March sets new records with petrol and diesel prices
New data shows that fuel pump prices rose more in March than in any previous month on record, despite the Chancellor announcing a 5p duty cut in the Spring Statement. The RAC Fuel Watch research says that, as well as hitting a new record-high price of 167.3p on Tuesday 22 March, the average cost of […]
RAC says many fines related to yellow box junctions could be unfair
The RAC has said that as rules change over councils being able to issue enforcements fines related to yellow box junctions, many of them could be unfair unless the government improves its design, maintenance and enforcement guidelines for local authorities. The Department for Transport (DfT) will soon begin accepting applications from councils to issue fines […]
Drivers unconvinced new phone laws will make the roads safer
New RAC research suggests more than four in ten drivers aren’t aware of changes to the law around using a mobile phone whilst driving, and just two per cent believe it will be very effective in improving driver behaviour. A loophole has closed that existed where drivers might only receive a maximum of three penalty […]
RAC introduces new help for EV drivers
The RAC has done a deal with EV chargepoint mapping app Zap-Map, to help electric vehicle drivers who run out of charge. The Zap-Map app is being distributed to the RAC’s 1,600 patrols via all their devices – phones, laptops and in-van terminals – enabling them to locate the nearest available, suitable, publicly accessible charge […]
Nearly one-in-four drivers think most car headlights are too bright
Nine-in-10 drivers (89%) think some or most car headlights on the UK’s roads are too bright, with an overwhelming majority of these (88%) saying they get dazzled by them while driving, a new RAC study of 2,700 drivers’ views has found. The problem of glare from headlights appears to be getting worse with 63% of […]
RAC says “lives were saved” by people staying at home during Storm Eunice
Drivers have behaved responsibly during recent storms, by staying at home and only travelling if absolutely essential. The motoring club says breakdown volumes halved during Storm Eunice, suggesting people took weather warnings seriously. Those that did need help tended to be for flood-related reasons rather than the usual battery issues. Three people died due to […]
RAC backs Fair Charge EV campaign
The RAC is backing a major new national campaign to speed up the switch to electric cars by removing many of the barriers currently facing drivers. FairCharge, which has been set up to ensure the environmental, economic and social benefits of the electric car revolution are properly harnessed, will push key EV issues to the […]
RAC records worst third quarter for pothole breakdowns in 15 years
The RAC says that July to September saw it deal with the largest ever proportion of pothole-related call-outs in any third quarter since 2006. It says RAC patrols attended 1,810 breakdowns for broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers which represented 1.2% of all its call-outs* over the three-month period. July to September, […]
RSTA responds to RAC claim that roads are in desperate need of repair after ‘missed opportunity’ in pandemic
The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has responded to claims by the RAC that roads in the UK are in ‘desperate’ need of repair, saying there was a missed opportunity to address this during the pandemic. Paul Boss, RSTA Chief Executive said a significant amount of work was completed during the pandemic as soon as […]
Supermarkets add nearly 1,000 EV charge points in less than two years
Nearly 1,000 new electric vehicle charge points have been installed at supermarkets in the last 21 months, according to data analysed by Zap-Map and the RAC. They say this takes the total number of EV charger units on their sites to 2,059, up 85% from 1,112 in January 2020, and means nearly 8% of all […]