Highways England has launched its biggest ever campaign in a bid to help drivers feel safer on smart motorways.
The multi-million pound public information drive tells motorists to “go left” in the event of a breakdown. To the tune of the Pet Shop Boys’ hit single ‘Go West’, drivers are urged to find their nearest emergency refuse area, hard shoulder or exit.
The campaign is part of an 18-point action plan published by the Department for Transport in 2020. The transport secretary called on Highways England to improve road safety and public confidence on smart motorways.
Highways England acting chief executive, Nick Harris, said: “No one plans to break down on a motorway, but if the unexpected happens then I want all motorists to know what to do so that they can keep themselves and others safe.
“This campaign is just one of the many steps we are taking to invest in our network with safety as our number one priority, doing everything we can to help drivers feel confident on our motorways.”
Not everybody is convinced. Claire Mercer, whose husband Jason and another driver, Alexandru Murgeanu, were killed on a smart motorway, slammed Highways England, saying she thought the campaign was a “spoof”.
Writing on Facebook, the 44-year-old said: “I thought it was a spoof. They had two people dressed as squashed flies on the windscreen – did they not see the analogy?
“What happened to our loved ones, without going into the details, they weren’t in their vehicles when they were hit. This is a silly, bad joke about a serious and hurtful subject.”
Meera Naran, who is campaigning for Safer Drivers and Safer Roads following the death of her eight-year-old son Dev on the M6, supports the initiative. She said: “Having successfully campaigned for the implementation of the 18-point safety plan – this education campaign is an integral step in the right direction to support motorists.
“I’m pleased to see it is being supported by so many key road safety organisations and my only hope is that it will help save lives.”
RAC road safety spokesperson, Simon Williams, added: “Suffering a breakdown on a motorway or a high-speed road can be one of the most terrifying things that drivers might encounter, so it’s important everyone has a clear understanding of what to do in that situation.
“We’re pleased to see Highways England addressing this issue in its new campaign which encourages drivers to ‘go left’. This is a simple and effective message that will hopefully improve safety on our motorways and major dual carriageways by reducing the number of vehicles that stop in live lanes.”
Go left: the key messages
Put your left indicator on and move into an emergency area, onto a hard shoulder, motorway service area, left-hand verge or A-road lay-by.
Switch your hazard warning lights on, even during the day. If it’s dark, use side lights and in poor visibility use fog lights as well.
On a motorway without a hard shoulder, it should be possible for most vehicles experiencing a problem to reach an emergency area. These are regularly spaced and are marked by a clearly visible orange road surface and blue signs featuring an orange SOS telephone symbol.
Phantom to the Opera. It started with a neat headline and idle office banter. Three months later, I was holding tickets to the tomorrow night’s show at the Vienna State Opera in one hand and the key to a £450,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom in the other. An epic, race-against-time road trip awaits.
The plan is to start outside London’s Royal Opera House at 19:00. We’ll set the sat nav for Vienna, 920 miles away, aiming to arrive for the 19:30 performance of Madama Butterfly. Taking into account the CET hour-change, that’s 23-and-a-half hours to drive across Western Europe.
Still, if any car suits a non-stop, cross-continental jaunt, it’s the Phantom. Rolls-Royce’s V12 flagship blasts effortlessly to 62mph in 5.3 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155mph (more on the latter shortly).
This two-tone Black Sapphire over Silverlake blue example also boasts massage seats, in-car TVs and a champagne fridge – ready-stocked with a pre-show tipple. By tomorrow evening, we’ll have earned it. TP
Drivers: Tim Pitt (TP) and Andrew Brady (AB)
19:00 – Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
This isn’t ideal. Our journey hasn’t even begun and already I’ve been driving for two hours. That’s how long it’s taken to crawl from home (Croydon) to our rendezvous point in Covent Garden.
Even in central London, the Phantom turns heads and gets cameraphones clicking. However, the serenity inside the cabin is offset by my mild panic at piloting such a large, conspicuous vehicle through tight, pedestrian-packed streets. Get this wrong and social media stardom beckons.
I arrive at the opera house and pull up outside for an opening photo. I’m not supposed to park here, but the door staff give an appreciative nod. The Phantom is that sort of car. Then, co-driver Andrew and photographer Bradley jump aboard and we’re off, aiming the Spirit of Ecstasy south-east towards the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone – and Europe beyond.
The sat nav says we should arrive in Vienna in time for breakfast, but that’s assuming no toilet breaks, fuel fill-ups or photography. And frankly, as we rejoin the tail-end of London’s rush hour, it’s already starting to look ambitious.
Cruising past Canary Wharf, I admire the Phantom’s reflection in one of many glassy, new-build apartments. You wouldn’t call it beautiful, but it’s imposing, imperious and quite unlike anything else. TP
21:53 – Channel Tunnel terminal, Folkestone
With fingertip-light steering and a titanic 664lb ft of torque from 1,600rpm, the Rolls-Royce will waft gamely around town, but high-speed cruising is its raison d’être. Lucky, as we have many hundreds of motorway miles to go.
We escape London via the A13 and briefly join the M25 before filtering onto the M20 towards Folkestone. As the sun droops below the horizon, the Phantom’s Starlight Headliner – a night-sky of LEDs dotted across the roof lining – bathes the cabin in a cool white glow.
Its dashboard is a curious mix of old-school wood-n-leather (highly polished mahogany here) and modern tech. BMW drivers may spot the Rolls-rebranded iDrive interface, but it remains one of the best media systems available.
Arriving at Folkestone, we’re promptly pulled aside by police with guns. Amazingly, the spectacle of three dishevelled hacks in a half-million-pound car has aroused their suspicions. I produce our papers and show them various emails about the trip. Eventually, we’re waved on to our next challenge: boarding the train.
As any Le Shuttle veterans will know, the train carriages have vicious kerbs either side that can spell disaster for wide cars with pricey alloy wheels. Thankfully, with buttocks clenched and Andrew walking backwards in front of the car to guide me, I avoid any scars to the Phantom’s forged and polished 22s.
Thirty-five minutes later, we’re in France and, after a brief blat up the coast into Belgium, it’s time for a driver-change. TP
12:18 – Ghent, Belgium
Tim says “it’s time for a driver-change”. In truth, I’m itching for a go. If memory serves me correctly, Ghent isn’t that far from the German border – and we know what that means: derestricted autobahn.
Unfortunately, my brain has condensed Europe into a smaller area than it really is. We’re a good 100 miles from crossing into Germany, meaning I have to endure a couple of hours of tedious Belgian motorways before reaching the land of liberal speed limits.
Fortunately, we have coffee and Pepsi Max on board – and, as I usually swerve caffeine, it’s doing an excellent job of keeping me awake.
There’s a surprising amount of traffic for the time of night. Not cars, but an inside lane full of lorries. With two-lane motorway the norm in Belgium, you have to keep your wits about you in case one decides to dart in front for a sluggardly overtake.
With Tim now snoring in the back, Bradley passes me a pack of Haribo and cranks up the cheesy Spotify playlist as we cross into Germany. After dicing with a bit of traffic, the road ahead clears and the sat-nav informs me the stretch of autobahn we’re on is about as straight as it comes.
I accelerate, passing 100mph easily, while 110mph and 120mph also pass by without a fuss. Things start to happen quickly at around 130mph – with the Rolls’ ‘Power Reserve’ dial showing zero percent – but I’m confident that I don’t need to lift just yet. We pass 140mph, and soon hit the 155mph limiter.
Tim’s none-the-wiser as I hit the brakes in time for a slight bend. While the Phantom generally feels planted, you do feel its 2,560kg mass as it tip-toes around at three-figure speeds.
After a few hours of cruising at a pace that’d cost you your licence in the UK, Bradley’s joined Tim in the land of nod. This would be the perfect opportunity to practise my chauffeur skills, but I can feel my eyelids getting heavier. Best wake Tim up. AB
04:36 – Frankfurt, Germany
I’ve never slept so soundly in a car. Cocooned in the rear of the Rolls, heated seat reclined and electric footrest raised, I’ve snoozed through half of Germany. Given that Andrew was bouncing off the limiter and blasting out 90s Europop, that’s some feat.
We pull into a services near Frankfurt, where bleary-eyed truckers eye us with a mixture of bemusement and mild hostility. I take the wheel and we’re back on Autobahn 3, which stretches 483 miles from Holland to Austria.
Even at 4am, the road is packed with trucks bound for Eastern Europe, so I settle for a steady 100mph cruise, marvelling at the complete absence of wind noise – despite the Phantom’s bluff-fronted shape.
Then it starts to rain: a mighty wipers-on-full downpour that creates a sea of spray. To make matters worse, roadworks have reduced the road to two narrow lanes, with frequent chicanes that weave between cones. Squeezing past trucks, I’m acutely conscious of our 2,018mm width, but the Phantom feels sure-footed and stable, with mighty, confidence-inspiring brakes.
I’d forgotten just how big Germany is: the A3 seems never-ending. Still, as the sky finally clears and dawn, um… dawns, I’m enjoying the drive again.
There’s something sublime about a V12, and the Phantom’s 6.75-litre engine is one of best. Butter-smooth and quietly omnipotent, it makes even 20.3mpg thirst seem palatable. TP
06:45 – Regensberg, Germany
Like Tim, I’m amazed how well I slept in the back of the Phantom. He’s in quite a grump when I wake up – clearly having missed the flat-out autobahn experience I enjoyed earlier.
We pull over and I’m informed that it’s my turn again. Still slightly frazzled, I take the wheel, and the sat nav announces that it’s found a better route by diverting us off the motorway. That’s convenient, as Tim’s also left me with less than a quarter of a tank of fuel and there are few services on this stretch of autobahn.
We fill up (€115, having covered around 300 miles since last refuelling), and it’s time to be woken up by pleasant Bavarian scenery. I revel in the opportunity to drive the car along some different roads – even if it does feel massive off the motorway.
Reluctantly, we’re soon diverted back onto the A3 in time for the Austrian border. You need a vignette to drive in Austria: essentially a toll sticker to make it clear to police that you’ve paid the compulsory road tax (even for tourists). Fortunately, there’s a convenient shop on the border, where we spend a few euros on a 10-day pass.
Admin out of the way, and it feels like we’re on the home leg. Signs for ‘Wien’ (Vienna) appear as the motorway gets hilly and twisty. We’re quite happy to obey the lower speed limits.
We soon notice that we’ve picked up the attention of two lads in an old Skoda Octavia. This in itself isn’t unusual: the Phantom gets loads of looks wherever we go. But the driver of this car keeps overtaking us then slowing down and moving to the inside lane so we can overtake them.
Bradley holds a sign to the window displaying our #PhantomToTheOpera social media hashtag for the trip. Moments later, the passenger has found us on Instagram and sent us a picture of the Rolls. AB
12:24 – Vienna, Austria
I’m enjoying driving the Phantom, so I rebuff Tim’s offer to take over for the drive into the centre of Vienna. We’re also way ahead of schedule, meaning I can take a much-welcome inside lane approach to tackling city traffic (a shock to the system after miles and miles of autobahn).
As cities go, Vienna isn’t too daunting. Which is good because, as we’ve already mentioned a few times, the Phantom does feel as big as a bus, even with cameras giving a 360-degree view of the car from within the cabin.
We’re soon at our destination, the Vienna State Opera, and it’s a bit more beguiling than its London counterpart. It’s also incredibly busy outside, with selfie-stick-waving tourists weaving in and out of traffic. Getting photos might be difficult.
We find a quiet road in front of the Opera House, intended primarily for buses and visitors to a nearby upmarket hotel. It’s perfect for photos, though, so we do laps of said hotel while Bradley runs around taking pictures. He’s soon joined by someone who we presume must be Vienna’s top supercar spotter, keen to see the Phantom. A video is uploaded to Instagram within hours. AB
19:30 – Madama Butterfly, Vienna State Opera
We’re far enough ahead of schedule to check into our hotel, shower and sample the local cuisine – delicious Wiener Schnitzel, washed down with a locally-brewed beer – before the show starts.
I’ve never been a huge of opera and, after four bombastic hours of Puccini, my opinion hasn’t shifted. However, the Vienna State Opera is a suitably magnificent venue and I’m happy simply to be here, not least because we were still in London 24 hours ago.
Like a visit to the opera, any journey in the Phantom feels like a special occasion. Objectively, this most luxurious of luxury cars doesn’t do anything an Audi A8 or Mercedes-Benz S-Class can’t. Yet nothing matches the Rolls-Royce for presence, comfort and glorious indulgence.
A 920-mile drive back from Vienna to London tomorrow morning? Bring it on. TP
Motorists in Coventry are being offered £3,000 worth of mobility credits in exchange for scrapping their cars.
The pilot initiative, which is the first of its kind, has been set up by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in Coventry, where six car owners have taken up the offer so far. TfWM hopes the scheme will help to reduce traffic congestion and improve local air quality.
The mobility credits can be used to cover the cost of alternative transport, including buses, trains, taxis and car hire for two years. Mohammed Fasiuddin was one of the first customers. He told the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) it was time to ditch his Citroen C1.
He said: “I was a little sad to see the car go, but I haven’t been using it as much as I used to before Covid. I’m working from home more now so the offer came at the right time for me to get rid of it.
“It is a good deal with £3,000 to use for public transport, or a taxi or Uber or a hire car – I have a bus stop two minutes away which is very convenient. And I no longer need to worry about the car breaking down or failing the MOT and a huge repair bill at the garage.”
His Citroen was collected by Car Take Back and taken to a recycling facility in Wolverhampton. Around 95 percent of the car will be recycled.
West Midlands ‘climate emergency’
TfWM says there is capacity to remove 250 vehicles from the road over the next two years. Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The West Midlands is facing a climate emergency, and tackling that means reducing air pollution and finding ways to encourage people to cut out unnecessary private car journeys in favour of public transport or active travel such as cycling and walking.
“Our innovative mobility credits scheme helps do exactly that, and I would like to thank the volunteers like Mohammed and his family who are making this bold step to change their travel habits and setting an example for others as to how everyone can do their bit to help the West Midlands reach its #WM2041 target of carbon neutrality by 2041.
“Drivers will only leave their cars if suitable alternatives are available, and that’s why we are investing billions in public transport and active travel, as well as trialling these new innovative schemes.”
The scheme is open to residents of Coventry who own a car more than 10 years old.
Instead, the heaviest-emitting HGVs, buses and coaches will pay £100 a day to enter the Clean Air Zone.
Non-compliant vans, taxis, private hire vehicles and minibuses will pay £9 a day.
Pre-Euro 6 diesel vehicles and pre-Euro 4 petrol vehicles will be charged under the CAZ.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has introduced a vehicle checker so motorists can find out if they will be charged.
Grants are available for eligible owners to replace their vehicles: van drivers can claim up to £4,500, HGV owners up to £20,000 and there’s up to £35,000 for bus and coach operators.
Interestingly, owners of non-compliant motorhomes and horse transporters can apply for a discount, taking the daily charge down from £100 to £9.
Bath is obliged under UK legislation to introduce measures to tackle air pollution: several areas in the city exceed the UK legal limit for NOx emissions.
Around 12,000 people in the region suffer from asthma, which can be triggered by high levels of NOx.
As many as one in four new cases of asthma in children is caused by NOx, adds the council.
‘Deaf ears’
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has criticised the plans, warning it puts firms at risk. Hauliers, it claims, typically make just £60 per truck per week so cannot absorb the £100 daily charges.
“We have put forward alternative solutions to improve air quality,” said RHA chief executive Richard Burnett, “but sadly these have fallen on deaf ears.
“We all want cleaner air and we will support practical plans which make it happen, but it cannot be at the expense of businesses priming the supply chain.”
The RHA points out that part of the zone takes in a section of the A4 and A36, both key freight routes.
The Clean Air Zone “effectively turns them into toll booths for through traffic not destined for Bath”.
Before the UK officially left the European Union, there was much speculation that British motorists would require an International Driving Permit (IDP) to travel on the continent.
Thankfully, this is not the case.
As part of the Brexit deal agreed between the UK and the EU, holders of a photocard driving licence issued in the UK do not need an IDP to drive in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
The only exceptions are if you hold a paper driving licence, or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, the Isle of Man or Jersey. In these cases you should check with the embassy of the country you intend to drive in.
You still need an International Driving Permit – in addition to your UK licence – for driving in many parts of the world. Read on to find out more.
What is an International Driving Permit?
An International Driving Permit allows you to drive in countries where your UK licence is not considered sufficient on its own. In the past, these have included the USA, Japan and Brazil.
Around the world, an IDP is currently required or recommended in more than 140 countries.
The Post Office website has a useful IDP checker tool that shows you where a permit is needed.
How do I get an International Driving Permit?
Go to your nearest Post Office that offers an IDP service and take along with your photocard driving licence and a passport photo. You’ll also need your passport as proof of identity if your driving licence is the old-style paper version.
It’ll cost you £5.50 per permit (you may need more than one) and shouldn’t take too long. Use the checker tool above to see which permits you need.
What will I need to drive in the EU?
If you’re a UK resident who intends to drive in the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, your insurance policy will provide a minimum of third-party cover. This is not necessarily the case for other parts of the world.
Wherever you drive abroad, you will need to carry a ‘green card’ as proof of insurance. Yoy may also need a separate green card for a caravan or trailer.
Which IDP do you need?
Country
IDP
Other requirements
Albania
1968
Algeria
1949
Andorra
1949
Argentina
1949
Armenia
1968
Australia
1949
Austria
1968
Azerbaijan
1968
Bahamas
1968
IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Bahrain
1968
IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days. You must get your permit certified by local authorities when you arrive.
Bangladesh
1949
Barbados
1949
Belarus
1968
Belgium
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Belgian Embassy.
If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Croatian Embassy.
Cuba
1968
Cyprus
1949
You do not need an IDP to drive here for visits up to 30 days. For visits longer than 30 days you will need a 1949 IDP. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1949 IDP for any length of visit. Check with the High Commission of Cyprus.
Czech Republic
1968
If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Czech Republic Embassy.
Democratic Republic of Congo
1968
Denmark
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days.
Dominican Republic
1949
IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Ecuador
1949
Egypt
1949
Estonia
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Estonian Embassy.
Eswatini (previously Swaziland)
1949
If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident.
Fiji
1949
Finland
None
You do not need an IDP to drive here.
France
1968
If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the French Embassy.
French Polynesia
1968
Georgia
1968
IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Germany
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the German Embassy.
Ghana
1949
Greece
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here.
Guam
1949
IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days. If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident.
Guatemala
1949
Guyana
1968
Haiti
1949
IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Hungary
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Hungarian Embassy.
Iceland
1949
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 30 days.
India
1949
Iran
1968
Iraq
1968
Ireland
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months.
Israel
1968
Italy
1968
If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Italian Embassy.
Jamaica
1949
Japan
1949
Jordan
1949
Kazakhstan
1968
Kenya
1968
IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Kuwait
1968
Kyrgyzstan
1968
Laos
1949
Latvia
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here.
Lebanon
1949
Lesotho
1949
Liberia
1968
Libya
1949
Liechtenstein
1926
You do not need an IDP here.
Lithuania
1968
You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months.
Luxembourg
1968
You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months.
Macao (Macau)
1949
Madagascar
1949
Malawi
1949
IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Malaysia (Sabah)
1949
Mali
1949
Malta
1949
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 12 months. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1949 IDP. Check with the Malta High Commission.
Mexico
1926
Moldova
1968
Monaco
1968
Mongolia
1968
Montenegro
1968
Morocco
1968
Myanmar (previously Burma)
1968
Namibia
1949
IDP needed for car hire. If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident.
Netherlands
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here.
New Zealand
1949
Niger
1968
Nigeria
1949
North Macedonia
1968
Norway
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days. If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Norwegian Embassy.
Pakistan
1968
Papua New Guinea
1949
IDP needed for stays longer than 30 days.
Paraguay
1949
Peru
1968
Philippines
1968
IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 90 days.
Poland
1968
You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months.
Portugal
1968
You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months.
Qatar
1968
Romania
1968
If you hold a paper driving licence or a driving licence from the Isle of Man, you may need a 1968 IDP. Check with the Romanian Embassy.
Russian Federation
1968
Rwanda
1949
San Marino
1968
Saudi Arabia
1968
IDP needed for car hire.
Senegal
1968
Serbia
1968
Seychelles
1968
Sierra Leone
1949
Singapore
1949
IDP needed for car hire, and for stays longer than 30 days.
Slovakia
None
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 6 months. For visits longer than 6 months you’ll need a 1968 IDP.
Slovenia
1968
You do not need an IDP to drive here for periods up to 90 days.
Somalia
1926
South Africa
1968
If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident.
South Korea
1949
Spain (including Balearic and Canary Isles)
1949
You do not need an IDP here for periods up to 6 months.
Show your UK driving licence or IDP to the police to get a visitor’s licence.
St. Vincent
1949
Show your UK driving licence or IDP to the police to get a visitor’s licence.
Sweden
1968
You do not need an IDP for periods up to 12 months.
Switzerland
None
You do not need an IDP to drive here.
Syria
1949
Tajikistan
1968
Thailand
1949
Togo
1949
Trinidad & Tobago
1949
IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Tunisia
1968
Turkey
1968
Turkmenistan
1968
Uganda
1949
IDP needed for stays longer than 90 days.
Ukraine
1968
United Arab Emirates
1968
United States
1949
If you have an older, paper UK driving licence, you must take another form of photographic ID, such as your passport. You may need to show an IDP to your insurance company if you’re involved in an accident.
The Volkswagen Touareg R is now open for ordering in the UK with prices for the firm’s most powerful production car ever starting from £71,995.
Producing 462hp, the Touareg R plug-in hybrid is capable of 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds – less than half a second slower than the Golf R hyper-hatch.
Yet thanks to the combination of a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and powerful electric motor – plus a 14.3kWh battery – the Touareg R delivers official WLTP combined fuel consumption of 94.2mpg.
CO2 emissions are 67g/km (easily the lowest in the Touareg line-up) and the pure electric driving range is 28 miles.
Charging the battery takes 2.5 hours at a public charger, and 8.5 hours using a three-pin domestic plug.
Head of marketing Sarah Cox said the high-performance Touareg R is “not only fun and fast to drive, but also capable of ultra-low emissions in everyday situations.
“In fact – as a latest generation plug-in hybrid – its battery capacity allows enough electric-only range to cover the entire daily commute for many drivers.”
Touareg R design
The R makeover sees the range-topping Touareg gain bespoke front and rear bumpers, gloss rear diffuser and 22-inch diamond-turned wheels.
There are R badges front and rear, plus black grille, mirror caps and window trim, while the tail lamps are darkened.
Impressively, the Touareg R can tow 3.5 tonnes and an optional electronic tow bar is available.
Inside, there are diamond-quilted seats with contrast blue stitching, R steering wheel and illuminated R-branded scuff plates.
The launch of the Touareg R follows the new Golf R in late 2021 and the Tiguan R last month.
Coming soon will be yet another new R variant – the Arteon R.
Electric scooters, commonly known as e-scooters, are continuing to grow in popularity across the UK.
Typically combining a lightweight folding frame with an electric motor, they could become the affordable urban mobility vehicle of choice. Many towns and cities are currently hosting trials, evaluating just how well they work.
Let’s take a closer look at e-scooters and the legislation that governs their use.
What exactly is an e-scooter?
The e-scooter name is applied to battery powered versions of the traditional two-wheeled ‘push along’ scooter.
They were first introduced in the early 2000s, but advances in lithium-ion battery technology have made e-scooters smaller and cheaper to buy. Modern ‘brushless’ electric motors have improved their performance, too.
Riders can also use their feet to ‘kick’ the e-scooter along when needed. When fully charged, certain models can cover up to 50 miles, with top speeds in excess of 15mph.
Is an e-scooter classed as a motor vehicle?
The Road Traffic Act 1988 describes a motor vehicle as being a ‘mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for road use’.
Courts have ruled that e-scooters can be considered as motor vehicles, making them subject to the same rules and requirements as cars and motorcycles.
Government guidance on e-scooters describes them as ‘powered transporters’. This puts them in the same category as Segways and hoverboards, as they can be propelled both manually and mechanically.
Are electric scooters legal to buy in the UK?
Yes, electric scooters are legal to buy and own in the UK.
Numerous high street and online retailers stock e-scooters, with prices ranging from less than £150 to thousands of pounds. Models are marketed at both children and adults.
Can I ride my e-scooter on the road?
In short, no. To use a motor vehicle legally on the road, it must meet certain legislation and construction requirements. These also apply for e-scooters, meaning they would need to be registered, insured, taxed and comply with all the relevant safety standards.
Unless a privately owned e-scooter, and its rider, could meet all the required legislation, using one on the road is illegal.
Separate rules apply for those used in designated official e-scooter trial areas, where rental e-scooters may be used on the highway.
Can I ride an e-scooter on the pavement?
Although the writers of the Highway Act 1835 may not have envisaged the use of e-scooters, section 72 of the act makes it an offence to ‘wilfully ride upon any footpath’.
Use an e-scooter on the pavement in modern times and you run the risk of a fixed penalty notice.
Outside of specific trial areas, the only place an e-scooter can be used legally is on private land. This would need to be with consent of the land owner, and not somewhere open to the public.
Do I need to wear a helmet to ride an e-scooter?
Despite the potential speed of an e-scooter, there is no legal requirement to wear a helmet.
However, official guidance from the Department for Transport recommends wearing a helmet if using a rental trial e-scooter.
For those riding an e-scooter on private land, wearing a helmet is sensible, if not legally required.
Can I be fined for riding an e-scooter in the UK?
As a motor vehicle, using a powered transporter like an e-scooter on the road means the rider could be subject to prosecution for breaking a range of traffic laws.
In particular, offences for driving without a valid licence, or driving without insurance, would be the most serious. This could result in fines, penalty points, or even disqualification from driving.
Using an e-scooter in an anti-social manner could see a warning issued under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
Where in the UK can I legally use an e-scooter?
The Tees Valley in the North East became the first location of an official e-scooter trial, with 50 vehicles made available to rent from July 2020.
Since then the government has fast-tracked new trial areas, with more than 25 towns and cities included. Rental charges and practices vary between each location.
Rental e-scooters can be ridden on the road in the designated trial area, but not on motorways. Cycle lanes can also be used, but pavements are still off-limits.
How can I use an e-scooter in official UK trials?
To use one of the rental e-scooters in a special trial area, riders need to hold a full or provisional driving licence with a category Q entitlement.
Insurance will be provided by the e-scooter rental operator. Most schemes use smartphone-based apps to reserve and pay for an e-scooter. However, you should not use your smartphone while actually riding.
Laws on drink and drug driving apply to trial e-scooters, as do those for inconsiderate and dangerous driving.
Continuing to ride a rental e-scooter outside of the set trial area is an illegal use of a motor vehicle – and you would risk prosecution for insurance and driving licence offences.
Rumours of a Tesla gigafactory in Somerset have resurfaced, following comments made by the UK business secretary.
Speculation that Elon Musk was considering the site near Bridgwater was sparked by a report in Property Week in the summer of 2020. It said Department for International Trade (DIT) was looking for a site suitable for the American electric car giant.
These rumours were strengthened last month when a letter addressed to Elon Musk arrived at the Somerset site known as Gravity. Reports suggest that Tesla could move in by the end of the year.
‘Considering and looking’
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said Somerset “has the manufacturing skill and competence to be able to sustain an excellent gigafactory,” adding that the government is “considering and looking” at the site near Bridgwater.
This was in response to Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, who labelled Gravity “one of the best sites in the United Kingdom”.
It’s one of a few locations in the UK large enough to house a gigafactory. It also has the advantage of being close to the M5 motorway, a railway, Bristol Airport and Avonmouth docks.
Gigafactories are built to produce electric car batteries. The government recently announced a £500 million package to support the electric car industry, including the creation of gigafactories to support EV production.
A 3,000-job factory is planned for Northumberland, while plans for a gigafactory at Coventry Airport have been endorsed by West Midlands Combined Authority.
In 2019, Tesla elected to locate its first European factory near Berlin, with Musk claiming that the German site was chosen over the UK due to “Brexit uncertainty”. The Somerset factory would be similar in size to the 92-acre facility in Germany.
Both cars qualified as finalists for the 2021 award: GR Yaris was named best performance car and Yaris Hybrid was best supermini.
In the final tally of the 12 different categories, the hot Yaris edged ahead of the everyday alternative, and all other contenders.
UK COTY director John Challen said driving the GR Yaris was “the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel of a car for many, many years”.
Motoring Research’s own Tim Pitt agreed, likening it to the legendary Subaru Impreza 22B.
Toyota GB president and MD Augustin Martin said it was an honour to receive “this prestigious award.
“The unprecedented reaction for GR Yaris, and for the all-new Yaris range more widely, is transforming the perfection of our brand as a maker of desirable cars that are genuinely fun to drive.”
The Toyota GR Yaris is also a finalist in the 2021 World Performance Car awards, while the regular model is in the running for 2021 World Car of the Year.
Aston Martin will share official F1 safety car duties with Mercedes-AMG in 2021 – and has revealed the new Vantage that’s set to lead the pack during race restarts.
The Aston Martin DBX will also share official F1 medical car duties.
The two new cars will make their F1 debut at this week’s pre-season test in Bahrain.
Both finished in the same 2021 Aston Martin Racing Green as the team’s new F1 cars, they wear full FIA safety car livery, LED rear number plate and a huge roof-mounted LED light bar.
Two outer orange lights illuminate when the safety car joins the track; an amber flashing light illuminates when it is in position; two central green lights illuminate when it’s safe to pass.
Of course, for drivers and race fans alike, the exciting bit comes when the LED lights go off, indicating the safety car is coming in and the race is about to restart…
Bernd Maylander will drive the Vantage safety car and Alan van der Merwe will drive the DBX medical car.
Mercedes-AMG will continue to supply safety cars for the other half of 2021’s races. Both the Mercedes-AMG GT R safety car and Mercedes-AMG C 63 S estate medical car get new bright red paintwork for 2021.
More power
To give the Vantage a boost, power has been upped by 25hp to 535hp, meaning the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 can now do 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds.
Peak pulling power is also delivered for longer – and a new front splitter delivers over 155kg of downforce at 124mph, 60kg up on the standard car.
Extensive modifications to suspension, aerodynamics and cooling have been undertaken – but surprisingly, standard Pirelli road tyres are retained.
The DBX has the same 550hp output. In its 632-litre boot are a large medical bag, defibrillator, two fire extinguishers and a burn kit.
Four bucket seats are fitted inside, for the driver, Official F1 Dr Ian Roberts and a local doctor. One seat is kept spare in case a driver needs a lift back to the pit lane.
Aston Martin has carried out an extensive development programme for the new cars, including 15,000km of high-speed and circuit testing.
Phantom to the Opera. It started with a neat headline and idle office banter. Three months later, I was holding tickets to the tomorrow night’s show at the Vienna State Opera in one hand and the key to a £450,000 
