will travel from the point the brakes are applied to when the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

Road conditions, speed and weather conditions can all affect the time it takes for your car to come to a complete stop. Many cars have ABS antilock brakes which helps decrease braking distances on most road surfaces in most weather conditions, it prevents tyres locking and the car skidding. However, in order to get the most out of antilock brakes, you must know how to use them.

The thinking time that it takes an individual to respond to a hazard is the same regardless of speed. If you were in a car travelling at 60mph it would take around 4.6 seconds for you to stop the car. Therefore a 3 second rule applies. Guidelines suggest that you leave at least a 3 second gap between you and the car in front and even more of a gap when the weather is bad.

It is recommended that you get your car serviced regularly to make sure that your car is in good working order, particularly the brakes.

It is also recommended that drivers take the occasional refresher lesson with a qualified driving instructor, to get the most of out their driving ability and to eradicate any bad habits they may have picked up. This of course is something that Britannia can provide.

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SPECIAL Constables took part in a two-day clampdown on motoring offences last weekend.
The officers issued 42 fixed penalty tickets for drivers using a mobile phone, not wearing a seatbelt or for speeding.

A further 37 motorists were given words of advice during the operation, which took place in Todmorden and at the other end of the Calder Valley in Brighouse. Officers said it had been a success.

Sergeant Julian Hartley, Specials co-ordinator for Calderdale Police, said: “The work that special constables do over the course of a year is very important.

“They are volunteers who give up their free time and do an excellent job.

“They again showed their true value by carrying out an important operation in areas where motoring offences are regularly identified as key priorities by the local community.”

The operation took place to mark the national Specials Weekend which recognises the constables’ hard work and dedication to policing.

The theme of this year’s operation was road safety.

Stuart Clarke, senior section officer for Calderdale Specials, said: “Taking part in the national operation has been a good opportunity for Calderdale’s Special Constabulary to get involved with an area of policing that is often of concern to the local community.

“It also highlights the variety and diversity of work that Special Constables can do.”

London taxpayers face a £100million bill to repair and maintain roads following extensive damage caused by one of the coldest winters on record.

Experts say that fixing potholes and other snow damage could cost London councils as much as an additional £20million to their annual £80million budget.

At the same time London’s councils face a 25 per cent squeeze on government grants earmarked for repairing roads.

Motoring organisations said thousands of unfixed potholes posed a threat to drivers and cyclists.

Highways teams have been dispatched across the capital to fix the unprecedented number of potholes created by the big freeze and some councils have set up “pothole hotlines”.

Martin Low, president of the Local Government Technical Advisers’ Group, and city commissioner of transportation for Westminster council, said: “A sizeable chunk of councils’ transport budgets this year will need to service the extensive damage to the road network as a result of the severe weather.”

Sutton council is one of the worst hit and put its estimated bill for repairs at £3million.

Harrow council said damage caused by the cold snap would cost the taxpayer up to £2million.

Meanwhile, Richmond council said it has asked residents to report dangerous potholes so that they can be filled in as soon as possible.

The Local Government Association has written to the Department for Transport asking for £100million to be brought forward to pay for the damage caused by the cold.

The DSA (Driving Standards Agency) fraud team have been presented an award for all their hard work. The dedicated team at the DSA have investigated many cases and arrested over 900 suspected criminals.

There are many individuals trying to make money by impersonating a pupil about to go up on test, which makes a complete mockery out of the driving test process.

Identity crime is fast becoming a huge problem in the U.K. and the DSA are working hard to make sure that people are not being passed, which allows them to drive on public roads without being vetted as a safe driver.

The team say they will continue to develop their methods and intelligence and work closely with the Home Office, DVLA and Police and Criminal Justice agencies to stop both the fraudsters and the dangerous drivers.

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January saw the country come to a standstill with snow disrupting transport, schools, hospitals and driving tests.

Driving tests across the U.K. were cancelled by the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) during January due to the freezing weather and icy roads.

Figures suggest that 31,000 of the 40,000 scheduled tests were cancelled affecting not only cars, but bikes and LGV’s.

The DSA do not refund or pay compensation to pupils if the test is cancelled due to weather conditions, instead pupils are advised to contact their test centre to confirm whether their test is to go ahead and if not they are automatically given a new test date.

Natasha Simper of Britannia Driving School said: “I know it can be upsetting for pupils who have their tests cancelled especially if they are nervous about taking it in the first place however, safety is paramount and with the roads icy and driving conditions extremely poor it has to be done.”

A ROAD safety charity is calling for a change in the law after the case against a woman accused of being drunk while driving her mobility scooter was dropped.

Teresa Bolton, 69, of Polonia Court, Oldham, was arrested and charged after being found almost three times over the legal drink-drive limit while in control of the scooter.

But the case against her was withdrawn when prosecutors discovered invalid carriages were exempt from the drink-drive laws.

Now The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) says drink-driving laws should be applied to all vehicles that use public roads. Mrs Bolton had already appeared in court twice and had pleaded not guilty.

At one of the hearings, magistrates were told that she was driving her mobility scooter on Chapel Road on September 18 last year after attending the funeral of her friend.

The police were called when a taxi driver claimed she had damaged his vehicle and she was given a breath test.

She was then taken back to the station where a second test found she had 301mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine. The legal limit for driving is 107mg.

Mrs Bolton was later charged with driving a motor vehicle with an alcohol level above the limit, but the case against her was eventually dropped at Oldham Magistrates’ Court last month.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said invalid carriages were exempt under legislation.