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The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Millions of drivers can get a free driver's licence and avoid paying the £14 charge – here's how
MILLIONS of motorists could renew their driving licence without paying a penny – but you'll need to meet strict rules to qualify. The offer applies across Great Britain, according to the DVLA, and is only open to drivers aged 70 or over, or those turning 70 within the next 90 days. Normally, renewing online costs £14, but if you're in the qualifying age group, it's completely free. There is one catch, once you reach 70, you must renew your licence every three years. Younger drivers only have to renew every 10 years, and they still need to pay the £14 fee. The DVLA says the process is simple and quick. Most people receive their new licence within a week if they apply online. Free renewal is quick and easy However, you must have a British driving licence that has either expired or will expire within 90 days. You also need to be a resident of Great Britain, as a different service applies in Northern Ireland. Drivers must meet the minimum eyesight requirements and must not be banned from driving for any reason. If you are currently disqualified or were refused a licence on medical grounds, you will not be able to use this service. Digital driving licences to be introduced this year on a new smartphone app that will store government-issued virtual documents What you'll need to apply Applying online requires a few details, including an email address, your addresses from the past three years, and your National Insurance number if you know it. If you want to change your licence photo, you will also need a valid UK passport number. Once you submit your application, the DVLA will send a confirmation email. You may also be invited to take part in research, but this is entirely optional. While your application is being processed, you are still allowed to drive as long as your doctor says it is safe, you had a valid licence, you follow the same conditions as your previous licence, and your application is less than a year old. You must also ensure your last licence wasn't revoked or refused for medical reasons, and that you're not currently disqualified.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
'Public do not know drink driving limit', says ex-traffic officer
A former traffic police officer has warned that proposed changes to drink driving laws do not go far government is considering reducing the drink drive limit in England and Wales from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath to 22 micrograms, which is the current level for John Scruby, a former South Yorkshire Police traffic officer and now trustee of the Campaign Against Drink Driving, said the law is unclear and more education was necessary. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones had told BBC Breakfast this was the biggest shake up to the UK's driving laws "for decades", but stressed the proposed changes remained part of a consultation process. The government's plans also include a ban for motorists aged over 70 years old if they fail compulsory eye Scruby said the drink driving changes were "a step in the right direction" but that the government should make it clear what the limit for drinking then driving is in a way people can understand."We have road signs for speed, weight and height restrictions," Mr Scruby said."There's nowhere that says what the legal limit is and if you ask any member of the public, I'm quite sure that you'll get the answer of two pints or two units - that's wrong. "The legal limit in England and Wales is currently 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. "What does that mean?"According to the government website: "There are strict alcohol limits for drivers, but it's impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals - it's different for each person."Drinkaware UK, a charity focused on reducing alcohol-related harm, said "it isn't possible to work out how many units of alcohol will put you over the limit".It adds that the amount varies from person to person, depending on: Your weight, age, sex and metabolismThe type and amount of alcohol you're drinkingWhat you've eaten recentlyYour stress levels at the time Dr Katherine Severi, chief executive of think tank the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: "We fully support potential plans to reduce the drink drive limit in England and Wales. "Along with Northern Ireland, which has legislated to reduce its limit, we are now the only countries in Europe to have a limit this high, so it would be common sense to align with other countries, including our neighbour Scotland."Research shows that you are six times more likely to be involved in a crash that kills someone if you have a blood alcohol concentration of 80mg/100ml, which is the current limit in England and Wales, compared to 0mg."When Scotland reduced its limit in 2014, police figures showed an immediate decrease in drink drive offences. "It also led to greater anti-drink driving sentiment and more support for the reduction."However, evidence also shows that changing the law alone is not necessarily enough to reduce accidents. "What is needed alongside a lower limit are more public transport options, greater enforcement such as more breath tests, and specialist rehabilitation courses for those with mental health and alcohol problems." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
British BMX trickster Kriss Kyle ‘puts mum and dad through hell' even before epic never-seen-before stunt with F1 car
KRISS KYLE admitted he put his parents 'through hell' - even before he decided to risk death by 'playing chicken with an F1 car'. Scottish BMX rider Kyle, 33, took his daredevil exploits to the extreme, even by his lofty standards with his latest stunt. 9 9 That is because he risked his life by jumping over an actual Formula One car racing towards him on the track at Goodwood. Kyle had the crazy idea two years ago and teamed up with sponsors Red Bull to make 'Can He Hop It?' happen, with the company providing Sebastian Vettel's 2011 title-winning RB7 V12 model motor plus the precision timings, given to the rider by a beep in his ear. After seven months of training, much of it centred around strengthening his legs including looking like a 'nutcase' walking the dog in a weighted vest, the initial date had to be aborted due to strong winds. So a back-up date was set at Goodwood, where - despite still some significant wind - Kyle had a 30-minute window and one take to pull off his monumental feat on the custom-built one-off titanium and carbon fibre bike. Get it wrong, and Kyle could have died. Kyle told SunSport: 'This was probably the scariest one that I have done so far. So many things could go wrong. 'All I need is a bad gust, and I'm not gonna make it, or be too early or too late. 'You could like hurt yourself, or you could die. It's so horrible but the feeling when you land it, that's why I do it, for the sheer feeling of that, it's like no other. 'The scariest part was waiting, hearing the car getting closer and closer. 'I couldn't just go whenever I wanted to go, I needed to go when the beeper told me to go, otherwise I'd be dead. Shock moment fearless BMX star does backflip at 2,000ft high on world's first FLOATING skatepark on hot air balloon 'I had to get from point A to point B within 0.2 of a second, which is faster than you can blink an eye. 'It was almost impossible to get my reaction speed right, and there was no room for error, absolutely no room. 'When you're pedalling towards this screaming car, everything in your mind is saying, 'Get out of the way. What the hell are you doing?' 'You're playing a game of chicken with an F1 car. 'The car was doing 60km/h so about 40mph. Fast enough to do yourself in. 'You have to trust the Red Bull timings are spot on, which obviously they are. You are trusting your life with other people. 'I was prepared to really hurt myself but was really hoping it was gonna be landed. I forgot to call my mum when I landed and she thought I was dead Kriss Kyle 'Parademics were there. There were two ambulances, one for me and one for the driver.' Kyle got into BMX-ing through his older brother and moved out of the family home in Stranraer at 14 without any qualifications, sofa-surfing 100 miles away in Dumbarton as the police tried to take them to court over his non-existent school attendance. Then unbeknownst to his parents, he spent a year illegally living in the Unit 23 Skatepark - with rats for housemates and sweets for meals. Kyle explained: 'It was like super, super scary being in there by yourself. 'It was like a horror movie. 'F***, the amount of s*** I'd hear in there. I hated it. 'I lived there for a year by myself. One night I remember a rat ran over me. No joke, it was the size of cat. F***ing horrible.' 9 9 9 9 The horrendous conditions did not dampen Kyle's desire for riding, though, and sponsorships started to follow - firstly providing free kit before eventually funding his thrill-seeking career. And it has certainly given him - and his loved ones - some hair-raising moments through the years. Kyle, who has escaped relatively unscathed by only breaking his ankle, toes, ribs and thumb, added: 'It's my job to think of these crazy ideas that no one's done before. 'I skated in a floating skatepark 2,000ft in the air in a hot-air balloon and jumped out of a helicopter on to the top of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. 'I put my mum and dad through hell. I actually do. 'After the F1 car, my mum called me and was crying when I told her that I'd done it. 'When I'd done the skate park in the sky, she was crying then as well. I forgot to call her when I landed and she thought I was dead. 'I put my wife through hell as well. And I've got a 16-month-old son now as well. 'I'm not making it easy on anyone or myself but they're super proud of me.' 9 9
