Finally it seems Drivers are getting some sort of protection from heavy handed parking firms.

New legislation limiting rogue parking firms’ access to drivers information and requiring them to conform to new codes of conduct have been announced by Transport Minister Sadiq Khan.
At the moment Private companies can request access to DVLA driver information to pursue drivers’ of cars parked illegally on private land.
However, the new proposals would require parking operators to join an accredited Trade Association, with a strict code of conduct, before they could do this.
The new legislation due to be published in the autumn will be cross government.
The legislation is designed to stop firms and landowners using inadequate signage, demanding excessive payments and impounding cars excessively quickly.
Plans are also being made to introduce a compulsory licensing system for clamping firms to insure they behave responsibly and within the remit of the Security Industry Authority, which regulates the private security industry.
Khan said: “We want a fair system that is clearly communicated with an independent complaints procedure.”
We await to see if Drivers will be happy with the outcome or is this just another scheme that will have no power as it will not be compulsory to join it!

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Driving Instructors in Swindon, Wilts, are calling for a change in the law for drivers over 70 to resit their driving test.

Some pensioners have never had to sit a driving test as it was not introduced until 1935.

However, some driving instructors are now saying veteran drivers should be made to resit their test, since pensioners often lack awareness of the road rules and are slower to react behind the wheel.

Brendan Whitiskie, of B3 Motoring School, in Rodbourne, said: “Most pensioners do not understand what the road signs are.

“I find I have to explain things a lot slower to them before they grasp the idea.

“It is not that they are bad drivers but they are certainly not the best.

“They are very cautious about what they are doing and get confused really easily.”

Mr Whitiskie believes that everyone, irrespective of age, should have to retake their test every five years because road signs and driving rules are constantly changing.

He said people lose their quality of driving too easily once they pass.

Jeffrey Syed, of Safedrive Motoring School, agreed there was a need to make older people resit their test.

“It would be a great idea to make people over 70 sit another test,” he said.

“A lot of them do not know the rules and regulations. I do not doubt their experience on the road, but their reaction time is a lot slower and we need to assess if they are still capable of being on the road safely.

“There is a risk older people are too set in their ways and not able to adapt to how rules have changed.

However, one instructor believes a refresher course would be sufficient, rather than making older drivers sit a test again.

Richard Griffin, also of Safedrive, said: “So many things have changed since they learned to drive.

“The volume of traffic has increased massively and the roads are more complicated.”

“It is in everybody’s interest they sit a refresher course and get back up to speed. But making them take their test again is a step too far.”

At present, a driving licence must be renewed at the age of 70 and every three years from then on.

This does not involve re-sitting the driving test, but filling out a form.

There are currently three million licence holders in the UK over the age of 70. It is expected this will rise to 4.5 million by 2014.

But Margaret Hall, 73, of Wolsely Avenue, Park South, has been driving for 52 years.

She said there would be no need for her to resit her test.

“I’m more than capable of still being a good driver despite my age,” she said.

“My grandson took his theory test last week and I would probably fail that now.

“But nothing can beat experience on the road. I have plenty of that.

“If they want me to resit my test then fine, because I would pass it I think. I’m a safe driver and haven’t got those shaky hands just yet.”

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder David Bentley has been handed a one year ban and a £600 fine for drink driving.

Bentley who recently scored in the Carling cup midweek was arrested whilst driving home in the early hours of the morning after smashing his Porsche Turbo

Looks like Bentley may be on his bike out of spurs and also on his bike to training!

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DRIVING INSTRUCTORS from Somerset have been swotting up on road safety as part of an innovative scheme run by Somerset County Council and Somerset Road Safety Partnership.

A variety of workshops have been set up to help driving instructors get up to date with the latest road safety topics including accident investigation, road safety, business skills, educational methods, and with the current Government crackdown, awareness of drug and alcohol abuse.

It is hoped that the instructors will now pass on the information to their students, particularly young drivers who account for a third of all casualties on Somerset’s roads.

The workshops finished with an awards ceremony at Somerset College on Friday 24 July 2009 and a talk by Dr Cris Burgess, of the School of Psychology from the University of Exeter.

Trevor Wedge, Great Britain’s Chief Driving Examiner, from the Driving Standards Agency, said: ”DSA is very supportive of this scheme and appreciates the work of everyone involved in developing it, and the efforts taken by the driver trainers in completing it.”

Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member - Environment, said: “Somerset County Council continues to look for innovative ways to reduce casualties on Somerset’s roads. I would like to thank all the driving instructors who have taken part in this trial scheme and hope that these important safety messages will be passed on to Somerset’s next generation of drivers.”

Janet Francis, the South West Regional Manager of GoSkills said: “I am delighted that Somerset County Council is supporting Approved Driving Instructors to gain access to continuing professional development. In particular, that these forward thinking Driving Instructors‘ views will form part of a national consultation to drive forward continuing professional development to all Approved Driving Instructors“.

The courses, being held in Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil, have been running over three weeks and are among the first of their type in the country.

It has not yet been announced if the scheme will be rolled out across the country but other areas may follow suit.
The courses were also supported by the Driving Standards Agency and GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council for passenger transport.

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A motoring group is calling for the ban of all clamping on private land after its research showed as many as one in 10 motorists have been clamped without any independent right to appeal.

The AA has been scathing in its criticism of clampers, calling the current unregulated system ‘bad and immoral’ and adding that some firms were working in a ’shocking and unacceptable manner.’
he recovery firm has cited the current practise of punishing drivers as ‘frightening and often borders on criminality’, citing the case of one woman who was clamped despite still sitting in the car with the engine running after pulling over for a few seconds.

The research also found some people were charged more than £500 to retrieve a towed car.

The AA is calling for the practise to be made illegal and that any form of self-regulation by the industry would not work.

‘Private parking enforcement is big business generating millions of pounds and no-one notices and acts when the rules are broken,’ said Paul Watters from the AA. ‘The public have absolutely no protection if a private parking firm acts unfairly - it is a civil matter and no-one is interested in helping.’

The government plans to overhaul the system of clamping by forcing clampers to register with an approved trade association and be bound by a code of practice.

Patrick Troy, chief executive of the British Parking Association (BPA) that helps regulate the industry, said a code of practice for member companies would be ‘a good first step to improving standards’, but conceded more government action was needed.

‘Our scheme is not perfect and we would welcome working with the AA further on the concerns they raise in their consultation response as we are sure positive solutions can be found by working together,’ he said.

The AA has criticised the BPA for not being truly independent and lacking the powers to regulate the market.

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The Highways Agency is calling on drivers to check their fuel levels before setting off on journeys after more than 15,000 drivers broke down on England’s motorways over a 12-month period after running out of fuel.

Breaking down on the motorway causes disruption to journeys and road users can put themselves as well as other drivers at risk. To reduce the inconvenience and also the hazards involved, the Agency, supported by the Driving Standards Agency, is calling on drivers to check their fuel levels before setting off on journeys.

Agency figures show that 15,788 drivers ran out of fuel on England’s motorways between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009 – an average of 43 every day.

The Highways Agency’s Director of Network Operations, Derek Turner, said:

“The number of people breaking down simply because they have run out of fuel is alarming. It’s not only hazardous to the driver and passengers, but to other road users as well, especially if the vehicle has to stop in a live lane.”

“We want drivers to be aware of the risks and also to encourage them to check their fuel level before they set off. It’s important that if you are travelling over long distances, that you continually monitor your fuel level.”

The Driving Standards Agency’s Director for Safer Driving, Trevor Wedge, said:

“Running out of fuel on a motorway can be a risky business. Stopping on the hard shoulder will place you and your passengers in a vulnerable situation that could be avoided.

“Make sure you have plenty of fuel for your journey before driving on to a motorway and don't let the fuel in your tank run too low. Fill up well before the gauge reaches empty and before the warning light comes on.

“Remember that driving at higher speeds, especially when overtaking, will use more fuel and there can sometimes be quite some distance between service stations. Don't be tempted to try to complete your journey on a low tank.”

The Agency’s traffic officers, who patrol the motorways, are also surprised about having to help road users because they are without fuel.

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The DSA have announced the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence will be released on the 10th October. For more information please visit the DSA website here