Latest news with #RAC


South Wales Guardian
9 minutes ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Guardian
How many points do you get on your licence for speeding?
Speeding is classed as an offence under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Speed limits help keep people safe, and safety is paramount when on the road for all users. Speeding can ruin lives – the faster a vehicle travels, the greater the force of impact in a crash, and the more severe the injuries or even death that can occur. The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points added to your licence. The Government website states that you could be disqualified from driving if you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of three years. You can also check your driving licence record online to see if you have points on your licence. If you're caught by a speed camera, then usually within a few weeks of your car being caught speeding you'll be sent a: Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) Section 172 notice You must return the Section 172 notice within 28 days, telling the police who was driving the car. You may have to go to court if you ignore the notice, the Government website advises. After you've sent the Section 172 notice back, you'll be sent either a: Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) letter telling you to go to court If you're still within two years of passing your driving test, your driving licence will be revoked (taken away) if you build up six or more penalty points. How long do points stay on your driving licence? The RAC notes that penalty points will remain on your driving licence for three years. 'They will also remain on your driving record from 4 to 11 years, depending on the severity of the conviction,' they say. 'You can be disqualified from driving if you acquire 12 or more penalty points within three years.' Your driving licence will also have a code on it for four years. Each endorsement has a special code and is given 'penalty points' on a scale from one to 11. (You get more points for more serious offences). Recommended reading: What does it mean if a speed camera flashes you in the UK? Speed camera myth warning to drivers who are risking fines Drivers warned of the common road signs most people get wrong - do you know them? You if you are caught speeding then you may be given the option of attending a speed awareness course if: the police decide it's appropriate for your offence you have not been on a speed awareness course in the past three years Speeding is dangerous for many reasons, and you could be endangering your own life as well as the lives of others. Stay focused on your own driving and the road ahead – remembering to adjust your speed in different weather conditions.


Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Cheapest petrol station in UK unveiled ahead of price spike but there's a catch
Even with petrol prices soaring to their highest in four years, there are still places you where can fill up on a budget — but not everybody will be able to access the UK's cheapest petrol The UK's cheapest petrol stations have been revealed, just as fuel prices begin to climb after hitting a four-year low. According to the latest figures from the RAC, unleaded petrol now averages 134.17p per litre — an increase of 2p from the start of June. This rise means filling a typical 55-litre family car now costs £73.79, a sharp increase of £1.07. Diesel drivers have been stung by an even steeper price hike, from 138.39p at the start of June to 141.21p at the end of the month — a jump of almost 3p a litre. These figures are up from 132.3p and 138.4p respectively at the end of May, when petrol and diesel prices were at their lowest since mid-2021. The recent surge in prices is largely attributed to geopolitical tensions. At the end of last month, the war between Israel and Iran disrupted crude oil markets, causing the price of a barrel to soar from around $64 (£47) to nearly $79 (£58) by June 19. There were widespread concerns Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz — a vital passage carrying around a fifth of the world 's oil supply — leading to oil prices surging sharply across global financial markets. On July 2, Brent crude — the international oil pricing benchmark — rose by three per cent after Iran suspended cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog amid renewed fears of higher US tariffs. But by the following morning, Brent crude had fallen by 0.65 per cent as market fears somewhat subsided. RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: "The arrival of summer has brought some wholly unwelcome increases to pump prices, with retailers wasting no time in putting them up following increased tensions in the Middle East. "Unleaded and diesel are now both at their highest levels since late April, although we see no reason for further increases as wholesale prices have come back down again. July will be a telling month — will retailers halt further price rises, or even cut them if wholesale costs continue to slide? Or will drivers be stuck having to pay an elevated amount for the foreseeable future?" According to the Sun, the current lowest price in the UK can be found at Costco Liverpool Automat, where petrol is available for 119.9p per litre. The Watford branch of Costco is a close second, offering petrol at 122.9p per litre. However, there is a catch — to access these discounted rates, you must be a Costco member. Membership is available to VAT-registered businesses or individuals working in certain professions, including NHS staff and police officers. Details about eligible professions and membership criteria are available on the Costco website. Costco is not the only retailer selling fuel well below the national average — Essar at Grindley Brook Garage in Shropshire is offering petrol at 122.9p per litre, as is Apple Green city services in Liverpool. However, not everyone agrees. Per the Roadtrip app, the top five cheapest fuelling stations to buy petrol as of Thursday, July 10 are: So even with petrol prices soaring to their highest in four years, there are still places where you can fill up on a budget — especially if you are a Costco member.


The Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Top air con hacks to keep your car cool as temperatures soar – including where to point your air vents
MOTORING experts have shared some essential advice on keeping your car cool in the summer heat. Amid record breaking temperatures around the UK this week boffins are revealing top tips about maximising your car's cooling systems. 3 From using your doors and windows to maximising your air vents - a little goes a long way trying to keep the temp in your motor down. Happily, the RAC have released five essential tips to beat the heat. The easiest and most notable of all is pointing your car's air vents in an upward direction - maximising the use of your lower vents. Heat rises - so to make best use of your car's air con, blast cold air downwards into the footwells. This will force the hot air up and out of your car's windows (opening these is also a good idea). To maximise this effect, shut the upper vents on the dashboard, so the full airflow is directed upwards. After a little while, your car will have begun to cool, so slowly wind your windows up to ensure the cool air stays inside the cabin. There's another key trick to cooling your car fast - but you may get some odd looks for doing it. You basically use your car doors to fan out the hot air. You need to open both windows on one side of your car, and then swing a door on the other side back and forth to push the car's stale air out of the open windows. Six items every UK driver should remove from cars this weekend It takes at least three attempts to get rid of the car's heat. Another great way to cool down your motor's interior, is by making the best use of your car's air conditioning. After starting your car's engine, turn your air con to the coolest possible setting, and make sure to use the 'external' air setting. This is because the air outside your car is likely to be cooler than what's inside, so using air recirculation will slow down your car's ability to stay cool. Bare in mind air con can take a few minutes to become effective - so opening your windows for a couple of minutes while it gets going might help. By the time your air con does manage to pump out cool air, then make sure to shut the windows and switch from external air to recirculation. You can also reopen the upper air vents and adjust the airflow from these according to your needs. If your car doesn't have the luxury of air con, then make sure to keep your windows open as much as possible, turn the fan on and keep it at the coolest setting. By contrast, if your car is advanced enough to have a climate control system, then you can keep a constant temperature for the remainder of your journey. The RAC website says: "The summer months are perfect for road trips, holidays and trips to the beach. "Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to keep your car healthy and cool in the warm weather." 3


Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Residents' council's term ends, GMDA yet to set up new panel 6 months on
Gurgaon: GMDA is yet to constitute its new resident advisory council (RAC), more than six months after the last council's tenure ended in Dec – leaving a crucial public consultation platform defunct. The delay has drawn criticism from former council members and RWAs, who say the authority is sidelining public involvement. Established under GMDA Act, 2017, RAC acts as a bridge between residents and GMDA, offering policy suggestions and feedback on infrastructure, traffic, water supply, and other pressing urban issues. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon The last meeting of the previous RAC was held in July 2024. Last year, the council met only once, as opposed to 2023, when it met three times. In Feb this year, GMDA issued a public notice seeking applications for the new RAC's formation. "The idea behind RAC was to institutionalise dialogue between the authorities and people. But if a body does not exist for over half a year, what message does it send about participatory governance? It's been nearly a year since the RAC last met. The lack of continuity defeats the purpose of the council and weakens transparency and accountability," said Praveen Yadav, former RAC member of GMDA. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Meanwhile, according to GMDA, the formation of the new council was underway. "The new council will be notified soon," said a senior GMDA official. The council is chaired by GMDA CEO, with members drawn from RWAs and NGOs. The first RAC was formed in 2019, and the second in 2022. Residents argue that in the absence of an RAC, major projects — including road upgrades and drainage works — are being executed without feedback, resulting in planning oversights and execution delays. "Initially, there was some openness, and officials were responsive. But last year, they started diminishing the role of RAC and no action taken reports were shared with members. GMDA Act mandates the council's formation," said DD Sharma, a former RAC member. "It played a crucial role in bringing civic issues to the fore. Ideally, they should have started the process of appointing the new committee before the second RAC's term got over," he added. Sunil Sareen, vice-president of Imperial Gardens in Sector 102, said, "These days, GMDA not communicating with residents. Earlier, everything was in the public domain and in live streaming of GMDA's meetings, residents could share their feedback. We are the eyes and ears of the authorities, but they have shut the door on us," he said.


Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Brits urged to drive with a bowl of water on their passenger seat
Petrol and diesel prices have risen for the first time in three months, with the cost of an average litre of petrol and diesel up by 2p and 3p on average in the space of a month Motorists are being warned to hit the road with a bowl of water in the passenger seat as petrol and diesel prices surge, leaving drivers dismayed. Breakdown specialists RAC have reported that fuel prices have climbed for the first time in three months, notching up an extra 2p on the average litre of petrol and a heavier 3p increase on diesel within just one month. According to RAC figures, unleaded now stands at an average price of 134.17p per litre, a 2p rise since June, bumping the fill-up cost for a standard 55-litre family car to £73.79, which is £1.07 pricier than at the start of the month. READ MORE: 'I'm a beauty writer - the new ghd curling wand gave me perfect waves in 15 mins' Diesel has experienced an even steeper hike – up nearly 3p (2.8p) per litre, shifting from 138.39p to 141.21p at the month's end and adding an additional £1.55 to the amount families need to find to top off their tank. Fuel experts mentioned that there's a glimmer of hope for reduced costs in the near future should wholesale prices slump. However, with current fuel costs hitting recent highs, it's a smart move to adopt fuel-saving measures. RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: "The arrival of summer has brought some wholly unwelcome increases to pump prices, with retailers wasting no time in putting them up following increased tensions in the Middle East. "Unleaded and diesel are now both at their highest levels since late April, although we see no reason for further increases as wholesale prices have come back down again." 'July will be a telling month - will retailers halt further price rises, or even cut them if wholesale costs continue to slide? Or will drivers be stuck having to pay an elevated amount for the foreseeable future? This is particularly topical given it was only two days ago that the Competition and Markets Authority noted how weak competition within the fuel retailing market is. '. 'Thankfully, we're a long way off the record pump prices of exactly three years ago - when the Russia / Ukraine conflict saw the average price of unleaded hit an unprecedented 191.53p a litre and diesel climb to 199.21p, with some retailers charging well in excess of £2 a litre." In light of rising fuel worries, motoring experts from have delivered a set of unique tips designed to keep your fuel spend thriftier during your drives. They recommend an odd but savvy tactic – place a bowl of water in the passenger seat, reports the Express. The experts said: 'Keeping an open bowl of water on your passenger seat is a great deterrent for unnecessary acceleration and braking. "It sounds a bit strange, but it is a simple and brilliant reminder to drive gently. If you hit the accelerator too hard, you'll see water pour out the sides. "Likewise, if you're driving too fast and braking hard you'll notice water on the seat. The best bowls to use for this are small cereal bowls, with water about an inch from the top" Other experts' tips include: Make sure you actually park your motor in the garage By keeping your motor warm in a garage, you can maintain an optimal temperature for fuel efficiency. This will cut down on your fuel usage by reducing the need for air conditioning to heat or cool your vehicle, particularly useful during this ongoing heatwave. Clear out your car Extra weight in your vehicle can significantly increase fuel consumption. It's wise to clear out your car daily - especially if you're carrying particularly hefty items. So ensure you're not commuting to work on Monday morning with your golf clubs still in the boot! Just don't do it Consider cycling or walking to your destination. Not only will this save you money on petrol, but you might also be able to cancel your gym membership. For instance, if your commute to work is five miles, you could save £416 annually - and increase your daily step count by 10,000.