Family Car

Car drivers with families are becoming increasingly more aware of the need for improved vehicle safety. When looking for a family car, choosing the right vehicle means that there are essential requirements that need to rank higher on the list of priorities.

However, this does not necessarily mean that a family car with better car safety is not going to be sexy, sporty or a real head turner?

Safety

Car Safety is a must for every car driver. Just how safe cars are, is a subject that requires a great deal of consideration when looking for a family car. In fact, since September 2006, ISOFIX standard child car seats have moved towards the top of the list of priorities for car drivers with children, in terms of child car safety.

The Which report is a fantastic source of information on this topic - and these guys are completely impartial.

Entertainment

As the comfort of the family car is moving much closer to the comfort of being at home, keeping the children entertained on journeys is becoming another key consideration when buying a family car. Many parents will have spent journeys playing games like I-Spy or spot the different colour cars - or maybe you will have played game like portable connect 4.

However, children today are much more demanding and want to have the latest in car entertainment available to them - and although they will happily sit in the back with their iPod on - they would much prefer to watch the adventures of Buzz Lightyear, or play the latest PlayStation game. This is a great way to keep the little ones occupied - and often bigger ones too.

Space

Driving with the family can mean anything from journeys to the seaside to dropping them off at one of their many activities - which at times makes you think they have a better social life than you. Space therefore becomes of particular importance, whether how to fit everyone inside the car or to how to make sure you can get the child buggy in the boot.

We have developed the lifestyle search to help you resolve this. Simply enter the number of seats you require, together with the items you will need to put in your boot. We will then show you the contenders that best match your requirements.

MP's Expenses

So who are the worst drivers?

British roads are packed full of drivers, who leave us wondering how they got their driving licence in the first place.

Many groups are targeted as being the worst people behind the wheel: pensioners 'driving Miss Daisy', women - struggling to park, teenagers - behaving like they are on a race track, white van men - cutting you up, taxi drivers - failing to ever use an indicator... the list is endless.

Pensioners: A pensioner reversing in real time - feel the pain.



Teenagers

A recent report from the Co-op said that Top Gear was encouraging teenagers to break the speed limit. I find it hard to believe that any teenager is seeking tips from middle aged men in tight 501 jeans.

Taxi Drivers:

Taking a trip in a cab can often mean taking your life into your own hands, and the only tip you want to leave is a highway code. Still it could be worse, a Karaoke Cab:




White Van men, a phrase coined by Radio 2's Sarah Kennedy and still nobody seems to love them. This clip shows a white van driver in a close shave with a cyclist. Little sympathy for the bike rider however, as he appears to be riding along whilst holding a video camera.



Women Drivers, are the brunt of many male jokes and here is a compilation of female motorists in action (the clip is a little unfair, as most don't prove a woman was involved):




It is clear you don't have to fall into a category to be a bad driver, bad drivers are simply bad drivers regardless of age, sex or occupation. I will try and remind myself of this next time I experience road rage.

Finally a compilation of all types or driver getting in all kinds of trouble:

5 must have car gadgets

Part of my journey into work this morning included following a car which had cushions on the parcel shelf. I am totally up for making your car as comfortable and welcoming as possible, but cushions! My comfort includes moving my seat, having a drink near by and my ipod plugged in. Thankfully we are all different, I don't want cushions and you may not want any music playing.

This got us thinking of what gadgets are available for your car and we came up with:

5 great car gadgets available now

A rechargeable LED torch which plugs into your car lighter to charge



The Econav gives drivers the most fuel-efficient routes. Its makers claim it cuts carbon emissions by 30 per cent.



E Can with USB Socket 240 Volts form your cars Cigarette lighter, plug in a DVD player, your Playstation or even a hoover


The Perfect Palm Device to help you clean and wax your car



Parking Sensor System for anyone who has trouble parking

Do the government want you to speed?

The UK government has raised £87 million from speeding camera fines, a record breaking figure coming from 1.5 million fines.

Many questions are now racing through my mind: first, what does the money generated get spent on (it is certainly not the roads). Does a speed camera act as any kind of deterrent and are the government happy for us to continue speeding therefore providing a huge boost to their coffers.

The past year has seen road deaths fall under 3,000 - the lowest level since 1926, so it could be argued that the cameras are having an impact. Obviously if you stay within the law, then you have nothing to worry about. The average fine of £58 is only relevant if you travel over the speed limit. The £87 million demonstrates clearly that people are not slowing down, or is it simply more are getting caught.

What do you think?

Do speed cameras deter people from driving fast? Is this just a money making scheme for the government or do speeders get what they deserve?

Courtesy Car

Is it just me or does it seem that every time you take your car in for a service or repair the courtesy car you are given is in no way similar to the car you bring in? We all buy a car making sure it matches our needs. This may be the need to get a certain number of passengers on board (the kids), to transport a pushchair around town or on a more aesthetic level one that makes you look good.

So why is it that you end up with a replacement car the only benefit it has is that nobody will steal it. The last one I had felt like it was going to blow over in the wind, and any passengers on board had to spend their journey sniffing their knees. Not much use for me.

I think that this is a missed opportunity from car makers; they could use this time to get me test driving a new model. Showing me a car that I will fall in love with, one that I may purchase next time or at the very least will rave about to friends. A dealership in Bradford has started to offer bikes to customers instead of courtesy cars. You have to applaud their green credentials but wonder how someone with a partner and two kids manages - perhaps they offer a basket on the handle bars for your pushchair!

How a Catherine Tate character coped with the delivery of a hire car

Road Tax increased from today

Unless you are part of the minority who drive around in a car with C02 emissions that are less than 100 (g/km), you are likely to be seeing a rise in your road tax from today.

The government has now split road tax into 13 categories with prices ranging from £35 to £405 - for those looking to tax a vehicle that has emissions of 225.

You can check out the full list of prices and bands here..

Yesterday we read in the news that pot holes can be found every 120 yards on our roads, which sound similar to the statement: you are never more than 3 feet away from a rat. It may make you wonder what the hell does the money get spent on? My guess is traffic cones, who ever is in charge of traffic cones seems to be buying many more and placing them on my route to work.

If you want to check the price of your current car and you are not sure what your emission level is, why not find it on Carmony. You will find the data together with the running cost for a particular model. If you are not happy with your new road tax band why not search for a better model.