Latest news with #MotorNews
The Irish Sun
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Brits stuck in huge queues as summer holiday getaway begins & drivers warned of ‘midweek mayhem' as 14m take to roads
THOUSANDS of drivers are stuck in huge queues at the Port of Dover, as Brits head off on their summer getaways. The disruption has been caused by a series of road closures and Advertisement 3 Massive queues have built up at the Port of Dover Credit: Gary Stone 3 Travel plans have been thrown into chaos after a series of disruption Credit: Gary Stone 3 Drivers have been spotted getting out of their cars as they wait Credit: Gary Stone The end of July is one of the most popular times for Brits to head off abroad, as the However, the huge surge in journeys to The RAC estimates that up to 13.9 million journeys could be made between July 21 and July 24. 2.3 million trips were estimated on Monday, with a further 2 million being made just a day later. Advertisement Read More on Motor News The RAC believes that this could be the biggest number of car journeys made midweek since records began. The dreaded annual 'Frantic Friday' - the first Friday following the The Authorities closed the road at 5.40am, with police responding to 'concern for a person' spotted on the motorway. Advertisement Most read in Motors Although the road reopened at 8.40am, congestion is still easing after a huge backlog of cars. Throughout all of the chaos, heavy queues have been steadily building at the Port of Dover - with drivers being forced to wait before heading abroad. July 1 'backseat passenger' law will fine drivers $25 for every single person in car who fails to 'make it click' Some holidaymakers have been spotted leaving their cars, as the queues continued to build, waiting beside the side of the road. Brits have been spotted sitting on fences between roads as they wait, despite travel experts previously warning that this is unsafe. Advertisement The Port of The Met Office has placed The warning will last until 5pm today, as the area is hit with 'slow-moving heavy showers'. Thunderstorms could also lead to disruption in the tourist route, as the Met Office has warned of damage to buildings, delays to train services and power losses throughout the region. Advertisement Residents in Kent and Sussex have been told to expect 25mm on rain in less than an hour, which could build to 40mm of rain in some areas. Meteorologists have urged drivers to avoid delays by checking road conditions before driving and to prepare for rapidly changing weather warnings.
The Irish Sun
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Legendary car brand is axing ‘beast' 4×4 in Europe despite increasing popularity
A LEGENDARY car brand has axed its "beast" 4x4 in Europe despite its increasing popularity. This move represents a significant transition for Advertisement 1 Legendary car brand is axing 'beast' 4×4 in Europe next year despite its increasing popularity Credit: YouTube The 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine, often described as a beast of machine, will be removed from the Ranger in early 2026. What does this mean? A Ford spokesperson confirmed the decision to , leaving the pickup relying on the 3.0-litre V6 EcoBlue engine and the new 2.3-litre EcoBoost plug-in hybrid . Advertisement Motor News This move represents a significant transition for The shift to a PHEV powerplant will raise entry costs, with the plug-in model commanding a premium of around £2,500 over the existing 2.0-litre diesel models . power output that exceeds the current four-cylinder and even V6 diesel models. Advertisement Most read in Motors Crucially, the PHEV will retain the Ranger's full one-tonne payload limit and 3,500kg towing capacity — a key requirement for many business users. Why did they make the decision? New tax changes have created headaches for company pickup drivers, but Ford is forced to immediately shut down factories and halt car production as CEO admits 'day to day' struggle for brand Instead, With diesel variants like the Advertisement The Ranger PHEV nets 68 grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometer in WLTP testing, whereas the high-output version of the 2.0-liter EcoBlue is listed with 230 grams. By comparison, the Available in single- and bi-turbo flavors, the 2.0-liter EcoBlue made its debut in February 2018 with the unveiling of the original Ranger Raptor. When is this going to happen? The 3.0-litre V6 diesel, currently used in high-spec models such as the Wildtrak and Platinum, will continue for the foreseeable future . Advertisement With 240hp and 600Nm of torque, it offers strong performance for operators needing extra muscle, and is likely to remain a core part of the range until at least the end of the decade. The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid arriving with dealers now, with customer deliveries expected to begin shortly. Production of the 2.0-litre models will cease in early 2026. The Sun has approached Ford for comment. Meanwhile, a major recall issued by Ford over concerns for passenger safety Advertisement cars . And Britain's best-selling car brands have been revealed with the 'devastatingly handsome' Ford STILL topping the charts – Plus, Ford is forced to immediately shut down factories and halt car production as
TimesLIVE
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
JMPD clamping down on suburban speedsters
If you have observed an increase in traffic law infringement fines in lower-speed residential roads in your post or e-mail, specifically for speeds of 70km/h to 80km/h, the Joburg metro police department (JMPD) has confirmed it is monitoring sub-streets. Motor News was alerted by a reader who noticed more traffic fines from less congested suburb roads — and a worrying trend of Aarto infringement notices from two different sources: PayFine and PayCity. On the matter of speed law monitoring, JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the observation about an increase in traffic speed fines issued for suburban roads (specifically for speeds of 70km/h to 80km/h in 60km/h zones) is correct. 'The JMPD continuously monitors and enforces speed limits across all road classifications, including suburban areas, as part of our commitment to road safety and reducing accidents,' he said. 'Our enforcement efforts do involve partnerships. The JMPD has a contract with Syntel for the provision of advanced law enforcement and crash management. The partnership assists us with aspects of traffic law enforcement, which can include the processing and issuance of infringement notices.'
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Bank Holiday getaway chaos starts early with drivers stuck in huge queues – check worst times to hit the roads
THE Bank Holiday getaway chaos has started early today with drivers stuck in huge queues. Traffic was spotted crawling on the A2 in South East London as holidaymakers started to make their getaways ahead of the weekend. Advertisement 4 The Bank Holiday getaway chaos has started early today with drivers stuck in huge queues Credit: George Cracknell Wright 4 Traffic was spotted crawling on the A2 in South East London as holidaymakers started to make their getaways ahead of the weekend Credit: George Cracknell Wright Drivers have been advised to check traffic conditions with 17.9 million road trips expected over the late May Bank Holiday. The RAC and transport analysts INRIX are warning of a potential "double dose of delays" today and on Saturday. The highest number of leisure trips are projected to be made by car – 3.4 million on both days respectively. With most getaway trips due to begin before lunchtime, research suggests the best times to hit the road will be very early in the morning or into the evening. Advertisement Read more Motor News A majority of drivers say they'll head off at some point between 5am and 12pm. Meanwhile 14 per cent plan to leave between 5am and 8am and nearly a third intend to travel mid-morning between 8am and 10am. A further quarter will set off later between 10am and 12pm. Traffic is expected to peter out significantly later in the day with those that can advised to leave their journeys as late as possible. Advertisement Most read in Motors Just 3 per cent of motorists are planning trips between 7pm and 11pm following the evening rush hour. Experts are warning M25 users to plan well ahead as the UK's busiest motorway is expected to bear the brunt of the worst delays. Elon Musk's Cybertrucks are coming to Britain - and may spell the end of household bills On Friday – the day most drivers will be setting off – the M25 anticlockwise from J4 to J1 near the Dartford Crossing may see lunchtime journeys delayed by more than 45 minutes compared to normal. Later in the day, the M25 anticlockwise between Cobham services (J10) and Clacket Lane services (J6) may face queues of 35 minutes longer at 5pm during the evening rush hour. Advertisement Elsewhere multiple routes connecting the West Country to the rest of the UK are expected to carry the lion's share of journeys on Saturday. Stretches of the A30 westbound towards Okehampton, the M5 southbound to Bridgwater and the A303 westbound past Stonehenge may suffer hold-ups of up to 55 minutes more than usual. 4 Almost four-in-10 journeys will be squeezed into the first two days Credit: George Cracknell Wright 4 Most getaway trips are due to begin before lunchtime Credit: George Cracknell Wright Advertisement With the bank holiday weekend marking the start of the school half-term break in many parts of the UK, there's little reprieve for drivers travelling home back on Friday, May 30. RAC Mobile Mechanic Aaron Bryan said: "Our research shows it really is best to leave as early or late as possible this bank holiday weekend, as the majority of motorists are planning to set off in the morning. "If the warm weather continues, travelling at cooler hours of the day saves fuel, puts less strain on the air conditioning system, and means older cars have much less chance of overheating. "Regardless of the weather, always check your vehicle's oil and coolant levels before setting off, as well as tyre pressure and tread depth. Advertisement "Alternatively, an RAC Mobile Mechanic can check any battery or brake pad issues before you travel, along with diagnosing any faults signalled by dashboard warning lights. "There's no need to squeeze in a last-minute trip to the garage either, as we can come to you at home or work. "In hot temperatures, it's wise to carry lots of water, food and a tool kit, with jump leads, torch and some first aid basics. "In the worst-case scenario of a breakdown, make sure you've got an umbrella and sunscreen to provide shade for all passengers when awaiting assistance. Advertisement "While Devon and Cornwall remain some of the most popular destinations for summer getaways, many other major routes across the country could be hit by increased traffic – not least the M25 which so many drivers use to reach the coast and the South East. "These stretches are likely to be equally as busy on Friday 30 May when drivers use the same roads for return journeys." Best and worst times to drive this late Spring Bank Holiday weekend: Friday, May 23: Leisure trips by car: 3.4 million Worst times to travel: 10am to 8pm Best times to travel: Before 2pm Saturday, May 24: Leisure trips by car: 3.4 million Worst times to travel: 9am to 4pm Best times to travel: After 5pm Sunday, May 25: Leisure trips by car: 2.7 million Worst times to travel: 11am to 2pm Best times to travel: Before 11am Bank Holiday Monday, May 26: Leisure trips by car: 3 million Worst times to travel: 11am to 6pm Best times to travel: Before 11am
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I've made ‘hundreds of thousands' by buying and selling car number plates – here are the best to make easy money
A MOTORIST has shared how he made "hundreds of thousands" by buying and selling car number plates. Neal Bircher, 60, has collected 3 Neal Bircher collects number plates Credit: SWNS 3 Each number plates he buys is worth a staggering sum of money Credit: SWNS 3 Neal has a unique method for working out a plate's value Credit: SWNS The DVLA is auctioning 2,000 car The latest auctions of Plates expert Neal has identified which plates to keep your eye on. He says that dateless plates - those with a number at the start or the end - dateless plates with a single letter and shorter plates with Read More on Motor News For example, Neal believes 910 AM - which has a starting price of £2200 - will attract more interest thanks to the popularity of 'AM' as a set of initials, wheresas 232 XW - also with a starting price of £2200 - won't have as many buyers. In terms of plates less likely to grow, Northern Irish style plates, containing the letters' 'I' and 'Z' are at the lower end of the market. Neal, an IT management consultant and part-time plate dealer, said: "As a general rule, the shorter the better, and also the popularity of initials is a very common factor. "'Dateless plates are always popular and can be good investments. Most read in Motors "' '1' plates have proved very good investments, whatever the letters, and so plates such as 1 XDX will be expensive even though 'XDX' is unlikely to be many people's initials. "1 YOB starting at £2400 is an interesting one - reminiscent of 'YOB 1' which famously adorned Slade guitarist Dave Hill's Rolls-Royce in the 1970s! I'm an Irish driving instructor and here's what you have to do in order to apply for a licence "In recent years dateless plates that contain only a single letter have become more sought after - for example 125 B starting at £2500, or 8118 D starting at £2500 in this auction. "And those where the letter is 'O', and hence "Hence 54 O starting at £2500 might well fetch the top price in this action. '540' is also a model of BMW." According to Neal, a common misconception is just because a He said: "People sometimes assume that if a plate looks as if it spells a word then it will prove valuable. "That may well be the case if the word is relevant to a business or profession, but if it's just a random word then not necessarily so." "Registration numbers generally tend to "But there can be exceptions with those as well." Having bought and sold for much of his life, Neal has urged people to be cautious before entering the number plate game. He added: "People who are trying to make money have to be very careful. "It requires a lot of homework if you're looking to invest or make money. "Two very similar-looking plates might have very different values. "AJB would be worth far more than XUY for example because of how common the first set is for initials. "Not everyone is, but some are interested in the "There are a lot of people who are in clubs and associations who ask me a lot of questions every day about value and the history of plates. "People are very interested in when it was issued, to know what vehicles it was in, who owned it etc." The DVLA number plate auction The DVLA is auctioning some highly coveted number plates on May 14 The plates range from £300 to over £2000, as drivers clamour to get a unique number for their motor. Bids can only be placed at the auction or through the DVLA website. The plates on sale on May 14 include: CIG 300 Lot 324 Starting price £300 AB16 BUM Lot 18 Starting price £250 MOU 555E Lot 119 Starting price £250 PO25 CHE Lot 1390 Starting price £250 F44 YYE Lot 639 Starting price £200 A96 COX Lot 31 Starting price £200 A600 DAY Lot 35 Starting price £200 CR16 PTO Lot 372 Starting price £250 SAV 146E Lot 1586 Starting price £250 EA69 GLE Lot 509 Starting price £250 OOH 11H Lot 1336 Starting price £300 FAM 1T Lot 583 Starting price £500 145 SAM Lot 1578 Starting price £800 77 JET Lot 840 Starting pricd £1200 36 ANT Lot 116 Starting price £1200 DMZ 1 Lot 457 Starting price £2000 910 AM Lot 92 Starting price £2200 1 YOB Lot 1991 Starting price £2400 1 LTR Lot 1075 Starting price £2400 54 O Lot 1309 Starting price £2500 2025 M Lot 1096 Starting price £2500
