Are you a flasher?

According to the Highway Code:

Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

So when I flash my headlights to tell another user to go whilst at a crossroads, am I breaking the law? If so, is this something the police would pull me over for? I am not sure I know anyone or have seen anyone who actually uses this as a warning. Unless I have been reading this incorrectly and annoying drivers up and down the country.

Another misuse of car equipment is the car horn.

The Highway Code details:

The horn. Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You MUST NOT use your horn while stationary on the road or when driving in a built up area between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7.00 am, except when another vehicle poses a danger.

Obviously these laws do not apply to taxi drivers or buses

Scrappage benefit 'lost in 88 days'

Are you thinking of taking advantage of the governments scrappage scheme? If so you might want to think again.

For years people have discussed the depreciation on new cars; we have all heard people say 'it loses value as soon as you drive it off the forecourt'. Now a report from uSwitch states the depreciation kicks in after 88 days.

The scrappage scheme begins on Monday, allowing owners of 10 year old or more cars to trade in old for new and receive £2000.

The research by uSwitch , vehicle depreciation is set to be the "thorn in the side" of the scrappage scheme. The initial £2,000 incentive is wiped out in depreciation in just 88 days of owning the new car.

In total, new vehicles purchased under the Government's car scrappage scheme are set to lose £12.5 billion in depreciation after just one year, it said. Purchasing one of the top 10 most popular new cars costs £16,232 on average and this value plummets by 49% in the first year alone, while the UK's best-selling car - the Ford Focus Style - loses £8,635 or 51% of its value in the first year.

Mark Monteiro, of uSwitch, said: "When choosing a new vehicle, motorists should ensure they research the rate of depreciation of their desired new car, as research highlights how some of the top 10 most-popular vehicles hold their value far better than others. Any motorists tempted to take advantage of the scheme should research the cost of insuring their desired new vehicle as a matter of priority, as the cost could be significantly higher than they are currently paying for their old banger.

"All drivers who are planning to switch their old cars for a newer model need to be prepared for a hike to their premiums of up to 30%."

Where the streets have no cars

A German town on the Swiss/French border has taken the decision to give up their cars. The town of Vauban has rule forbidding street parking, driveways and home garages.

Residents buy a large garage on the border of the town, for the sum of £25,000, and this keeps the streets car free. 57% of the Vauban residents sold a car before moving to the town and 70% do not own a car. Which probably means the 30% who do own a car are constantly being badgered for lifts.

I am not sure that I could take the leap of giving up my car, I like the freedom it gives me. I also like being able to park outside my home, so if this was taken away perhaps I would not be as keen to keep hold of my motor.

Also worth noting, Vauban will have no late night petrol stations - which would leave you at a loss as to where to go for a late night bottle of milk, or some dodgy flowers after an argument.

How the Glove Compartment got its name

All cars have one, some choose to keep their sat-nav stored here, others a bag of sweets (or a cat?). Very few use them as a storage compartment for their gloves. So why do we refer to this as a glove compartment/ glovebox?

I the early part of the 20th century, a female British Motor Racing driver named Dorothy Levitt was a pioneer in the sport, becoming the first woman to compete in a motor race back in 1904. She helped to pave the way for other female drivers: Kay Petre, Gwenda Hawkes, the Hon Mrs Victor Bruce (yes, me neither).



Dorothy Levitt drove around in her fur coat and gloves and was obviously looking for a place to store her gloves, no doubt when she pulled over for tea and cake!

She coined the phrase glove compartment referring to a draw beneath the seat in which female drivers could place their gloves. These did not start being added to cars until much later, and despite the move to the dashboard the name stuck.

Would you drive a Beaver?

What is it with cars being named after animals? We have the Fiat Panda, VW Beetle, VW Fox, Ford Puma, the whole Jaguar range and even the Spider for Ferrari and Alfa Romeo

Naming a car after a wild animal, makes sense. You see it as more adventurous and as something that does not conform. This theory works really well for the Ford Puma, Jaguar and at a push can be stretched to include the VW Fox.

When it comes to naming cars after insects, then you are largely naming a car after animals people don't like or are scared by. Think of Miss Muffet driving a Ferrari Spider! A VW Beetle it could be argued is named because it is small and can travel at great speed, and to be honest the naming has not done them any harm.

Animals car makers probably want to avoid include those in the insect and bug world such as cockroach or head lice. Mammal wise I think it will be a long time before we see people driving a Beaver or cruising the streets in the Pot Bellied Pig.

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.

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