Amendments to driving theory test welcomed by DIA

Recent changes to the UK driving theory test have been welcomed by a leading motoring body, as the government aims to prevent motorists from becoming another "accident statistic".

The Driving Instructors Association (DIA) believes the decision to no longer use pre-published questions in the theory test will help motorists understand how to apply theory to their driving and improve their perception of hazardous situations on the roads and act accordingly.

Steve Garrod, DIA general manager, believed the fact drivers could no longer memorise theory test questions would make them safer drivers in the long run.

"Drivers’ knowledge of the Highway Code has been on the decline since the theory test was first introduced in 1996, with very few people ever opening a copy," he said.

The amendments made by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) could also prove to help younger, inexperienced motorists secure cheaper car insurance quotes. By forcing newly qualified drivers to think about applying the rules of the Highway Code as opposed to memorising a test book, it should improve their overall competence at the wheel.

It was revealed last month insurance claims made for single car accidents involving young drivers totals £20 million.

Mr Starling, director of general insurance at the Association of British Insurers (ABI), cited figures showing as many as 20 per cent of young motorists have been involved in an accident. The ABI also noted that of all deaths among young adults, a staggering 74 per cent are caused on the roads.

Unfortunately, with the number of road accidents showing no signs of abating there is a growing need for the retrieval of salvage and damage-repairable vehicles. At ASM Auto Recycling our vehicle transport service is the safest, most efficient way of taking salvage cars to our depots ready to be processed for car recycling in accordance with the European ELV Directive. 


Image: hvaldez1

Out-of-date satnav directions to be discussed at Government summit

The issue of out-of-date satnav directions for UK motorists is set to be discussed at a Government summit. The discussion, pencilled in for early March, will be hosted by Local Transport Minister Norman Baker.

The figurehead is very keen to bring a halt to the frustration and misery caused when motorists follow out-of-date satnav directions that result in confusion and potential accidents.

Baker is also set to call upon highway authorities, mapping providers and satnav manufacturers to work closely together to do everything possible to ensure the right vehicles are on the right roads. This has particularly been a logistic nightmare for lorry drivers who are often led down an incorrect route due to out-of-date directions.

The Department for Transport revealed this week that it can take a number of months for satnav maps to be updated.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker is keen to rid towns and cities of misdirected traffic, what he called the "scourge of local communities".

"It is vital highway authorities, mapping companies and satnav manufacturers work more closely together to provide drivers with accurate, up-to-date information on traffic restrictions such as narrow roads or low bridges," he said.

"This will help prevent huge lorries from being sent down inappropriate roads and ensure motorists are given the best possible directions."

It is an unfortunate fact that some car accidents result from driver confusion and at ASM Auto Recycling we regularly receive and retrieve salvage vehicles to our depots in Thame (Oxford) and Aylesbury.

Our vehicle transport service allows us to collect salvage vehicles from your home or place of work – whichever is most convenient. We are capable of meeting our collections across much of the Home Counties and Western England thanks to our modern fleet of 10 multi-vehicle car transporters.

Whether your car has been damaged as a result of a road accident or it has simply come to the end of its life at ASM we are responding to an increasing number of drivers who contacts as asking "can I scrap my car for cash?" Fortunately we have the capacity to store thousands of vehicles ready to be dismantled and recycled for used car parts.

Royston the first UK town to be completely monitored by ANPR cameras

The rural Hertfordshire town of Royston is the first in the United Kingdom to have all roads leading into and out of the area completely monitored by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

The small market town which borders Hertfordshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire, was viewed as the ideal test site for the ANPR cameras which check number plates against existing databases to flag up whether the vehicle is untaxed, uninsured or linked to crime.

It is claimed that 2,000 motorists have been arrested as a direct result of being caught my ANPR cameras nationwide. In its infancy in Royston, the cameras were used to identify and arrest four men for attempted burglary, but they remain under attack from civil liberties groups who have written to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) questioning the legality of the cameras.

Campaigners fear this type of system will eventually be rolled out nationwide to monitor drivers on a daily basis. But ANPR cameras are nothing new to the nation’s roads, with Police patrol vehicles having used this identification method for the last two decades.

ANPR cameras identify criminals and unsafe drivers, providing the missing link to owners of abandoned and stolen-recovered vehicles.

At ASM Auto Recycling our vehicle transport department has the latest technologies to enable the safe and environmentally friendly recovery of stolen-recovered vehicles.

It does not matter whether a car remains a valuable asset or not. At ASM we host a regular online salvage auction for damage-repairable cars and also provide a car recycling service for end-of-life vehicles that can be scrapped and recycled for used car parts.

Drivers ensure they can see their phone whilst at the wheel

Road safety messages to UK motorists regarding mobile phone usage do not appear to be getting through, with almost 40 per cent of drivers in the UK admitting to ensuring their phone is visible whilst driving.

Research from price comparison website, confused.com highlights the implications of being distracted by a phone or social media conversation or text message.

Over a quarter (27 per cent) of motorists surveyed admitted to logging onto Facebook at the wheel, while 15 per cent also admitted to catching up on work calls and emails when stuck in traffic.

Almost half (45 per cent) of respondents revealed they get agitated when they receive calls or texts at the wheel and this is possibly the most worrying statistic with high potential numbers of motorists distracted from the road.

Adrian Walsh, director of road safety campaigner, RoadSafe, reiterates the dangers of using a smartphone whilst driving.

"It’s a frightening thought that people are checking their smartphones while driving. Many studies from across the world prove that drivers using phones are slower to respond than those who are just over the drink-drive limit," he said.

"It is dangerous to use a phone – even hands-free – when driving."

With the wintry weather set to hit Britain’s shores in the coming weeks careful, responsible driving is even more important to avoid potential ice and snow patches on the road.

Many motorists underestimate the perils of driving in winter weather and this, combined with drivers who continue to flout the penalties for using a hand-held phone at the wheel, is a recipe for disaster.

Winter is a dangerous time of the year for motorists, with car transporters busy collecting recovered, scrap and stolen vehicles from the roadside. At ASM Auto Recycling our vehicle transport service collects salvage cars across a vast territory from London to the West Country, with a modern fleet of 10 multi-vehicle car transporters.

BMW develops car that can drive itself

For years experts have been fascinated about developing a vehicle that can drive itself. We’ve all seen Herbie and the Batmobile on our cinema screens but BMW has taken it to the next level by developing two cars that can drive themselves.

This exciting pair of autonomous 5 Series vehicles are capable of driving themselves along a motorway with the use of 12 in-built sensors around the car. These sensors provide information to the mainframe in the boot of the vehicle, sending it along the road using a highly-advanced GPS system and an upgraded version of BMW’s cruise control and lane marking detection systems.

The vehicle was tested on-road, with a driver remaining in charge before joining and after exiting the motorway due to legislation for driving a prototype. The car travels with pin-point accuracy, correcting itself on its own whilst using the GPS system to react to changes in the road surface and surrounding traffic.

If you were thinking of looking at prices for this autonomous 5 Series, hold your horses – the car is a long way from finished and it’s almost certain to never reach production anyway. The vehicle is being used as an extensive test for future driving aids that will be put to good use in future BMW customer cars.

Anything that can improve the safety of motorists at the wheel should be looked upon as a positive, with BMW also looking at Congestion Assists to drive in heavy traffic and an Emergency Stop Assist for detecting a sudden decline in a driver’s health.

However, in instances when drivers are unable to avoid an accident the importance of an efficient and effective way of transporting salvage vehicles away from the scene cannot be underestimated, helping to avoid further road disturbances.

ASM’s vehicle transport service provides salvage car transporters with the latest technologies to enable the safe and environmentally friendly recovery of all end-of-life, damaged and stolen-recovered vehicles.