Cars

[SteveH]

Drivers are being denied a further 10p cut in petrol prices due to major retailers hiking profit margins, according to new analysis. The RAC said the average price of a litre of the fuel in the UK fell by nearly 7p to 162.9p in September as oil prices plummeted.

This was the sixth biggest monthly drop in average petrol prices since 2000 but the cut should have been deeper, the motoring services company claimed. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: ?Drivers really should have seen a far bigger drop as the wholesale price of delivered petrol was around 120p for the whole month.

?This means forecourts across the country should have been displaying prices around 152p given the long-term margin on unleaded is 7p a litre. In stark contrast to this, RAC Fuel Watch data has shown margins to be around 17p a litre ? a huge 10p more than normal.?

Supermarkets normally charge around 3.5p per litre less than the UK average but are currently only around 1.5p cheaper.

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/rac-says-drivers-denied-10p-25178971?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[mull]

Coming up this weekend the Mull Rally.

Anyone from 3 towns area coming up here to watch or take part ?  Good end of season event before we shut down for winter.

https//mullrally.org/rally-guide/

[DVT]

The event is a round of the ANWCC (Association of North-Western Car Clubs) stage rally championship, of which I am Championship Co-ordinator,  but unfortunately I won't be there.   Only ever been once, back in 1987 and finished 50th overall ... I would say it's one of the best rallies I ever competed on, and I've finished over 200.  The event is regarded as the "must do" event fir many rally competitors.  Good luck to all, stay safe.

[SteveH]

Over 55s warned of recent Highway Code changes
A new survey has revealed that only one in five drivers over the age of 55 have revisited the Highway Code since passing their driving test

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/over-55s-warned-of-recent-highway-code-changes/

[SteveH]

End of the road for Ford Fiesta as car to be discontinued
Ford is reported to be planning to end production of the popular supermini from next year

Ford looks set to end production of its iconic Fiesta model with an announcement due within days. The popular 'super-mini' first marketed in 1976 will end production as early as next year, reports the BBC.

Ford is reported to be talking to manufacturers, staff and car dealers this week ahead of the formal announcement, the move comes as Ford switches to all electric vehicles and it has no plans for an electric version of the Fiesta.

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/end-road-ford-fiesta-car-25356089?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

UK Motorists are breathing a sigh of relief as the prices to fill up at the pumps have finally come down.

The AA reports that the price of petrol is down to an average of 163.70p a litre this week. It comes shortly after costs increased sharply at the end of October, peaking at 166.54p.

Since unleaded peaked on July 3 at 191.53p, almost 28p has now come off a litre. It means Brits using unleaded fuel can make a saving of just under ?16 on a tank, reports The Mirror.

However, for diesel prices, it's a different story. The latest figure of 188.12p reflects a slight increase over the previous month's price of 187.08p per litre.

According to the latest Fuel Price Report from the AA, supermarket outlets are charging less than other forecourts. However, the cost you pay varies depending on the type of fuel you use and the gas station you choose to go to.

The AA calculated the difference in petrol and diesel prices by comparing supermarket petrol stations in October and November.

Latest petrol prices are as follows:
Sainsbury's - was: 161.16p, now 162.56p
Asda - was: 161.29p, now 162.74p
Morrisons - was: 163.68p, now 162.83p
Jet - was: 163.37p, now 163.16p
Texaco - 165.14p, now 163.66p
Tesco - was: 162.82p, now 163.88p
Murco - was: 165.29p, now 165.03p
Shell - was: 166.45p, now 165.31p
Esso - was: 165.82p, now 165.85p
BP - was: 167.01p, now 166.67p

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/uks-cheapest-petrol-stations-revealed-as-price-drop-could-save-drivers-up-to-4-40-per-tank/

[SteveH]

CUTTING speed limits to 20mph in built-up areas does not significantly improve safety, a new report suggests.

The findings, published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, analysed data from before and after the 20mph limit was introduced on 76 roads in the centre of Belfast in 2016.

Comparisons with streets in the surrounding area and elsewhere in Northern Ireland that retained their 30 or 40mph mph limit showed there were "no statistically significant differences" in terms of the number of crashes, casualty rates or average traffic speed.

However researchers found roads with a 20mph limit did experience a reduction in traffic.

The findings come as the Welsh Government prepares to roll-out 20mph limits across all "restricted roads" in the country. Restricted roads include those with street lights and are usually located in residential and built up areas with high pedestrian activity.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23146148.20mph-little-impact-road-safety-new-report-suggests/

[SteveH]

Toyota has signed an ?11.3m deal to help it develop a new range of hydrogen-powered pickup trucks.

The agreement could create up to 250 jobs across the UK, according to the government.

The funding will allow Toyota to set up a pilot production line for its Hilux FC model at its plant near Derby.

Research carried out there could eventually pave the way for trucks to be built at the company's Deeside factory in Wales.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is investing ?5.6m in the research scheme, based at Burnaston, with a further ?5.7m coming through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) - an industry body which supports work to decarbonise transport.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles do not use electricity stored in a battery but generate it, with zero emissions, through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-63827102

[SteveH]

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit many of us in the pockets, there are fears petrol prices could rise by another 12p early in 2023.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) revealed in its forecasts published alongside the Budget that it is expecting fuel duty to rise by 23% in the spring, increasing the price of petrol and diesel by around 12p per litre.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23169491.5-tips-save-money-petrol-prices-set-rise/


PS Ukraine war: Oil prices rise as cap on Russian crude looms   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63855030

[SteveH]

Asda has cut the cost of petrol and diesel "at last". The RAC has now called on other major supermarkets to do the same after months of eye-watering prices at the pumps.

Asda has knocked an average of 4.5p off the cost of a litre of unleaded across its 320 stores over the last two days, and around 5.5p off diesel too according to data from the RAC. But the RAC has argued that the drop in prices "should have come much sooner", after accusing supermarkets of failing to pass on wholesale savings down to customers.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said of Asda's new pump prices: "Asda is now charging an average of 153.5p for petrol and 176.7p for diesel which is around 2p less than its rivals. We urge the other three supermarkets to catch up quickly ? or go even further ? and give drivers some much-needed relief from high prices next time they fill up. If they do, this will bring the UK average petrol price down from its current 157.8p which benefits drivers everywhere."

He added: "Despite these reductions, our analysis of wholesale data shows this should really be just the beginning as there?s easily scope for another 10p a litre to come off the current average price of both petrol and diesel. Perhaps it will be Asda which once again takes a leadership position by further cutting its prices to help drivers save money in the run-up to Christmas."

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/asda-cuts-price-petrol-diesel-25709786

[SteveH]

Tesco slashes petrol prices at its fuel stations over last 24 hours
The supermarket giant has trimmed 7p a litre off fuel at one North Wales petrol station

Tesco has become the latest supermarket to cut petrol prices after months of inflated prices at the pumps. Last week Asda knocked an average of 4.5p off the cost of a litre of unleaded across its 320 stores over two days, and around 5.5p off diesel too according to data from the RAC.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/tesco-slashes-petrol-prices-fuel-25733244

[SteveH]

Top Gear host Andrew ?Freddie? Flintoff was hospitalised after a crash while filming the latest series of the show on Tuesday.

The former cricketer was filming at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey when the incident happened.

He was taken to hospital to receive medical treatment.

A BBC spokesman said: ?Freddie was injured in an accident at the Top Gear test track this morning ? with crew medics attending the scene immediately.

?He has been taken to hospital for further treatment and we will confirm more details in due course.?

The father of four, who has presented the BBC One show since 2019, was airlifted to hospital following the incident, but is not thought to have suffered any life-threatening injuries  ref pioneer

[SteveH]

From junctions to road signs - top ten reasons Brits fail their driving test
As the pass rate across the UK drops we take a look at the biggest reasons people are failing their practical driving test

TOUGH TEST: Failing to be in control of the car when moving off from the test centre is one of the big errors Brits make on their test (Photo by Steve Parsons/PA Wire)

It can be one of the most daunting days in our lives - going in for our driving test is indeed a nerve-racking occasion.       

Brits all across the country remember the first, second, or third time they took their test and although we remember our triumphs, we never forget the the reasons why we failed. The latest data released back in August of this year (2022) by the Department for Transport reveals that the driving test is as tricky as ever for many people in the UK.

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/junctions-and-road-signs-top-ten-reasons-brits-fail-their-driving-test/

[SteveH]

Do you think the driving theory test is easy? Take our quiz to see if you could pass
The exam interrogates learners on their knowledge of the road and the Highway Code and it's not as simple as you think

quiz  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/you-think-driving-theory-test-25900164

[Hammy]

Well anybody that does not get full marks on that one should not be driving!