Spotify on your mobile!

Soon we will be able to link this to the car radio :)

Do you listen to football in the car

Will you be listening to the match tonight whilst driving home in the car? If so then you might want to think again - we are not in the game of predicting the score so this is not a warning that your team will lose.



A study by some research bods at the University of Leicester warns that listening to the match whilst driving can be a dangerous distraction. Their study found that more than two million motorists have had an accident or near-miss while driving and listening to the footie.

It appears that football fans, get as emotional in their cars as they do in the stadium stands. Tests carried out for the study showed casual listeners drove at a consistent pace throughout matches. Whilst, the football fans had a driving style that varied considerably and was sometimes erratic, particularly as the match progressed.

The researchers say if you enjoy football and get emotional and distracted, I recommend you pull over and listen to the match

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.

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.