Research reveals where drivers are using their phone at the wheel

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August 22, 2019

Using your phone and driving is highly illegal and ill-advised, but that doesn’t stop a shocking number of us risking a £200 fine and six points on our licence.

But where in the UK are you most likely to find a driver using a mobile phone at the wheel? New figures reveal all.

Loophole in mobile phone law to be closed

London calling

Unsurprisngly, London is the worst place for people using their phone while driving. The City of London and London Metropolitan constituencies lead with a respective 1,427 and 228 fines per capita.

It’s been reported that one in two drivers will use their phone while stuck in traffic, even though that remains illegal. Yes, even when stationary.

Three in five young drivers admit to using their phone while driving

In the City of London, there’s a police officer for every 15 civilians in the area. Contrast that with London Metropolitan’s one officer for every 258 civilians. It begs the question, how many people are really using their phone behind the wheel elsewhere, without being caught?

Cheshire, West Mercia and Suffolk/Norfolk follow in third, fourth and fifth, with a respective 181, 164 and 154 fines per capita. Essex, Thames Valley, Merseyside, Hampshire and Warwickshire span between 150 and 121 fines per capita.

Phones and driving: The least fines per capita

What about the least fines per capita? That honour goes to Avon & Somerset (37), with Nottinghamshire (40), South Yorkshire (42), Wiltshire (42), Leicestershire (43) and Northamptonshire (43) following close behind.

Avon & Somerset’s figure boasts a scarcely believable 3,756 percent difference with the City of London.

Police can now see if you’re on your phone while driving

Drivers demand tougher penalties for mobile phone use

“Despite introducing new penalties for offending drivers, there are still so many using their mobile phones at the wheel,” said Tim Schwarz, head of marketing at Moneybarn, the provider of these figures.

“It’s clear there’s still more required from the relevant authorities to bring down these numbers. Even tougher penalties are in discussion – like MP’s current call for use of hands-free devices to be made illegal – to eliminate the ‘dial and drive’ mentality for good.”

Motorists urged to ‘check it before towing it’

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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August 22, 2019

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There are around 4,000 incidents involving trailers on our roads every year, which has prompted Highways England to issue towing advice.

It follows a ‘runaway’ trailer on the M25 in Surrey, which caused five miles of tailbacks and delays of around 40 minutes. The advice is simple: ‘check it before towing it’.

“It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure equipment is fitted and used safely on every journey,” warned Simon Simon, MOT product manager at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

At the end of next week, millions of motorists will be returning from their summer holiday, with tens of thousands of vehicles towing caravans, camping trailers and boats hitting the road. Adequate checks are essential.

Highways England’s strategic road safety lead, Stuart Lovatt said: “Thankfully incidents like the one [on the M25] are very rare but now is the time to remind motorists of the need to make sure you have carried out proper checks and have loaded the trailer or vehicle correctly.

“We have all sorts travelling on our network including horse boxes, trailer tents and leisure vehicles such as boats and caravans. Our message today is really simple, check it before towing it. So that everyone gets home, safe and well”.

What causes towing incidents?

Many of the towing incidents were caused by some of the following factors:

Poorly loaded trailers and caravans.
Overloaded trailers.
Trailer and load too heavy for the vehicle’s towing capacity.
Driving too fast.
Serious crosswinds.
Breakaway cable not attached correctly.

How to avoid towing incidents

The chair of the national towing working group at Highways England says the following checks should be carried out before embarking on a journey. Some of these checks will require some forward planning, so don’t wait until the last minute before taking them into consideration.

Make sure the towing vehicle is suitable for the caravan or trailer load. It’s also important to check that the nose weight is sufficient.
Choose a car and caravan/trailer with stability aids.
Drive within the speed limits for towing – 60mph on a motorway. Take care when going downhill and/or overtaking.
Reduce speed when it’s raining or in high winds.
If instability occurs, do not brake, but ease off the accelerator and allow the speed to drop. Do not try to accelerate.
Following an instability scare, check all possible contributory factors and address any issues.

Simon Smith adds: “DVSA’s priority is helping everyone keep their vehicle safe to drive.

“Trailer safety is all too often overlooked. But safety checks are life-saving and don’t take too long to carry out.”

Click here to find out how to get a free trailer safety check. Also check out our guide to towing a caravan or trailer.

Understanding Kia’s electric car range is child’s play

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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August 21, 2019

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Kia has teamed up with Sky Media to raise awareness of its growing range of electric cars.

Using an ‘out of the mouths of babes’ approach to marketing, Kia is using an all-child cast to explore the benefits of electric car ownership. It’s like the Vauxhall ‘Little Dads’ campaign, rebooted for a new generation.

The Korean brand hopes that the six-week campaign will appeal to families, while answering some of the EV questions adults are too afraid to ask. Well, it’s often the child who helps the parents with the set-up of household electronic devices…

‘Electric credentials’

“Sky Media will be the perfect partner for our brand,” said Jane Fenn, head of brand communications at Kia.

“Being able to amplify our wide range of electric and alternative fuelled models across such a broad scale of media will ensure that our electric credentials are seen by a wide range of consumers that are a sure fit within our target demographic.”

Kia offers all-electric, plug-in hybrid and self-charging hybrid versions of the Niro, and is taking orders for an all-new Soul EV, which promises a range of up to 280 miles. It will cost £33,795 after the government’s plug-in car grant.

The three-minute film will be available on demand and will be supported by social media, traditional TV advertising and digital display marketing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcTOmGQ4IKg

It’s not the first time Kia has teamed up with Sky Media to raise brand awareness. Following broadcast sponsorship of Sky Sports Cricket, Kia saw a 21 percent increase in spontaneous awareness of the brand, with 38 percent of viewers indicating a purchase intent to buy a car.

The challenge was to change the brand perception that lagged behind reality, with consumer insight suggesting that many people saw Kia as a company offering low-priced small cars.

If consumers think the kids are alright, Kia could find that shifting electric cars is child’s play.

Will Sir Elton John’s old Ferrari Daytona sell for LESS in 2019?

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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August 21, 2019

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Two years after it sold at auction for £551,250, a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona formerly owned by Sir Elton John is back at auction with a reduced estimate.

The 1972 Ferrari Daytona went under the hammer at a Silverstone Auctions sale in July 2017 but is now being offered from a deceased estate.

With a pre-auction estimate of £425,000 to £475,000, is this a sign that the classic car market is in decline? Or is it simply a case of common sense prevailing? Goodbye Yellow Brick road and crazy auction prices?

We’ll find out when the Ferrari Daytona returns to the market at the Dallas Burton Polo Club on 21 September.

Sir Elton John’s first Ferrari?

Early registration information identifies Elton John of Wentworth, Surrey, as the recorded owner and keeper of the car from 1973 to 1975. It believed that it was the Rocket Man’s first Ferrari.

It’s one of 158 genuine right-hand-drive UK-supplied Daytonas and comes with the factory build sheets, order forms and every Ferrari service and receipt. It has covered 82,000 pampered miles.

“Sir Elton John famously has a long affinity with Ferrari, having owned several range-topping V12 models that included a 365 BB, Testarossa and 512 TR over the years,” said Arwel Richards, Silverstone Auctions classic car specialist.

“The history file is exceptionally detailed and is a testament to the care of the previous owners in collating the car’s file as much as caring for the car’s condition for 47 years.

“We had the honour of selling the car in 2017 and it was bought by a young collector, Mr Harris, with the car stabled among his 1974 Ferrari 264 Dino, 1991 Ferrari Testarossa and several Porsches. Sadly Mr Harris died this year and we are offering the car on the behalf of his family.”

When and where can you buy Sir Elton’s Ferrari Daytona?

The Silverstone Auctions sale of Ferrari and Porsche 2019 takes place on 21 September at the Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire.

Other Ferrari lots include a 512 BB with an estimate of £190,000 to £220,000, and a one-owner 550 Maranello that’s expected to sell for between £120,000 and £140,000.

Mountune’s 520hp Ford Focus RS is beautifully mad

By

Ethan Jupp

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August 21, 2019

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Engineering company Mountune has secured its place as the proprietors of the maddest fast Fords with the release of the M450 and M520 power packages for the Mk3 Focus RS.

2019 Ford Fiesta ST M225 review: Mountune making the best, better

Taking the Focus RS beyond 500hp

How exactly do you get a 2.3-litre Ecoboost engine, one that left the factory with 350hp, up to 500hp and beyond? As you might imagine, some serious upgrades are required.

(Oh, but if you’ve already bought Mountune power upgrades, we’ve some good news. The plumbing you get with the M400 package is retained and not replaced.)

Ford is launching an esports team to go virtual racing

The key upgrade for both the M450 and M520 is the turbocharger. The units are suppled by BorgWarner, though the one on the M520 is bit bigger. Both turbos use low inertia Gamma-Ti turbine wheels and dual-row ceramic ball bearings for a quicker spool and response.

The M520 also gets an uprated fuel pump, more aggressively-profiled camshafts and a stronger valvetrain. Both packages work together with top-quality Mountune software tuning to deliver their performance figures.

Ford Mustang gets the official Gulf Oil Heritage Edition treatment

Exclusive: taking a ride in the M520 Focus RS

On a recent visit to Mountune, to test out their M225 Fiesta ST and their new M52 stage one Golf R, we got the opportunity to have very quick ride out in the development M520 Focus.

Quick both in the sense that we weren’t out very long, and quick in that sense. We only got a brief taste, but it was long enough to work out the Focus was a serious bit of kit, but that the extensive power upgrade didn’t ruin the engine for conventional use. It’s not compromised like a race car, it just pulls like one…

We’ll be feeling that for ourselves very soon when we head back down for a go in an M520 Focus. In the meantime, here’s our review of the new Mountune Fiesta ST.

Forza Ford: you can now drive a classic Transit in Horizon 4

The new kits cost a respective £2,950 and £5,974 for the M450 or M520 packages. Why the extra £3,000 for the M520? Those new camshafts and the improved valvetrain – it’s a much more comprehensive upgrade.

As above, if your Focus RS is still ‘virgin’, you may be looking at a bit more on top for a radiator, and various other cooling and plumbing bits.

“We have worked hard to develop upgrades that build on the success of the m400X and m400R kits,” said Alec Pell-Johnson, Director of Mountune Performance.

“With the very latest BorgWarner turbocharger platform, both upgrades deliver exceptional levels of power and torque, turning the RS into something quite remarkable.

“After the positive initial feedback we received from the official unveiling of the kits at Ford Fair, we can’t wait to start fitting them to our customers’ cars.”

Why it should be easier to find your next car on Auto Trader

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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August 20, 2019

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New and used car buyers should now discover it’s easier to find their next car on Auto Trader.

That’s because the online marketplace has tweaked its search rankings to prioritise results based on consumer relevance as well as price.

One in three consumers would have bought their car sooner if the process was easier for them, says Auto Trader. So the upgraded search algorithm should be good news for the consumer and the seller.

Auto Trader faces new competition, with the Volkswagen- and Daimler-backed Heycar online marketplace now available to consumers in the UK.

But while Heycar is a 100 percent business to consumer marketplace, Auto Trader features private sellers, and at the time of writing it has around 480,000 new and used cars for sale.

Karolina Edwards-Smajda, director of commercial products, said: “All of our research shows that retailers that price to market from day one enjoy a faster speed of sale, which means they’re selling more cars, more quickly, and for more profit.

“We’re committed to making the car buying experience easier for consumers, and in the process providing our customers with the very best marketplace to sell their cars.

“By showing relevant results and useful information upfront to car buyers, we’re delivering retailers with more meaningful connections earlier in the process, and fewer questions from less informed consumers.”

Advice for car dealers

Auto Trader says there “isn’t a simplistic check-list” for dealers to appear higher up the search rankings, but advises retailers to follow “best digital practice”.

Including plenty of images and a video to highlight the true condition of the vehicle helps, as does adding lots of detail on the condition and specification of the car.

Using customer reviews to instil confidence and trust in their business is another quick win for dealers.

Kia makes an extra-hot Stinger GTS with DRIFT MODE

By

John Redfern

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August 20, 2019

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One of the surprising highlights of the 2019 New York International Auto Show has turned out to be a limited edition of the Kia Stinger.

Branded as the Stinger GTS, just 800 units are planned to be built – and it looks like only North American buyers will get to join in the fun.

That’s despite the Stinger proving popular internationally, with everyone from English cricket players, to Australian police forces, finding love for them.

The reason Brits are not getting it? Our Stingers are rear-wheel drive only… and drift mode is only available on all-wheel drive Stingers. In the UK, it seems, drifting a Stinger is a manual affair.

Power to the chosen people

Those 800 lucky Stinger drift mode buyers are going to be rather excited, as this is not simply a case of Kia just slapping a coat of the exclusive bright orange ‘Federation’ paint on the Stinger GTS.

The GTS retains the same 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine as the GT, producing 365hp (272kW) and 376 lb-ft of torque (510Nm). An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard.

With a choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the fun really begins by choosing an AWD GTS. A mechanical limited-slip differential is added to the rear axle, and the the Drive Mode Select gains a brand-new option.

Engage Drift Mode!

Just like the infamous Ford Focus RS, the Stinger GTS has a special ‘Drift Mode’ setting, which sends 100% of torque to the rear wheels.

It also holds the chosen gear without shifting up, allowing for ridiculous slides and the potential to attract attention from the local constabulary.

We imagine Kia would advise that Drift Mode is only ever used on a closed circuit, although some GTS buyers will undoubtedly try to gain social media clicks by doing it on the road.

Carbon captured

Along with the ferocious orange paint scheme, Kia has also fitted the Stinger GTS with a wealth of parts made from real carbon fibre. The lightweight material is used for the front grille surround, side mirror caps, and also the rear badges.

Alcantara is used to cover the steering wheel and the centre console, whilst imitation suede material makes an appearance on the black headlining. A panoramic sunroof is also standard, along with 720-watt Harman/Kardon sound system and wireless charging for compatible smartphones.

Kia has not yet released pricing for the GTS in the United States. Demand, we’re sure, is certain to be high.

‘Supercabs’ help to cut motorway collisions by a third

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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August 20, 2019

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A week of action to improve road safety on the M1 helped to reduce collisions by almost a third, thanks in part to the deployment of ‘supercabs’.

The three custom-built Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks – also known as HGV supercabs – were acquired by Highways England in 2018 to help police catch people committing offences behind the wheel.

Thanks to the high vantage point, officers can look down on car and van drivers to catch people texting, using a smartphone or not wearing a seatbelt. The officers are also well placed to look across to other lorry drivers who are driving without due care and attention.

All three supercabs were used during the M1 safety week in May, during which time the number of collisions fell from 90 the previous week to 64. This is the fourth lowest number of collisions in 2019 and the second lowest outside school holidays.

The supercabs were used to catch a total of 200 dangerous drivers committing an offence, with each one stopped by a police officer. Hundreds of other motorists were given safety tips at motorway services.

Offences ranged from using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel, not wearing a seatbelt and careless driving.

Little changes can make a big difference

Richard Leonard, head of road safety at Highways England, said: “We’ve been really impressed with the results of our week of action on the M1 which shows how making little changes to the way you drive can make a big difference to safety on our motorways.

“Our HGV supercabs helped the police identify almost 200 dangerous drivers who could have caused collisions if they hadn’t been pulled over, and our safety tips at motorway services and in the media also helped to make the M1 safer for everyone.

“As part of our current motorway driving campaign, we’re encouraging drivers to remember the basics of motorway driving to help keep us all moving so that the number of accidents continue to fall in the weeks and months ahead.”

PC Dave Lee from the safer roads team at Northamptonshire Police expressed his irritation at the number of drivers stopped during the safety week. “It’s always disappointing to catch drivers breaking the law.

“However, with a high number of motorists observed throughout the operation, these figures show it’s a small minority who continue to commit these types of offences.”

The supercabs are fitted with flashing lights for use in an emergency and have derestricted speed limiters to allow them to travel at higher speeds. Six police forces used them during the M1 safety week.

Earlier this year, Highways England released a video of a lorry driver making a credit card payment behind the wheel. In a separate video, Northamptonshire Police said they used a supercab to record a driver watching television, while another was filmed trying to cook their dinner.

Kia launches ‘Try Before You Buy’ car rental scheme in Oxford

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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August 20, 2019

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If you fancy living with a Kia Stinger to see what all the fuss is about, or want to discover how a Kia Sportage could cope with family life, the Korean brand’s new car rental scheme is for you.

The ‘Try Before You Buy’ initiative allows you to rent a Kia of your choice from a participating dealer, with prices starting at £15.70 per day. If you decide to buy it, Kia will give you your money back.

Brayleys Oxford is the latest Kia dealer to offer a new car rental service, with cars available for a day, a weekend, a month or even longer. You might need a few days just to escape the Oxford traffic.

The ‘Try Before You Buy’ scheme is a bolt-on available to prospective customers, with cars on offer for up to five days.

You might just fall head over heels in love with a Kia during the rental and you can’t imagine life without a Picanto.

It’s another example of the ever-changing car ownership model, which includes car sharing, short term rentals and ‘Netflix-style’ pay-as-you-drive subscription services.

For Brayleys Oxford, it’s a chance to welcome new and existing customers into its showroom, as well as maximising the potential of its car stock.

Car rental ‘couldn’t be simpler’

Michelle Prentice, dealer rental programme manager at Kia Motors, said: “We are proud to announce the launch [of] our new car rental location, which I’m confident will be a great addition, not only to Brayleys (Oxford), but to our Kia Rental Network.

“With demand for rental cars in this city being constant and high, we’re confident that our rental operation will be a great success.”

Pawel Kisiel, rental manager at Brayleys Oxford Kia, added: “The new Kia rental process here in Oxford couldn’t be simpler for our customers, as we have made sure our pricing is clear and we have [a] great selection of brand-new Kia cars already in place.”

The ‘Try Before You Buy’ is available on new Kia vehicles only and rates vary across different models. The minimum rental is one day and the maximum is five days, excluding the Stinger, which can only be rented for three days.

The Kia Stinger is also subject to a £1,000 excess and the driver must be aged 25 or over. Still, we’re sure younger drivers would be happy with a Picanto…

Ford is launching an esports team to go virtual racing

By

John Redfern

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August 20, 2019

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With millions of video gamers getting behind the wheel of a virtual vehicle each day, Ford is now getting involved with the esports world.

The company is looking to recruit the best gamers from across Europe, bringing them together to compete for its brand-new Fordzilla team.

An official launch at the Gamescom video games trade fair in Cologne, Germany demonstrates how seriously Ford is taking the virtual world.

Initial recruits will come together to form national Fordzilla teams in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The top players from each national team will then form an overarching European team.

These teams will compete in a number of different racing games, with Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport series primed to be top of the playlist.

Ford notes that millions of players get involved with Forza each month. Significantly, 1 million of them pick to play with vehicles wearing the Blue Oval badge. The classic 1965 Ford Transit was recently added to Forza Horizon 4.

Last year, Ford became the first manufacturer to launch a vehicle at the Gamescom show. The Ranger Raptor pickup truck made a virtual debut in a trailer for the Forza Horizon 4 game, months before the real version hit the dirt.

Ford’s interest in esports is clearly not just to find a way to get access to the latest video games. The global audience for esports has reached almost 460 million people, making it a prime marketing opportunity.

With the average video gamer in their early thirties, this represents a substantial potential customer base for Ford. Video games can offer an effective virtual test drive experience for new cars.

Manufacturers have used real-world motorsport to demonstrate the abilities of their products since the earliest days of the automobile. Entering esports is simply doing the same, but in a virtual world.

Roelant de Waard, vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe said: “We at Ford have a racing pedigree that others can only envy.

“Now is the time to take that know-how and apply it to the world of esports – capturing the imagination of a new generation of virtual racing drivers, inspiring them to take a ride in one of our Ford Performance vehicles”.

The world of esports has already gained substantial recognition in 2019. A recent announcement from the FIA noted that esports would be included in the first-ever Motorsports Games. Global revenues from virtual racing are also expected to exceed $1.1 billion for this year.