https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48037362 The above link points to a story explaining why our cars occasionally have a layer of red dust on them. I've heard various reasons including jet fuel being "dropped" by aircraft to lighten their loads prior to landing. To me, this did seem like a perfectly plausible explanation as I am indeed just below the flight path of those planes landing at Heathrow. And yet the…
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/electric-car-makers-woo-chinese-011112708.html The above link highlights the Shanghai Auto show, which is heavily skewed towards electric vehicles. GM, Geely, BYD and VW have unveiled an impressive array of new EV’s at the show that opens to the public this Saturday. As they strive to become a global tech leader in areas ranging from robotics to biotech, China’s communist party have granted generous subsidies to EV manufacturers over the…
https://airqualitynews.com/2019/04/12/filtered-diesel-exhausts-may-worsen-allergies-study-finds/ Have a read of this article, and be prepared to be shocked like I was. In a nutshell, a research report published by the American Thoracic Society shows that people suffering from pre-existing respiratory conditions suffer more from exhaust fumes emitted from diesel vehicles fitted with Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF's) than those without. I find this truly remarkable as DPF's are mandatory for all diesel cars…
https://www.driving.co.uk/news/ford-claims-new-key-fob-sleep-mode-prevents-keyless-car-thefts/ The above link points to an article about a new key fob from Ford designed to prevent car thefts. It appears to be a brilliantly simple technology that I hope will 1) actually work and 2) be rolled out by every other car manufacturer. As highlighted in James Allen's article, the increase in keyless entry and start systems found in most new cars sold today has…
With the increase in bicycles on roadways across the country, better safety measures are constantly being debated to ensure both drivers and cyclists can share the roads in harmony. Dedicated cycle lanes, cycleways (shared with pedestrians) and cycle traffic lights are becoming more common place on roads throughout England. This is a good thing, no doubt. And yet much of the discussion regarding any improvements of shared…
Let the record show that I think the idea of driverless cars is very cool. Simply program your destination via the car’s onboard tablet, or even from your mobile phone, and whoosh… off you go. You could be sitting in the back seat, gin and tonic in hand, leaving the car’s computers to do all the driving for you. Sounds idyllic, no? Sure does, but I hate…
If you’ve taken the somewhat brave, and economically savvy, decision to drive to the Alps for your family ski holiday, a quick refresher course on how to drive in the snow wouldn’t go amiss! With half-term starting for most families next week, chances are you’re well on your way with your road-trip preparations. Train/ferry booked? Check! Car properly serviced? Check! Extra provisions in case of emergency? Check!…
I’ve had lots of inbounds from people asking why there appear to be so many more 20mph speed limit signs in and around central London. It’s true, just about everywhere you turn there is a new, brightly lit 20mph sign reminding you to… slow down! How and why has it come to this, you ask? To answer, it’s helpful to know that it is indeed the individual…
There’s no worse feeling than getting behind the wheel of your car, turning the key (or pressing the start/stop button!) only for nothing to happen because, gulp, you’ve got a dead battery. It makes your stomach turn. And of course, you won’t have a backup plan in place to ensure you arrive to where you need to be on time. Alas, this exact situation played itself out…
Call it apathy, call it head in the sand, call it downright uninteresting. Any way you call it, road taxes are tedious. They are typically paid once a year (although monthly and six-month permits are certainly an option) leading people to simply pay and forget about it. I understand completely; in a similar vein my trick to dealing with a parking ticket once issued (if I am…