Nobody likes paying more than they have to for something, especially if it’s car insurance. It’s one of the most expensive and unavoidable costs of motoring.
According to recent figures from MoneySuperMarket, the average cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy is £475. This is a six percent fall compared to six months ago, and two percent lower than 12 months ago.
The average price is just that: an average. Higher risk groups, such as young drivers will pay more, as will consumers in high-risk postcodes. Which is where the new CompareTheMarket insurance tool comes in.
Simply input your area, age, value of your car and current car insurance premium to find if you’re getting a good deal. Unsurprisingly, the most expensive premiums are found in London, but you might be surprised by the difference between the highest and lowest prices.
London calling
Newham is the most expensive area, with drivers paying an average of £1,521.66 in the London borough. This is followed by Tower Hamlets (£1,366.69), Brent (£1,324.92) and Hackney (£1,301.23).
Island living is recommended if you want to pay the least for car insurance. Three out of the four cheapest regions are islands, with residents of the Isles of Scilly paying just £329.45 a year. Only West Devon prevents the Orkney Islands and Isle of Wight from completing an island one-two-three.
There are 408 regions in the CompareTheMarket tool, with all but 13 showing a more expensive price than the MoneySuperMarket average. One thing’s clear: where you live plays a massive role in how much you pay for cover.
Six out of the 15 cheapest regions are in Devon. Meanwhile, 14 out of the 15 most expensive locations are in the Greater London area. Manchester is the 11th most expensive area in the UK.
The most costly areas for car insurance
Newham: £1,521.66
Tower Hamlets: £1,366.69
Brent: £1,324.92
Hackney: £1,301.23
Barking and Dagenham: £1,295.74
Westminster: £1,279.36
Redbridge: £1,267.36
Haringey: £1,262.19
Kensington and Chelsea: £1,231.70
Enfield: £1,220.51
The cheapest areas for car insurance
Isles of Scilly: £329.45
Orkney Islands: £442.05
West Devon: £445.65
Isle of Wight: £447.04
Torridge: £449.72
East Devon: £456.40
Kerrier: £463.92
North Norfolk: £465.19
Fareham: £466.01
East Lothian: £467.98
Click here for the full data and the research methodology.
The government has launched a consultation on the use of Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) on Britain’s motorways.
But what is ALKS and what role will it play in the future of driving in the UK?
The Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) offers the following definition for ALKS:
‘A system for low-speed application which is activated by the driver and which keeps the vehicle within its lane for travelling speed of 60kph or less by controlling the lateral and longitudinal movements of the vehicle for extended periods without the need for further driver input.’
‘Traffic jam chauffeur’
If that’s a bit wordy, ALKS has been described by the Department for Transport (DfT) and PSA Group as a ‘traffic jam chauffeur’. In other words, the car is able to drive autonomously on motorways by adapting its speed to that of the surrounding traffic and speed limit.
A hybrid of adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance, if you like.
It allows the driver to delegate the driving to the vehicle under certain circumstances. This is distinct from the current driver assistance systems, where the driver must remain in control of the vehicle at all times.
Crucially, ALKS challenges existing laws on the responsibilities of a driver. This is why the government believes changes to legislation and the Highway Code are required before ALKS can be safely used on British roads.
ALKS: the conditions
The issue of speed is important, because the ALKS technology is designed for motorways at speeds of up to 60kph (37mph). There are also conditions that must be met before the system is activated. These are:
A deliberate action by the driver (i.e. pressing the activation button).
The driver is in the driving seat with the seatbelt fastened.
The driver is confirmed as being available.
There is no failure affecting the safe operation of the ALKS.
The Data Storage System for Automated Driving (DDSAD) is operational.
The weather and infrastructure allow for the safe operation of the ALKS.
The vehicle receives a positive confirmation of system self-check.
The vehicle is on roads where pedestrians and cyclists are prohibited, and where there’s a physical separation that divides the traffic flowing in opposite directions.
Safety measures will be used to enable the continued operation of the system. For example, it will detect if a driver leaves a seat for more than a second or if the seatbelt isn’t fastened.
It will also check the driver every 30 seconds, monitoring eye blinking, eye closure, conscious head movements and input to driver-exclusive vehicle controls.
ALKS: what happens next?
Although ALKS has been approved by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), some questions remain. These will need to be answered before the expected roll-out in spring 2021.
There are many questions in the consultation document. Many are focused on education, safety and legislation, such as who is responsible for teaching a driver to use the system, and who is liable in the event of a collision?
Some issues will court controversy, such as whether or not a driver is allowed to perform other activities when ALKS is activated. If they are, what activities would be safe?
Controversially, the government is considering allowing ALKS to operate at speeds of up to 70mph, provided the manufacturer declares that the system is safe to do so.
‘Road safety revolution’
The government argues that ALKS will make our roads safer. Transport secretary Grant Shapps points to the fact that, in 2018, 85 percent of road collisions that resulted in injury involved human error.
He said: “I want the UK to be the first country to see these benefits and to encourage manufacturers to deploy this transformative technology on our roads by delivering the right environment for it to thrive. We are already familiar and comfortable with automation in aircraft and I am keen that we embrace it on our roads.”
This is a view supported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT). Its chief executive Mike Hawes said: “Whilst driverless cars will be many years away, new technology like ALKS – which still require the driver to be alert and able to take control – can have an instant impact in reducing accidents.
“Its introduction will be life-changing, making our journeys safer and smoother than ever before, helping prevent some 47,000 serious accidents and save 3,900 lives over the next decade.
“This advanced technology is ready for roll out in new models from as early as 2021, so the consultation is a welcome step in bringing regulations up to speed so that the UK can be among the first to grasp the benefits of this road safety revolution.”
There’s also support from Edmund King, AA president, who welcomes the consultation. He said: “Over the last 50 years, leading edge in-car technology from seat belts to airbags and ABS has helped to save thousands of lives.
“The government is right to be consulting on the latest collision-avoidance system which has the potential to make our roads even safer in the future.”
New petrol and diesel cars will be banned from sale in the UK from 2030, the government has confirmed.
This was confirmed by Boris Johnson in an article for the Financial Times. Sales of some hybrid cars will continue until 2035.
“We’ll invest more than £2.8bn in electric vehicles, lacing the land with charging points and creating long-lasting batteries in UK gigafactories,” said the prime minister. “This will allow us to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in 2030.
“However, we will allow the sale of hybrid cars and vans that can drive a significant distance with no carbon coming out of the tailpipe until 2035.”
There is no clarification on what constitutes a ‘significant distance’, but sales of plug-in hybrids are likely to be permitted until 2035. Regular hybrids and mild hybrids will be banned.
‘Reassuring customers’
In response to the announcement, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “We share government’s ambition for leadership in decarbonising road transport and are committed to the journey. Manufacturers have invested billions to deliver vehicles that are already helping thousands of drivers switch to zero, but this new deadline, fast-tracked by a decade, sets an immense challenge.
“Success will depend on reassuring consumers that they can afford these new technologies, that they will deliver their mobility needs and, critically, that they can recharge as easily as they refuel. For that, we look to others to step up and match our commitment. We will now work with government on the detail of this plan, which must be delivered at pace to achieve a rapid transition that benefits all of society, and safeguards UK automotive manufacturing and jobs.”
RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes said: ““With the government formally bringing forward the date for banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030, the car industry and those responsible for charging infrastructure now have an enormous task on their hands.
“Production lines that for decades have been set up to build cars powered with internal combustion engines will have to be transformed to allow manufacturers to profitably build a wider range of EV models in sufficient quantities. Meanwhile the country’s public charging network will need to grow exponentially to cater for the surge in EVs on the road.”
‘Hates its people
Not everybody is supportive of the ban. James Ruppert, a leading motoring journalist, said “the government are coming for every vehicle that doesn’t need an AA battery – and it will be sooner rather than later.”
He argued that “if electric cars were so brilliant, everyone would go out and buy them. Instead they are subsidised by everyone who can’t afford them”. In a damning assessment of the government, Ruppert said: “We have a government that is out of control, hates its people and in particular the drivers who pay for pretty much everything.”
Our Richard Aucock has written an extensive guide to the 2030 new petrol and diesel car ban, which will be updated with any fresh developments.
‘Noise cameras’ have been installed in West London to tackle supercar drivers using the streets as ‘racetracks’. That’s according to news published by the BBC.
The cameras, which have a 74 decibel (dB) noise threshold, were activated more than 130 times in the first 11 days. Offending drivers are issued with a warning that they face a fine if caught a second time.
Fines of between £100 and £2,500 are likely, while persisting offenders may have their vehicles seized.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea installed the noise cameras after receiving complaints that local roads were a ‘magnet for Lamborghinis and Ferraris’.
And it’s not just supercars: a Range Rover on Sloane Street triggered the camera at just under 100dB.
‘Disruptive and irritating’
To date, the loudest sound measured is 104dB – the equivalent of a helicopter flying overhead.
Johnny Thalassites, Kensington’s lead member for transport, “Residents have had enough of drivers using our streets as a racetrack.
“Supercars look good and most drivers are considerate. But when they they’re not, it is disruptive and irritating for people living and working in the area.”
Announcing the trials of noise cameras in 2019, then-transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “Noise pollution makes the lives of people in communities across Britain an absolute misery and has very serious health impacts.
“This is why I am determined to crack down on the nuisance drivers who blight our streets.
“New technology will help us lead the way in making our towns and cities quieter, and I look forward to seeing how these exciting new cameras could work.”
The noise limit is 74dB
New cars must meet Europe-wide noise limits. These have been reduced from 82dB in 1978 to the current limit of 74dB established in 2016. Off-road vehicles are permitted to be 1dB louder, while wheelchair accessible and armoured vehicles can be 2dB louder.
The Vehicle Certification Agency says it is illegal to modify the exhaust system of a vehicle to make it noisier the the level recorded for that model at type approval. The police can take action if a vehicle silencer doesn’t work or a driver is behaving in a way that creates too much noise.
There are also noise limits on tyres. Since November 2012, all new tyres have been graded and labelled to show how noisy they are.
Could the installation of noise cameras prompt a rise in demand for electric sports cars and supercars in West London? The likes of the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan offer the performance to take on a Ferrari or Lamborghini, but without the soundtrack to trigger a camera. Time will tell.
Highways England is to start trials of a new inflatable barrier to help protect road workers through roadworks.
The new ‘roadside airbag’ will begin tests in the West Midlands.
The organisation hopes it will help cut the hundreds of vehicle incursions into roadworks reported each month.
Described as large, bright and very visible, the Vehicle Incursion Airbag can be inflated in less than 10 minutes, so it can be put into place quickly.
The first trial area is a slip road on the A45/A46 Stivichall Interchange in Coventry: roadworks there begin later in October.
Highways England partner Kier is running the trial. Project manager Mark Sheppard said it “will give us a great opportunity to trial something a little bit different.
“Traffic management incursions are all too common, so the chance to take a different tack to help influence decisions made by some roads users is worth exploring.”
Highways England innovation manager Lisa Manc said: “Our road workers report around 240 incidents or vehicle incursions each month.
“It is a far too frequent hazard for our workforce – and the consequences could be fatal.
“We hope these airbags will go some way to protection our workers, but also help change drivers’ behaviours.”
The inflatable airbag barriers will supplement cones and signs, adding another layer to traditional traffic management.
The trial is costing £95,700 and is being funded through the Designated Funds programme, as part of £150 million Highways England has ringfenced to support innovation through 2015-2020.
A new app already being used by the McLaren Racing F1 team aims to help bring spectators back to live motorsport by helping race organisers easily track the health status of those visiting their circuit.
The Guestia app claims to provide a real-time solution to managing racetrack attendance – and quickly alert organisers to the health status of app users.
Users can record temperature measurements, self-report symptoms, input Covid test results and enter full contact details.
It can ensure those visiting an event fill in all required information before actually attending.
It also includes contact tracing functionality via a smartphone’s Bluetooth contact detection.
The app is currently being used by the McLaren F1 team. Race operations director Mark Norris said it allows the racing team to plan all individual travel and logistical arrangements.
“The platform enables McLaren to provide real-time information to all team members about the changing situation.”
Vulnerable people can be contacted quickly where necessary, effectively providing real-time communications with users.
“The app is the first of its kind,” said Guestia’s Nigel Essam.
“It’s the ideal solution for the events and hospitality sector to be able to safely reintroduce guests back to motorsport.”
What’s more, a further 27 percent of the marketplace’s audience is aged 25-34 years old.
“The pandemic has shifted young people’s views of car ownership,” said Auto Trader’s Rory Reid, “as they look to rely less on public transport and try to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus.
“This is great for the car industry as it opens up a new pool of buyers.”
The changing profile has also seen demand for particular types of car on Auto Trader shift – with prices of hatchbacks going up 11.5 percent in the past week as a result.
The UK’s largest driving school, RED, is also reporting “unprecedented numbers of new customers wishing to learn to drive”.
CEO Ian McIntosh said the firm’s 1,400 driving instructors are “working flat out to meet this new demand… from a new wave of learners who are keen to get behind the wheel in order to minimise their time spent on public transport”.
RED says new learner driver activity is more than 100 percent higher than this time last year, with almost 44,000 enquiries from new drivers in the last month alone.
The average age for those passing their driving test in the UK is 23.7 years old, according to DfT and DVSA data.
A fully-electric ambulance has been launched by a UK specialist – and the West Midlands Ambulance Service will begin front-line trials this month.
Bradford’s VCS says the Fiat Ducato-based vehicle is the first 100% zero emissions ambulance to be used on UK roads.
Called an Electric Dual Crewed Ambulance, or E-DCA, the vehicle has a 75mph top speed and a range of up to 110 miles.
It can be recharged in 4 hours 15 minutes.
Batteries are mounted beneath the vehicle, giving a low centre of gravity that aids handling and stability.
VCS says the development is part of a desire to bring emergency services operators in line with the global demand for zero emission transport.
West Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive Anthony Marsh said: “Given we operate in a clean air zone like Birmingham, this is a sensible and advantageous step forward for so many reasons.
“We look forward to working with our staff to integrate the vehicle into frontline operations, while using it as a test bed to develop even more advanced vehicles.”
VCS MD Mark Kerrigan said the vehicle is a “strong first step on the path to electrification.
“We’re confident that by working with the West Midlands Ambulance Service, we can continue to innovate and improve our zero emissions offering.”
VCS is Britain’s largest emergency service vehicle producer, and commands a 40 percent market share of all ambulances currently operating in the UK.
The new 2021 Citroen C4 family hatch will cost from £20,990 and the all-electric Citroen e-C4 will be priced from £29,180 once the Plug-in Car Grant has been taken off.
Ordering for both versions is open now with deliveries due to begin in early 2021.
Citroen describes the new C4 and e-C4 as hatchbacks that carry SUV detailing. They replace the slow-selling (and quirky) C4 Cactus.
Those who prefer regular engines can pick from turbo petrol or diesel.
Citroen is claiming best-in-class rear kneeroom for the C4, while extra-cushioned seats and suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions give “unrivalled ride comfort”.
Citroen C4 and e-C4 range
The Citroen e-C4 pairs a 50kWh battery and a 136hp motor. The WLTP range is 217 miles.
It can use a 100kW rapid charger, boosting the battery from flat to 80 percent charge in 30 minutes.
A regular wall box will deliver 100 percent charge in seven hours 30 minutes.
PureTech petrol engines are offered with 100hp, 130hp or 130hp, BlueHDi diesel come in 110hp or 130hp guise.
Trim grades comprise Sense, Sense Plus, Shine and Shine Plus.
All feature LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, 10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Citroen fits a comprehensive safety pack including driver assist features. Other standard features include dual-zone climate control, electronic parking brake and rear parking sensors.
Sense Plus adds sat nav, rear parking camera and folding door mirrors.
Shine has dark-tint rear windows, a more advanced driver assist pack, keyless entry and heated steering wheel.
Shine Plus brings a premium sound system, leather and textile upholstery, wireless smartphone charging and an even more comprehensive Highway Driver Assist pack which uses camera and radar technology.
2021 Citroen C4 prices
Sense
PureTech 100: £20,990
BlueHDi 110: £22,740
Sense Plus
PureTech 130: £22,990
PureTech 130 auto: £24,390
BlueHDi 110: £23,840
BlueHDi 130 auto: £26,840
Shine
PureTech 130: £23,990
PureTech 130 auto: £25,390
PureTech 155 auto: £26,390
BlueHDi 110: £24,840
BlueHDi 130 auto: £27,040
Shine Plus
PureTech 130 auto: £26,590
PureTech 155 auto: £27,590
BlueHDi 130 auto: £28,240
2021 Citroen e-C4 prices
Sense Plus: £29,180
Shine: £30,130
Shine Plus: £31,330
All e-C4 prices include government Plug-in Car Grant
