Latest news with #Blackcircles
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway has Scotland's highest rate of illegal tyre-related accidents
Research by online tyre retailer Blackcircles has revealed the areas with the most road accidents due to defective illegal, defective and under-inflated tyres. Dumfries and Galloway has the highest rate of illegal tyre-related accidents in Scotland. Research by online tyre retailer Blackcircles has revealed the areas with the most road accidents due to defective illegal, defective and under-inflated tyres. In Dumfries and Galloway, there were 10 between 2019-2023 – a rate of 6.86 per 100,000 people. And that gives it the highest rate among Scotland's council areas and the fourth highest in the UK. With Dumfries and Galloway having a population just under 150,000, the number of accidents could be down to number and length of key roads such as the M74, A75 and A77. The research also revealed the 10 accidents were among 19 collisions where vehicle defects had been found. And faulty brakes were the leading cause of vehicle collisions across the UK, accounting for nearly two-fifths of accidents. tyre expert, James Harding, is urging drivers to check their tyres before they too have an accident. He said: 'Tyres are the only part of your vehicle that make contact with the road, so their condition has a significant impact on your safety. 'Worn, damaged, or underinflated tyres can increase braking distances, reduce grip, and raise the risk of blowouts - especially in poor weather. 'Illegal, defective, or underinflated tyres contribute to hundreds of UK road collisions yearly. They can also result in fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre if found to be below legal standards.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scotsman
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Edinburgh traffic: Where Edinburgh ranks as UK's 10 cities with most roadworks named
The UK cities with the longest duration of road closures in 2024 have been named – and Edinburgh residents won't be surprised that Scotland's capital occupies a lofty position on the list. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It comes after experts at online tyre retailer, Blackcircles, sent Freedom of Information requests to UK local authorities to determine which areas had the most roadworks in 2024, the total number of road closures due to roadworks and the duration of each roadwork project carried out. Once the information was obrained, Blackcircles compiled a Top 10, which you can see below. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aberdeen is top for the local authorities with the longest road closures. Last year, road closures lasted for an average of 93 calendar days. The longest road works in the area are each expected to finish after around 365 calendar days. Newcastle upon Tyne is second among local authorities with the longest road closures. This is surprising given that during 2024, the local council reported just two road closures per 10,000. Yet, despite this, road closures lasted an average of 88 calendar days. The longest-running road closure in the area took around 548 calendar days. In third place, Edinburgh, which, on average, had roads closed for around 59 calendar days. The longest road closure in the area was on South St David Street, which will last around 547 calendar days, and is expected to end later in 2025. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Outside of London, Liverpool is the UK city where motorists face the most roadworks. In 2024, 31,765 roadworks were carried out in the northwest city, which is equivalent to 631 per 10,000 people. Blackpool is the UK area with the fewest number of roadworks. In 2024, 41 roadworks were carried out, which equates to 3 per 10,000 people. In 2024, Birmingham City Council closed 10,463 roads to carry out maintenance. This is equivalent to 90 per 10,000 people, higher than any other local authority. Edinburgh tops the list of UK areas with the highest average duration of roadworks. In 2024, the average duration of maintenance projects in the Scottish capital lasted for 80 calendar days. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad You can view the full research again here – UK areas with the longest duration of road closures: 1 - Aberdeen City Council - average length of road closures (calendar days) 93; 2 - Newcastle upon Tyne City Council, 88; 3 - City of Edinburgh Council, 59; 4 - Leicester City Council, 55; 5 - Southwark Borough Council, 53; 6 - Swindon Borough Council, 33; 7 - City of London Corporation, 26; 8 - Leeds City Council, 21; 9 - Ealing Borough Council, 20; 10 - Lewisham Borough Council, 18.
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- Wales Online
UK tourists issued £21k fine warning over little-known driving rule
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Wales Online breaking news on WhatsApp UK tourists have been warned that they risk a huge £21,000 fine if they fail to follow a little-known rule while abroad. According to one expert, there are a number of driving regulations you must be aware of when getting behind the wheel in some European countries. Holidaymakers should also check local laws to make sure they do not land in trouble with the authorities during their trip. If not, you could be risking a very hefty fine and even points on your licence. James Harding, from tyre retailer Blackcircles, said: "Taking your own car, or renting a car abroad, can give holidaymakers a sense of freedom; allowing them to explore their destination themselves. "However, it is important to ensure that you have all the right documents and understand any motoring laws before travelling to your destination. READ MORE: DVSA tyre warning as experts want major MOT rule change "For example, drivers may not operate a dashcam in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria as they are deemed an invasion of privacy. "Repeat offenders can be fined up to £21,000 (€25,000) in Austria. "If you are found eating or drinking behind the wheel in Cyprus, you can be fined £71 (€85). "This includes water, so it is best to pull over if you feel thirsty or peckish. "In Germany, road rage can cost you a hefty sum. "Shouting insults or making offensive gestures to police or members of the public, can cost you up to £3300 (€4,000) in fines." Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here. It is important that you take with you a number of key documents if you have planning to drive in other European countries. These include:
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Daily Record
Holidaymakers warned of European driving rules that could land them with £20K fine
Drivers should be cautious when driving on foreign roads as rules can vary from country to country. Brits heading abroad this summer are being warned of driving rules that could land them in trouble. Breaking several laws whilst driving on foreign roads could could put a dampener on your holidays as police could legally fine motorists as much as 25,000 euros. Ahead of the holiday season, experts are now urging drivers to check local laws and regulations before getting behind the wheel whilst on their travels. Tourists driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria should be aware that you are not allowed to use a dash cam when driving as this can be seen as invading someone's privacy. Also, if you're heading to Cyprus and plan to rent a car, make sure you do not eat or drink whilst driving as you could be fined 85 euros. James Harding, a tyre specialist with over 15 years of experience at Blackcircles, said: "Taking your own car, or renting a car abroad, can give holiday makers a sense of freedom; allowing them to explore their destination themselves. "However, it is important to ensure that you have all the right documents and understand any motoring laws before travelling to your destination.' 'For example, drivers may not operate a dashcam in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria as they are deemed an invasion of privacy. "Repeat offenders can be fined up to €25,000 in Austria. If you are found eating or drinking behind the wheel in Cyprus, you can be fined €85. This includes water, so it is best to pull over if you feel thirsty or peckish. "In Germany, road rage can cost you a hefty sum. Shouting insults or making offensive gestures to police or members of the public, can cost you up to €4,000 in fines.' Important documents to remember when driving in Europe Full, valid driving licence and national insurance number Proof of vehicle insurance Proof of ID (passport) V5C certificate (the 'log book') Travel insurance documents European Breakdown Cover policy number and documents Before you travel, ensure your vehicle's tax and MOT are valid and up-to-date Crit'air sticker if driving in France You may also need to carry other documents with you, including: One or more international driving permits a UK sticker (if you don't have a UK identifier with the Union flag on your number plate) Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. James added: 'It is also important to check that you take time to research road signs, and carry the right documents with you when driving.' Drivers were also previously warned to think twice about taking their business car on personal holidays. Before planning a European road trip in a company vehicle urged employees to check a number of regulations before setting off on their travels. Drivers can only take their company car on holiday with them if they ensure they have one thing - and this is permission. Employees must get written permission from your lease provider before taking your vehicle abroad.
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Herald Scotland
Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer: a true entrepreneur
He built Kwik-Fit from a standing start in his home city of Edinburgh in 1971 into one of the best-known companies in Scotland, and indeed the UK, employing thousands of people. Kwik-Fit grew to become one of the biggest Scottish companies listed on the London stock market, on which it remained until 1999. When it comes to the scale of the business built by Sir Tom, the fact that he sold it to Ford in 1999 for £1 billion speaks for itself. This was a very big story to cover at the time. The entrepreneur was acutely aware of the importance of customer service and training staff in this as the business grew, given the high profile of the brand and the impact which any publicity around it could have on the business. While he was not one of those who courted publicity, he always seemed happy to make time for interviews over the years, Sir Tom always provided fascinating insights, whether reflecting on trading as Kwik-Fit published results or addressing broader issues. He was about as far from a flashy entrepreneur as you could get, but he did speak up when he had something to say. Sir Tom, who hailed from Leith, was for 25 years principal shareholder of football club Hibernian. And of course he was willing to spend his time helping, mentoring, and giving advice to other entrepreneurs. Read more Mike Welch, who founded and built tyre business Blackcircles, has been among the many people to pay tribute to Sir Tom. The story told by Mr Welch sums up Sir Tom's astuteness when it comes to people as well as his willingness to help others. In a LinkedIn post, Mr Welch said: 'I remember being at a tyre industry conference, shortly after I'd left Kwik-Fit and was in the very early days of building Blackcircles. I was sharing with him how tough it was to get started and that none of the suppliers in attendance would take a second look at an internet start-up like mine. 'Tom listened carefully, then leaned in and said, 'watch this'. He pulled two chairs together in the middle of a packed bar, sat down across from me, and launched into what looked, very deliberately, like a serious strategic conversation. It was pure theatre, done with a wink. From the outside, it was a message that he was backing me, guiding me, maybe even investing, which he hadn't, but that's another story. By the end of the week, suppliers who wouldn't return my calls were suddenly eager to talk. That moment changed everything. The rest, as they say, is history.' It was also evoked memories when reading Mr Welch's description of Sir Tom as 'full of mischief and warmth'. This comment will resonate with many who had the opportunity to meet with and talk to Sir Tom over the decades. Mr Welch said: 'Sir Tom was more than a business icon - he was generous with his time, full of mischief and warmth, and deeply committed to helping others succeed. I owe a lot to his inspiration and mentorship. He believed in people, and in doing good by them, and he believed in me.'
