Latest news with #roadtrips
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
The one thing you shouldn't do when offering lifts to friends - it could invalidate your car insurance
Summer is the time for road trips, family gatherings, and excursions with friends, with many people choosing to share lifts for enjoyment and convenience. But drivers have been warned that charging your friends for lifts could land you in very hot water with your insurance provider. Car insurance experts at MoneySuperMarket have urged caution about asking friends to chip in to cover petrol money, especially if they're charging more than the journey actually costs. This is because the harmless activity of offering lifts to mates could actually be interpreted by insurers as a profit-making activity if you overcharge for fuel. Blurring the lines between cost sharing and commercial gain could potentially invalidate your policy, leaving you uninsured without realising it, and liable to severe consequences. Alice Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: 'If you're in an accident under these conditions [making a mark-up on fuel costs], your insurer could reject your claim or even cancel your policy entirely. That's not just costly - it could lead to fines or prosecution for driving without insurance.' MoneySuperMarket says that the difference between charging a mate £10 for fuel when their share was only £5 can be all it takes to invalidate insurance. Hempstead explains that insurers 'may view that as profit'. 'That small mark-up could shift you into the 'hire and reward' category, which entails transporting people for money, which isn't covered by most personal car insurance policies,' she elaborated. And the consequences can be severe. If you're involved in an accident under these conditions, insurers could void your policy from the beginning, meaning it's treated as if it never existed. They may also refuse to pay out for any damages or injuries, and in some cases, report you for driving without valid insurance. 'This isn't just about a rejected claim,' Hempstead cautions. 'You could be left with huge out-of-pocket costs, points on your licence, or even a prosecution for uninsured driving.' Just overcharging £5 could be 'viewed as making a profit' by your car insurance provider and invalidate your insurance. 'Dire' consequences include having a void policy, and your insurer refusing to pay out for damage or injuries, MoneySuperMarket experts are cautioning What is allowed when you lift share? The line is clear between sharing costs and making a profit. Hempstead says: 'HMRC and the Association of British Insurers both acknowledge that genuine cost-sharing is allowed. 'But the moment you start earning, even a small amount, it could be viewed as commercial activity.' How to make sure you're only charging the right amount MoneySuperMarket warns motorists to only ever ask passengers to cover what the trip actually costs you in fuel and vehicle costs. An easy way to do this is to use the HMRC mileage rate; the (current) 45p per mile rate covers fuel, everyday wear and tear like servicing, insurance and tyres. There are fuel cost calculators online too which are a useful way to check you're charging your passengers the right amount. It's also wise to carefully review your car insurance policy to check if there are specific allowances for lift sharing. Never advertise lifts or regularly offer people outside your household lifts and then charge more than the exact amount that petrol and vehicle wear costs Other issues relating to giving lifts There are several behaviours that raise red flags with insurers MoneySuperMarket warns. Regularly offering people outside your household lifts in exchange for money is inadvisable, as is charging more than the actual cost of fuel and vehicle wear (as we've covered). Advertising your availability for lifts on social media or online forums could also be interpreted as providing a paid-for service – so avoid doing either of these. If you are considering using your car for more regular income, then you need to make sure you take out the proper insurance. Hempstead says: 'If for example you're thinking about driving for Uber or doing delivery work, you need the proper business use or 'hire and reward' cover. 'It's worth comparing quotes to get the right protection for how you use your vehicle.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Montreal over Miami: Canadians continue to change their summer holiday plans because of Trump
Canadians are trading their annual holidays south of the border for domestic road trips, exploring Ottawa, the Yukon's midnight sun, Nova Scotia's whale watching, or hiking in Banff. This newfound desire to stay local began earlier this year when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to annex Canada and imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, spurring a 'Buy Canadian' movement to boycott US businesses and avoid US travel. London, Ontario-based Guess Where Trips, selling curated mystery road trip packages, reported a 75 per cent increase in Canadian trip sales year-on-year. "It is clear that more Canadians are choosing to explore small businesses and hidden gems close to home, rather than crossing the border for their holidays and vacations," operations manager Jessica Bax said. Road trips around Ottawa are among their most popular packages, Bax said, as more Canadians explore their capital city. Prime Minister Mark Carney has also made a pitch for Canadians to take advantage of a new "Canada Strong" pass that grants free or discounted access to several national parks, historic sites and museums this summer. "Canadians are making choices to visit this great country, spend time here with their family, with their friends. They're making choices to buy Canadian products," he said in a press briefing in Huntsville, Ontario on Tuesday. The discount pass contrasts with Trump ordering higher entrance fees at U.S. national parks for visitors from other countries. A Bank of Canada survey this week showed that 55% of Canadians plan to spend less money vacationing in the United States this year while 35% said they would spend more on traveling within Canada. A survey by TD Bank showed 64% of Canadians polled planned to travel within the country, mirroring an increase in domestic flight bookings. Canadian domestic tourism spending rose 4% in the first quarter this year from a year earlier, said Destination Canada, a government agency that promotes Canadian tourism. The number of flight return trips from the United States made by Canadians fell 17% in May from a year earlier, while the number of such trips made by car fell by 37% that month, according to Statistics Canada. Walter Flower, who operates whale watching tours in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, said he has been busier this year as more people exploring the UNESCO World Heritage town booked a 45-minute ocean adventure hoping to spot whales off the east coast. Divya Mohan, a communications specialist in Toronto, says she had initially planned to go to Texas this year but instead opted to explore the city of Winnipeg in Manitoba. "It just felt like the timing wasn't right... may be in the future," Mohan, 39, said of her trip in April. "Winnipeg is just one more destination in Canada to explore," Mohan said, coming away impressed with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. On the west coast in British Columbia, RVs have gained popularity, said Storm Jespersen, a regional manager at family-owned tourism firm Evergreen Hospitality Group. "This year is going to be the busiest year in our company's history across our 26 properties... it's so busy, I don't think you can even rent one (RV) very easily right now," said Jespersen. Traveling in Canada can be expensive as domestic flights to remote locations often cost more than traveling to the United States or even Europe. But travelers have found ways to do it cheaper - through road trips or by hunting for discounts. "Doing road trips or just weekend trips to a cabin nearby is a great way to switch things up without spending thousands of dollars to fly a family of four across the country and back," said Vancouver-based marketing executive Kramer Solinsky. On his list this year, Solinsky plans to visit Montreal and the east coast for the first time and is traveling to Mexico City and Osaka in Japan instead of other sun-soaked options like Florida and California. To make some remote regions in northern Canada more accessible, Air North - the airline for the northern regions of Yukon and Northwest Territories - added more capacity and non-stop routes for the summer, betting on higher demand from what it said was "clear and growing interest among Canadians in exploring more of their own country" Air North said arrivals to Yukon rose 7.6% from January to June this year and the airline continues to see growth in demand for flights to northern Canada. Other Canadian carriers have reported similar trends: Porter Airlines increased its summer network capacity to domestic travel to 80% from 75%, while peer WestJet in May suspended nine routes between Canada and the United States citing lower demand.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Montreal over Miami: Canadians continue to change their summer holiday plans because of Trump
Canadians are trading their annual holidays south of the border for domestic road trips, exploring Ottawa, the Yukon's midnight sun, Nova Scotia's whale watching, or hiking in Banff. This newfound desire to stay local began earlier this year when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to annex Canada and imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, spurring a 'Buy Canadian' movement to boycott US businesses and avoid US travel. London, Ontario-based Guess Where Trips, selling curated mystery road trip packages, reported a 75 per cent increase in Canadian trip sales year-on-year. "It is clear that more Canadians are choosing to explore small businesses and hidden gems close to home, rather than crossing the border for their holidays and vacations," operations manager Jessica Bax said. Road trips around Ottawa are among their most popular packages, Bax said, as more Canadians explore their capital city. Prime Minister Mark Carney has also made a pitch for Canadians to take advantage of a new "Canada Strong" pass that grants free or discounted access to several national parks, historic sites and museums this summer. "Canadians are making choices to visit this great country, spend time here with their family, with their friends. They're making choices to buy Canadian products," he said in a press briefing in Huntsville, Ontario on Tuesday. The discount pass contrasts with Trump ordering higher entrance fees at U.S. national parks for visitors from other countries. A Bank of Canada survey this week showed that 55% of Canadians plan to spend less money vacationing in the United States this year while 35% said they would spend more on traveling within Canada. A survey by TD Bank showed 64% of Canadians polled planned to travel within the country, mirroring an increase in domestic flight bookings. Canadian domestic tourism spending rose 4% in the first quarter this year from a year earlier, said Destination Canada, a government agency that promotes Canadian tourism. The number of flight return trips from the United States made by Canadians fell 17% in May from a year earlier, while the number of such trips made by car fell by 37% that month, according to Statistics Canada. Walter Flower, who operates whale watching tours in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, said he has been busier this year as more people exploring the UNESCO World Heritage town booked a 45-minute ocean adventure hoping to spot whales off the east coast. Divya Mohan, a communications specialist in Toronto, says she had initially planned to go to Texas this year but instead opted to explore the city of Winnipeg in Manitoba. "It just felt like the timing wasn't right... may be in the future," Mohan, 39, said of her trip in April. "Winnipeg is just one more destination in Canada to explore," Mohan said, coming away impressed with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. On the west coast in British Columbia, RVs have gained popularity, said Storm Jespersen, a regional manager at family-owned tourism firm Evergreen Hospitality Group. "This year is going to be the busiest year in our company's history across our 26 properties... it's so busy, I don't think you can even rent one (RV) very easily right now," said Jespersen. Traveling in Canada can be expensive as domestic flights to remote locations often cost more than traveling to the United States or even Europe. But travelers have found ways to do it cheaper - through road trips or by hunting for discounts. "Doing road trips or just weekend trips to a cabin nearby is a great way to switch things up without spending thousands of dollars to fly a family of four across the country and back," said Vancouver-based marketing executive Kramer Solinsky. On his list this year, Solinsky plans to visit Montreal and the east coast for the first time and is traveling to Mexico City and Osaka in Japan instead of other sun-soaked options like Florida and California. To make some remote regions in northern Canada more accessible, Air North - the airline for the northern regions of Yukon and Northwest Territories - added more capacity and non-stop routes for the summer, betting on higher demand from what it said was "clear and growing interest among Canadians in exploring more of their own country" Air North said arrivals to Yukon rose 7.6% from January to June this year and the airline continues to see growth in demand for flights to northern Canada. Other Canadian carriers have reported similar trends: Porter Airlines increased its summer network capacity to domestic travel to 80% from 75%, while peer WestJet in May suspended nine routes between Canada and the United States citing lower demand.
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
The best countries to drive in, according to our long-serving motoring writer
Will you be driving for a holiday, or driving to a holiday? Having driven through much of Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Antipodes over a long career testing cars, I need to make this important distinction as well as ask some questions. Such as what sort of car you will be driving. Believe me, if you try to tackle the old Italian road-race routes, the Futa or Raticosa passes con entusiasmo in a roly-poly family car, your passengers will be green about the gills soon after the first corner… Similarly, you'll need to rise early if you want to get up the vaunted Transfăgărășan Pass in Romania to avoid the Baden-Baden Sunshine Tours coaches, packs of Lycra-clad cyclists and leisure motorcyclists. But remember that, since this 56-mile vanity project of infamous former ruler Nicolae Ceaușescu, which took a decade to build and cost the lives of hundreds of military builders, goes from nowhere to nowhere, you'll encounter that whole circus on the way down. Irrespective of what time you set out. If it's thrills you are after, believe me, they occur in the strangest of places. Luxembourg, for example, the mini-Ardennes; the twisting, open-curved roads of the Éislek area have hosted the launches of performance cars from the Ford Escort Cosworth to Ferraris. These are truly great roads, beautifully surfaced, with terrific rolling countryside and if the hospitality isn't the world's cheapest it certainly hits the spot. Or try the Nürburgring. No, not the 13 miles and 154 corners of Germany's famous old Nordschleife racing circuit nicknamed 'Green Hell' by Jackie Stewart and open to anyone with the required €30-€35 (£26-£30), but the roads around it. These wind pleasingly through the Mosel region as you and your passenger stare up at the near-vertical sides of the valley wondering how on earth the winemakers harvest their grapes, before stopping to sample their work – or go to Restaurant Pistenklause and vicariously live through tall tales of a fast lap of the aforementioned fabled racing circuit over a stone-cooked steak. You can travel through similar vertical wine-growing in the Portuguese Douro valley, although the roads are narrow and heavily congested, as various car makers have found when hosting launches in this picturesque region. Japan and South Korea? Congested, although a tour of the DMZ border between North and South Korea is invigorating; just don't stop for too long. Tokyo's traffic jams are legendary, but at night the secretive Wangan racers come out and have a ball, although you need to be in the know to catch these displays of Japan's underground car culture. China is frankly bizarre, with mobs of cyclists and electric scooterists to keep you on your mettle. The new concrete motorways have excellent surfaces, but the air pollution can obscure the lane ahead, which often contains a slow-moving truck or even a pony and trap. For winter driving fun, head to the Scandinavian countries. The fjords of Norway are simply amazing, with winding roads around them and great views, all created (according to Douglas Adams in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) by the planet designer Slartibartfast. Be warned, however; Norway, Sweden and Finland have heavily policed roads with simply eye-popping fines. The same goes for Iceland, largely deserted and with great views, but you need to enjoy a 56mph maximum velocity. If you want to go fast, try some ice lake driving where, as Finnish rally driving legend Rauno Aaltonen once told me: 'My father would send me to the shop in our family estate car and could never understand why when I returned the car's radiator was boiling while it was minus 20C outside…' Heavy-handed speed enforcement is also true of France these days, where the Gendarmerie seems to regard the issuing of fines as part of our punishment for Le Brexit. All the same, the coastal roads of Brittany and the Atlantic coast are spellbinding as long as you travel before the start of French national holidays. Coast roads are the perfect motoring experience wherever they are, from the 124-mile South African Garden Route along the Western Cape between Mossel Bay and Storms River, the Namibian Skeleton Coast (often obscured by fog and don't, just don't, run out of fuel – the clue is in the name), the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland (which includes the Giant's Causeway), the Pacific Coast Highway in California, the pea-shingled Argentinian highway to Tierra del Fuego, or the French Corniche travelling west out of Nice on the Côte d'Azur. My money is on the Route Napoléon in the Alpes Maritimes, where the roads are quieter and you can find yourself diving down the old Monte Carlo Rally stages such as the Col de Vence, the Col de Turini, La Turbie or perhaps the other-worldly Mont Ventoux. All are heaven on earth if you really enjoy driving. For those looking for one of the best coastal roads with food to match, however, I'd plump for Spain and the road northwards out of Barcelona to Tarragona and its Costa Daurada. The roads are well surfaced and curvaceous while there are some great restaurants tucked into the rocky bays. The Alps can provide the most stunning scenery, but you need the timing of a great comic. Find yourself behind the Elvis Tribute Monkey Bike display team or similar hazard on the upper reaches of the Stelvio Pass in high summer and you'll rue the day you ever decided to tackle it. The Pyrenees between France and Spain are equally as challenging, just not as imposing or as busy. The Basque Country has its own charm, from where you can pop down to Spain and try the famous Rioja wines. For those in search of adventure and more testing driving routes, dip a toe into the Sahara, though not too far. Start with Marrakech and work your way south. There's a ferry from the bottom of Spain to its own 'Gibraltar' in Morocco, then cross the border and drive for miles along the coast road to end up in the bazaars and the Majorelle blues of Marrakech, before taking in adventure driving aplenty in the Atlas Mountains. Land Rover has used the Atlas range for several launches in the past. For me, northern France and Belgium still have some of the finest seafood, quietest roads and most hospitable eateries. You can detour to see the Champagne caves at Epernay and sample the goods, but the less pretentious Route du Cidre in Normandy has the distinction of being the scene of Ford's most expensive-ever launch, for the first-generation Focus in 1999. It's often best to shun the oft-travelled routes such as the Italian regions of Tuscany or Umbria and instead travel to the hills above Cuneo and Alba in the north-west, where on the sunny sides they grow the grapes for the famous Barolo wine and on the shady side the equally delicious Barbaresco. My favourite countries to drive in 5. Canada Can be congested in the season and snowy in the winter, but if you're into your endless plains, the massive tidal surges in the Bay of Fundy, the Yukon Highway 5 (Dempster Highway), it's all here. Great hospitality, good road surfaces and gorgeous colours in the autumn. 4. France Whether it's La Route des Crêtes through the Vosges mountains, the Col de la Bonette through the Alps or the coastal roads in Normandy or Brittany, France seldom fails to deliver on the views, the well-manicured road surfaces and the fine repasts. 3. Scotland From the North Coast 500 in its northern extremities, or just pootling around the lower parts, Scotland has it all; deserted moorland, winding roads, a James Bond connection, great food and a warm welcome. Just a shame you're often seeing it from behind a Dutch motorhome… 2. Italy A perennial favourite with Telegraph readers, with good reason. The north has the Alps, the passes and the congested but lovely lakeside roads. The centre has Emilia-Romagna, one of the greatest launch pads for some of the most scenic roads and the gateway to Florence, Siena and Rome, then on to the south for parched roads and great seafood. 1. United States of America A country founded on wheels, the USA remains one of the great driving countries. Whether it's the Cherohala Skyway, 43 miles of driving heaven from Tennessee meadows to a mile-high peak in South Carolina, or the 2,448-mile Route 66 which, as Chuck Berry sang, 'winds from Chicago to LA, more than 2,000 miles all the way; get your kicks on Route 66.' And even if you aren't into the whole petrolhead mythology, few could fail to be unmoved by the genius of Highway One, the Pacific Coast Highway (my tip, do it from north to south because, in left-hand drive America, you'll get the best views this way). Get used to burgers, enjoy the accents and try to go for the less travelled paths such as the 'Big Sky' states of Montana or Dakota.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Experts suggest avoiding left-hand turns while driving. Here's why
As more Americans plan summer road trips this year, civil engineering experts suggest avoiding left turns in cities to enhance safety and efficiency. Recent data from Deloitte indicates an increase in summer travel, with more people opting for road trips. This surge in travel correlates with a rise in vehicle miles traveled during the summer months, which can lead to more crashes and fatalities. 'If you look at sort of the traffic patterns throughout the year, uh, the summer months, we have the most vehicle miles traveled. And with that additional vehicle miles traveled, there come more crashes, more fatalities, more serious injuries,' said Vikash Gayah, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Penn State. Gayah explains that about 61 percent of crashes at intersections involve a left turn, making them particularly hazardous. The danger arises because drivers must judge gaps in oncoming traffic, and misjudgments can lead to collisions. 'The reason that the left turns are so dangerous is that you have a vehicle that's turning in front of the path of oncoming traffic, where the driver of the left-turning vehicle has to judge when there's a sizable gap in order to make that left turn,' Gayah said. 'If they misjudge that, they get hit by that oncoming traffic or hit the oncoming traffic.' In urban areas, avoiding left turns might mean traveling an extra block, but this doesn't necessarily add time to the trip. Simplifying signal timing can reduce the time spent stopped at intersections, potentially allowing drivers to reach their destinations faster. Cities like San Francisco and Salt Lake City are already taking steps to ban left turns during busy times of the day. This approach not only aims to improve safety but also could enhance fuel economy by reducing idling time in traffic. 'By simplifying the signal timing at the intersection you're going to, you're going to travel through more intersections, one more intersection on average, but you're going to spend less time stopped at each intersection,' Gayah said. 'And that has huge advantages, because it means that you'll actually get to where you want to go faster.' By rethinking traffic patterns and reducing left turns, cities can potentially decrease intersection accidents and improve travel efficiency. As more Americans hit the road this summer, these strategies could make a significant impact on road safety. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
